Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/20/2009

Question
Hello!

I just recently took in a twelve year old calico cat who suffered abuse by one of her previous owners.  She's been shuffled around from one home to another throughout her whole life. Her last owner did not clean out her litter box nearly often enough, and fed her low quality cat food, as well as too much human food (such as American cheese).  She pretty much stays in one upstairs bedroom in my house.  She has a litter box, food and water up there, and hangs out in the closet a lot.  She took to me and my family very quickly.  She loves to be pet and purrs like crazy, and within two days of arriving she started sleeping on the bed.  My problem is that she refuses to get along with my other cat-- A one and a half year old male.  Both cats are fixed and front declawed.  Jazz (The one year old) is very welcoming to her (Callie).  He's totally non-aggressive and very calm around her.  Yet she continues to hiss and growl and run into the closet when she sees him.  She's been here for 9 days now.  The last home she came from had three cats besides her.  Is there any way to get her to calm down and see that Jazz is no threat?  Or will it just take time?

Any insight would be great.  Thanks a lot!

   -Bethany


Answer
Bethany,

Poor kitty! Callie is approximately 64 years old in human years and Jazz is a 'teenager' which is not a good mix. Calicos don't mix that well with other cats, and the cats she where she came from she probably just accepted them being there but weren't 'close' with them.

Calicos are territorial and she probably has claimed your bedroom as 'her territory'...and her 'safe haven'. Add the fact that she is probably very stressed with everything she has been through, plus now a new home, new people, new smells, a new routine to learn, AND a new cat to deal with! An older cat doesn't take to change as well as a younger cat. It can cause health and emotional issues. I would leave her where she wants to be (which sounds like your bedroom)and I would keep the younger cat away from her until she has a chance to acclimate to everything. 9 days is no time. It may take a month or two for her to settle down and settle in.

There is a calming aid that you can put in your cat's water that is very popular called Bach's Rescue remedy. You can get it at a health food store (people use it too) or on-line. It calms a cat using natural ingredients...and people swear by it. More information can be found at these websites:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm
http://www.nelsonbach.com/BFE_for_pets.html
http://www.petsynergy.com/flower.html
http://www.oes.org/page1/Bach-Rescue-Remedy.html

When she accepts the other cat (and hopefully in time she will), try feeding them some yummy cat treats together, like tuna, or tinned sardines in oil. That is so they will associate each other with something pleasant and not negative. Then, if possible, sit and hold one on each side of you and pet them together so they can see that each belong. At her age though, she may be just as happy living in your bedroom in peace and maybe being able to look out the window.

Tabbi