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Cats/New cat growls at current cat

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Expert: - 3/7/2010


Question
I've researched this scenario and even though I'm sure its common most sites or issues that i find are the current cat defending its territory not the new cat trying to take over.

We have a male Maine coon (Harvey) about 5 years and the newcomer is a female mix (angie) around 4 years old. When we introduced her to the home she was terrified naturally so, confused about her previous owner and new home and such. She got adjusted fast, the next day she felt comfortable around us humans. But when Harvey started getting curious and trying to smell her she growled and hissed and tried to wack him. #they are both fixed)
He just mews kind of pitifully, i guess trying to let her know he means no harm and is just curious?
But I'm just wondering if there is any way to calm her down and let her know ourselves that he means her no harm??

Thanks for your time!

Answer
Corrie,

Your new kitty is reacting perfectly normally, it's considered rude in the world of most cats to have some kitty you don't know come up and try to make friends with you (even for some species of big cats). In order to maintain peace and help Angie be calmer my recommendation would be to set up a room for her with all of the usual creature comforts where she can adjust to your household and the presence of your resident cat for 2-3 weeks - ideally she needs to become interested in the household routines and less concerned about meeting Harvey which will only happen over time. You can also add a homeopathic remedy called Bach's Rescue Remedy to the daily routine for both cats since introducing a new cat into the household is stressful for both the new cat and the resident cat. Rescue Remedy is a blend of 5 flower essences designed to calm and reassure and it's a remedy that I always keep in the house because it's safe, gentle and it works well. I'd recommend administering the Rescue Remedy to both cats by gently rubbing 3-5 drops onto the outside of their ear flaps or the relatively fur free area in front of their ears at least 3 times daily, you can repeat this without hurting the cats as often as necessary. You should be able to find this remedy at health food stores, but if you have difficulty finding Rescue Remedy locally then I'd recommend that you purchase it online. You may also want to check out my previous answers about new cat introductions to ensure that you have the information to deal with any further issues that might come up between Angie and Harvey. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me again, I'll be more than happy to do my best to help you and your cats out as much as possible.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

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I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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