Cats still not getting on...and I’m being attacked now.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

To cut a long story short, my older cat and new kitten weren’t getting on brilliantly, but had reached a truce, whereby they could sit on the bed or sofa about a foot apart. I went away for Christmas (not planned but the only way I could see my family without the DDs having to spend the entire time here self isolating and then another two weeks in U.K.).

I didn’t particularly want to leave the two cats alone - as it was, my return flight kept getting cancelled, and instead of being away for less than a week, I was away for three. So the kitten went to a friend round the corner, and the big cat had a night/day on his own with me before I left and the cat sitter came.

He spent all of his time looking for her, and yowled non-stop. He yowled non-stop for the cat sitter too. The kitten came back yesterday, and the yowling stopped. He sniffed her when she arrived, and basically took little notice of her. They sat on the sofa together and both slept on the bed last night.

Today he has been like a different cat. He’s been growling, hissing and aggressive towards her and me. He’s attacked me in my sleep twice tonight (which is why I am still awake at 0400), and has never done this before, ever. He bit and clawed my arm snd face.

They have both now left the bedroom and there have been periods of calm (when they were both sitting on the sofa, at opposite ends), but now the hissing has started again. I’ve had no sleep.

We have Feliway Friends wafting round the place, to little/no effect. The big cat has had Zylkene added to his food as well.

I don’t need them to be friends, just to get back to a reasonable co-existence like we had before. I’d also like a night’s sleep without fearing for my eyes. Does anyone have any advice? The kitten has been with us since August/September and is now 9/10 months old. The big cat is 11. He’s lived with other cats before and was fine, except he loved the last one too much and we rehomed her as we thought she’d be happier as an only cat. The kitten is calm and deferential to him, and has fortunately realised that she is quicker than him and that he can’t jump, so can get away easily.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Bump!

[RuleOfCat]

From watching far too many Jackson Galaxy videos, I'd say you have to repeat the introduction process from scratch, but probably somewhat accelerated. So separate them out physically, scent swap objects, then feed them at the same time but on either side of a barrier, then remove the barrier and feed them at the same time from separate bowls, and play with them together. That should get them used to each other again.

[FlamingoAtTheBingo]

Maybe stop getting kittens/cats? Sorry, I know there not helpful.

However it's well known that cats are, generally speaking, solitary. So it wasn't particularly fair on your existing cat to get a kitten. No wonder it's not happy

All you can do is try and limit their interactions where you can for now and slowly build up their tolerance to each other

[Veterinari]

@RuleOfCat

From watching far too many Jackson Galaxy videos, I'd say you have to repeat the introduction process from scratch, but probably somewhat accelerated. So separate them out physically, scent swap objects, then feed them at the same time but on either side of a barrier, then remove the barrier and feed them at the same time from separate bowls, and play with them together. That should get them used to each other again.

Yep I'd go back to this.

Also focus on keeping the environment as consistent as possible. Minimise cleaning,keep the scent profile stable etc. Give the zylkene a bit of time to kick in. He sounds very stressed

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I’ve done the feeding at the same time. It was all going a lot better today. I had a nap and when I woke up they were both on the pillow next to me. Then the big cat hissed at the kitten when he saw her, and she ran off. It’s been better this evening - he has been calmer and less stressed. I try and spend time with him on his own. He won’t really play with anything- he is terrified of the red dot and the fishing rod toy. It’s virtually impossible to keep them apart as my apartment is very open plan. I tried initially keeping the kitten shut in a bedroom but she learned to open the door (and can also open locked doors) and marched into my bedroom shouting triumphantly. He has also stopped hissing at me, for now.

Right now they are both on the bed with me. He is on the pillow and she is on a blanket at the foot of the bed. He is grumbling a bit, and she is asleep.