Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Flip

Original poster

Our new adopted cats hissing at each other

24 replies

Twonewcats · 29/05/2014 08:01

Our two adult cats arrived yesterday and are seeming to settle in quickly. However they keep hissing at each other despite having lived together previously for years. Is this purely because they are frightened of the new situation they're in?
One hissed at my 3yr old ds this morning, which made me very nervous. Hopefully after a few days they'll be ok.
I think it probably doesn't help that they're not getting outside yet, as they previously had a cat flap so they came and went as they pleased. How long until they're settled enough to come back if we let them out?

Thanks in advance x

OP posts:

Squeegle · 29/05/2014 08:09

Yes, this is very normal. Our two cats (brothers) were like this when they came to us. We kept them in one room with litter tray for nearly a week, then have them the run of the house for another week or so before they went out.

A bit longer might have been better as one of them was out for about an hour and a half before he came back. I think the vet recommended a month indoors. Even though that seemed a lot- maybe it's the right amount so they truly feel at home. They recommend just letting them out for very short spells in the garden before getting a cat flap.

Squeegle · 29/05/2014 08:10

I think they're just very nervy at the beginning. They don't hiss at all now btw.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 29/05/2014 08:15

Ours (sisters, always lived together and not neglected) came to us at just over a year old last October. They fought a lot the first few weeks. Now it's just the occasional skirmish. We kept them in for a month (decided not to let them out till after Bonfire night). They had free run of the house from day 2, although kept their food and litter and bedding in a quiet room for a few weeks.

cozietoesie · 29/05/2014 08:49

There might also be a little bit of jostling for position - a sort of 'New House, New Rules' thing. It shouldn't last long once they find their feet and they'll likely go back to the way they were before. Is one of them doing more hissing than the other have you noticed? (I'm thinking whether the previous No 2 might be making a bid for glory!)

I'd be tempted to issue the occasional peremptory 'Oi!' at any hissing if I were you - and then go immediately back to normal routine.

deckthehalls1188 · 29/05/2014 11:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Twonewcats · 29/05/2014 15:55

Thanks for the replies.

cosie I think you're right. It's the "timid" one doing more of the hissing. I haven't heard any hissing today but my ds2 isn't here at the moment so we'll see what happens when he gets home...

I've always loved cats but I'm very nervous around them as I don't know how far they'd go if the kids end up frightening or annoying them, or if I look at them the wrong way

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 29/05/2014 16:36

Don't be nervous. You're Mommy Cat to them so just go about your business and let them work things out. (That's why I thought that the occasional 'Oi' from you would do no harm because Mum Cats remonstrate with their kittens if things are a bit heated. But best not to do it in front of the DCs because kids can sometimes take things overboard if they're worried and it's better to give them the example of calm and in control - as always.)

Good luck. You should all be fine soon enough.

cozietoesie · 02/06/2014 11:37

How are they doing?

Original poster

Twonewcats · 04/06/2014 22:56

Sorry for the late reply. I've been so busy at work doing night shift that I haven't been on here for days. They're doing great thanks for aasking. I don't think they like ds2 much but hopefully that'll all be fine soon. They seem settled so that's the main thing. X

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 04/06/2014 23:00

Good. (And best of luck to DS2.)

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/06/2014 16:55

Is ds2 young though? My cats not keen on kids but likes men.

Original poster

Twonewcats · 06/06/2014 00:23

Yeah ds2 is 3.

Tonight, weirdly, as I was about to go to bed I gave the little cat a pat as she was curled up on the chair purring. I patted her a few times, she rubbed her head on my hand. I stroked down her back three times. And she turned and bit my hand! !! WHY??!!! Just as we were all settling in nicely.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/06/2014 06:52

Overstimulated from the sound of it, some cats like you to stick to the head & shoulder area.

cozietoesie · 06/06/2014 07:10

Yep - overstimulated it sounds like. She's probably a bit irritable so best left alone to come to you. I know it sounds odd when she was rubbing her head on your hands but it happens so best to just leave her alone.

Even my boys have been known to do that occasionally and I use the same response. I'll say NO! very firmly and then leave them alone - sometimes I get a sulky back turning but I just ignore that. (Unless it's a bite in bed of course - that's a house rule and a relegation issue. I think Seniorboy may have done it once in 2012 when extremely tried by me but not since.)

I've always found, interestingly, that my boys have never been that big on stroking. What we do do at cozietowers is a heck of a lot of talking to the cats which seems to go down better.

Original poster

Twonewcats · 07/06/2014 23:27

They are really scared of my 3yr old. It's awful :-(

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 07/06/2014 23:40

How is that showing? Try to describe what happens.

Original poster

Twonewcats · 08/06/2014 11:40

They run off and hide any time he even comes into the room. They're jumpy and anxious when he's around. We've told him not to run or jump or squeal when he's near them, but he's 3yo so it is a lot for him to be expected to do. He was patting one of the cats and she swiped at him. Not sure if she was just batting him away or if it was a proper swipe, though

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 08/06/2014 11:55

No claws it sounds like (you'd have seen the aftermath) so - a mute protest.

Have they each got a high place to go to to get away physically from him? (eg top of bookcase/ top of cat tree etc.)

Original poster

Twonewcats · 08/06/2014 13:05

No they don't have a high place. They tend to go under the table when they see him coming, or behind the settee. The problem is its open plan so the downstairs is (sort of) one big area

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 08/06/2014 13:31

Ah right. A high place is better. They're doing the sensible thing which is getting the heck out of his way (bet you occasionally wish you could follow suit?) because he's likely 3 year old-grabby/noisy and unpredictable and cats generally like a reasonably ordered life.

They've been through a lot, remember, so don't give up - but maybe try to provide somewhere inviting that they could go which is out of his reach eg have you got a bookcase or something similar where they could feel secure but also see where he is ? If possible, also, try to have two separate places because they're having to re-negotiate each other as well as DS.

(Or maybe a stairgate fitted on the stairs or a door so that they can get through and he can't? They would soon clock that.)

I'd also (and this will sound a bit out of left field) try to conjure up a 'phrase' to sing-song to them to indicate that DS is going to be around - a sort of 'He's cooommmiinnng! - and try to remember to intone that every time before you bring him in to the room so that they can exit in good time if they want. In my experience, cats do a heck of a lot of their communication orally and there's nothing wrong with using that to your advantage. (I've always had up to half a dozen catchphrases to use to my bunch for various aspects of life and they do come to know what they all mean.)

cozietoesie · 08/06/2014 13:33

PS - that sounds like an awful lot when it's typed out but it's not much in practice.

Good luck

Original poster

Twonewcats · 08/06/2014 13:42

Nope there is literally nothing high downstairs they could use, unfortunately. Thanks for the advice re using a phrase - I wouldn't have thought of that. We're not giving up - that hasn't crossed our minds. I'm certain that they'll be more relaxed about him when they start being allowed outside. They seem very content and relaxed otherwise, at least.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 08/06/2014 13:50

Ah well. Just try to always give them an easy escape route then because their big problem will be feeling that they're trapped and can't get away eg go upstairs. (And DS will soon be 4!)

Original poster

Twonewcats · 08/06/2014 14:49

Ha yes! He's been calmer today with them. Hopefully that continues.

OP posts:

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread