Adjusting to the new kitty...

[meganth]

For those of you who got a second cat, how long did it take for the two to adjust to each other?

We're not really having problems, but it's all happening differently from what i figured. I figured my Isis would be the one having problems adjusting to the new cat. Turns out it's the new cat who doesn't like Isis.

I'm hoping it's more that Dharma (new cat) is overwhelmed with everything right now and will get used to it. It also doesn't seem to help that Dharma has no clue how to play and Isis wants to play. Poor Isis runs up to her expecting to get into a game of chase and Dharma things she's trying to attack her and then the hissing and growling starts!

[greenbunny]

I got my second cat last August and they still hate each other. Not to worry you, but I wonder if they just clash too much to ever work it out. We've made a commitment and I refuse to take her back, so I guess we'll just have to work it out as best we can.

I know what you mean about it not working the way you thought. My first cat is a fussy 7-year-old and I thought she'd lord it over the new 2-year-old, but, as it turns out, she's let the younger one terrorize her and become sullen and withdrawn instead of fighting back with her usual spunk.

[fuzzy]

We had three cats (littermates) when we adopted out fourth.

Baxter took to her immediately.
Floyd decided to beat her up a few times before figuring out that she wasn't all that interested in her.
And McGee still hates her to this day (three years later). They've *just* gotten to the point where they can be in the same room without a small fight.

Hang in there! Dharma is probably used to being threatened by other cats/animals/people. I bet she has to learn to trust a little bit, and once she does, she'll begin to accept Isis.

[jnettie]

We adopted an older cat from a shelter when our first cat was about 9 months old. Jade (the kitten) did not like Sissy at all. We had some major fights in the first year (blood was involved once), but now about 2 years later, they tollerate each other and sometimes even sleep near each other. Basicly, Jade wants all the attention, and the only time she gets really pissy anymore is when Sissy is getting too much loving.

[newsjunkie]

Meganth, our cats were the same way. I had Simba since he was a kitten. When he was a year old I adopted Samara at 4 months old. Simba barely knew she was in the apartment but Samara went crazy whenever he was nearby hissing and growling. I kept them apart when I wasn't home and introduced them to each other slooooowly- like for 5 minutes at a time every hour or so and gradually increasing it. They now get along great. Sure, they fight but my vet assures me it is more play fighting than anger fighting. I just moved in with my fiance and we are now in a big house instead of a small apartment and they are having a blast tearing around here chasing each other. :)

[vwinkel]

When I was growing up my parents had 3-4 cats at a time. None of the cats ever got along. They tolerated one another, but weren't buddies and they each had their own territory of the house.

It wasn't until later when I got my own cats, did I realize that the cats could get along! When I introduced my Sassy to DH's two male cats (who were buddies) about a year ago, I was hesitant. But, one of the two has taken to Sassy and they play all of the time. The other one just tolerates her.

It will take some time and they may not be friends, but they won't kill each other either. I hope your new kitty feels at home soon! Good luck!

[PrincessTommi]

Same thing happened to us. Our first cat wanted to play, and cat #2, wasn't having it. It took a couple of weeks til they would tolerate each other all the time. We started by isolating #2, and introducing them slowly, only letting them be together for periods of time while we were there. It took a few days before we left them alone unsupervised. They are buddies now.

[Tonysweetie]

I adopted Max back in June at 4 months old now he's over a year old and last week we adopted Cleo and she's 11 weeks old and they get all GREAT! I couldn't ask for better. THe first 2 days Max hissed at her a lot but now they sleep together, lick each other, eat together, play all the time with each other, chase each other etc. It's worked out wonderfully! Good LUck!

[melmo]

Sorry to say that we got our second cat 7 years ago and they still do not get along. The one that was here first is a girl. She's not the best tempered. She likes to be left alone. If she is in the mood, she will come around to have her face scratched or to sit with DH. The second cat is a boy. He's all boy. A hunter, fun loving, attention whoring, doofus. He treats the girl like prey. Poor thing. Everything she comes out of her hiding spot, he pounces. We do everything we can to help the situation, but it's been nonstop for 7 years. We play with the boy a lot and let him get all of his energy out. I will distract him while the girl comes out. I feel so bad because she's basically a prisoner in her own home! There is a lot of hissing and growling going on around here.