virtualbernie

I started out with one cat (Iggie). She does not like to be inside but the rules in our area is that cats cannot roam loose. Well somehow she got out and we didn't see her for 3/4 months. We gave up hope that we'd ever see her again so we went to the shelter and got 2 brothers (Sam and BabyBoy). Not one month later she pops up and of course she "hates" the boys! I tried keeping them in my bedroom together with me so they could get to know one another but all that happened was she stayed behind my dresser not coming out to eat or drink. I felt so sorry for her I put food and water behind the dresser with her. Finally after a while, I gave up (started to smell up my room and when I investigated I realized she wasn't sneaking out to use the litter box either!) Took her to the vet who gave her meds to calm her down but that didn't work. Now her domain is in the basement with her own food and water and litterbox. I feel so bad for her because we only use the basement to do laundry so she doesn't get a lot of interaction. Lately she's started to scratch at the door but when you open it up she runs back downstairs. Every so often I leave the door open hoping she'll come up on her own but that only allows the "boys" to go down and harrass her and I really don't need the "poop" thing again :?

Is there anything I can do?

Liz aka Helen

I've got 9 cats and the only advice that I can say is give her time but you are going to have to let the boys harass her so that she will fight back and state her status. Let the fur fly as they say. She will let them know when she has had enough, believe me....ask me how I know....lol

bearisgray

I had three cats and they never got to like each other.

My mom had several, and several of them snuggled.

Hope they work things out between themselves.

jrhboxers

Exactly what she ^^^^ said. She has to 'prove' her position in the household. To the boys she is an intruder, to her the boys are intruders - sad to say - they are just going to have to fight it out. If you can, catch each of them and trim their nails. That will help with 'collateral' damage. They will work it out.

dd

Wow a lot of MD people on this site!
I tried to tell my big girl that she used to be the new, tiny kitty one time too and she needed to give him a chance. He didn't understand why she was so mean to him. She quickly smacked me on both sides of my face and told me in no uncertain terms that she didn't want to hear that. Well, they snuggle now and they groom each other but when they are done they hiss and they leave each other alone. I never had blood or vet bills. They will work it out for themselves. I know you want to try to make everything right for them but remember they are animals. Thats why you have the opposable thumbs, to do the quilting.lol

kwhite

Ok I had a similar situation with my "butt head" cat and the new littel girl I got to keep him company. They hated each other or more accuratly he hated her. She spent all of the time in my lap or in hiding to stay away from him. The way I solved this was by accident. They both needed to go to the vet and so my daughter and I took them. I had one and she had the other. Well the whole vet thing throws them for a loop anyway and this time was no diffrent. I had to pay at the end of the visit. We had been keeping them apart the whole time. I gave the little girl to my daughter. I asked her if she thought she could handle them both for a few mins. She thought she could. She put the little girl on top of the bad boy. He was so distracted by the strange surroundings he didn't even seem to notice she was there. When we got home and put them back in their own environment there was no more problem. No hissing or fighting or running. They have gotten along fine ever since. So I say take them to a new surrounding and introduce them all over again. It is worth a try.

Sadiemae

My cats are gone now, but I had a male and a female. They never did like each other, but kind of ignored each other.

thomp116

I have five, but they've always been together so they get along pretty well. Every so often there is some hissing and growling, maybe a couple scratches, but nothing to be alarmed over.

deedee75

I vote to let them all roam free. They will eventually create their own heirarchy. There will occasionally be squabbles when they attempt to change positions.

sueisallaboutquilts

Yeah, I have to agree with this one. It's what worked for our five. They're fine now, sometimes a little squabble but nothing to worry about. I give them all a lot of love and let them work out the rest by themselves :)