New cat picking on existing cat - advice?

[littleladyluna]

I foster cats and recently got a real sweetie in. I told my mum and sister about her and they thought she sounded like the perfect companion for their current cat. They applied to adopt her and were approved, and I delivered her to them last weekend.

We let the newbie settle in for a few days and swapped scents as we read we should. Initially they were quite calm with each other - existing cat was interested and wanted to play. New cat has become progressively meaner towards her and given the opportunity will stalk and try to chase her. The reports I'm getting are that existing cat is getting progressively unnerved by the new cat's presence and they regularly have spats that upset my mum and sister. They are having regular alone time to decompress after each introduction.

Existing cat does nothing aggressive to provoke these "attacks". It's been less than a week but they are seeing things go backwards, and their beloved resident cat being "bullied" by the newbie.

Anything you can suggest to ease the transition?

I would seperate again and go back to swapping blankets over, if that doesn't work I would rehome the foster cat.

Resident cat shouldn't be attacked in her home.

As Fluffy said.

It sounds as if the new cat is sensing some sort of 'weakness' in the resident cat and is riding on it. She might be just perfect with humans but some cats really don't much like other cats and will give no quarter.

This seems to back up everything I've read. And I agree cozie that the resident cat's lack of confidence is being seen as weakness. They've taken a step back and started the scent thing again but I spoke to the charity coordinator yesterday who said if it continues we can give rescue cat back and restore peace.

In a twist to the story my mum has fallen in love with rescue cat and doesn't want her to go

Does your Mum have her own place?

Sorry - I meant completely separate from yours so that Resident Cat never smells or hears any of the fosters.

It's my mum's house and my sister lives there with Resident Cat. Resident Cat is very playful and to be honest was not getting the attention she needed as both my mum and sister were out at work. I think we all thought she needed a playmate as she gets excited when she sees other cats - even the vet commented that they deliberately put her next to the yowling Siamese when she went in for her spay as she was the only cat not upset by it.

Many miles away I foster for a small charity and got Rescue Cat in. She is playful, fast, and the same age as Resident Cat. Came from a multi cat household and has a badly damaged front paw as a result of being used as a football when she was a kitten

My sister has taken her on a "foster to adopt" basis on the understanding that if it doesn't work out with Resident Cat she comes back to me or the charity. And that is where we are currently...

Achh. One of the problems is that humans sometimes ascribe human/their own motivations to cats - in this case, it could be a sort of 'I like them both, so they'll get on eventually'.

Unfortunately - and in this case they probably are like humans, some cats don't like other individuals. And that's that.

Resident cat may be perfectly amiable but it doesn't mean that New Cat is either herself amiable or prepared to become bosom buddies. Maybe try the re-introduction thing that Fluffy mentioned but I'd also be prepared to give up if it doesn't work/if they don't show signs of at least tolerating each other.

PS - I'm referring to other cats of course. Most of my Siamese boys have been just great with humans - albeit sometimes in their own way - but unable to see another cat without feeling that sweet urge to punch them in the face.

Can you tell I have some psychological scars here?

Totally right. It's the bad paw and the "unpopular colour" of Rescue Cat which makes my mother very keen for this to work. We'll have another go but I will not see Resident Cat upset by this in the long term. She is utterly lovely and doesn't deserve this.

Our last Siamese utterly hated all other cats but slept under the duvet with her head on the pillow with my sister. I'm starting to come round to the theory that they are perfectly happy on their own!

Any idea how long we should make a go of this until we give up? It's been less than a week.

Your call, I'm afraid. I'd make it sooner rather than later though - just to avoid psychological damage to the cats in question. I'd also be prepared to step in and split them if needed. If your mother is feeling 'tender thoughts', she might be inclined to ........over-interpret behaviours from either cat.

Have a chat with the other rescue staff if there's no improvement in your view after the re-introduction?

It took MCat a couple of months to accept Little Monsieur, who was a kitten at the time. We researched a "bomb-proof" cat, (Devon Rex) and no matter how much MCat hissed/spat/swiped/ran away from him, he just carried on his cheery, friendly way. Never hissed or spat at MCat.

There was a point when I thought I would have to return Little Monsieur to the breeder, but now they're proper bro's.

IME 2 boys (neutered) get on best together. Females want to be dominant, due to their matriarchal society.

Rubbish I don't think I'd be worried if Resident Cat was the one being a bit mean. After all it is her territory and she has to get used to the newbie. The other way round though, with Rescue Cat doing the bullying feels all kinds of wrong.

We're going to give it another week, and if there is no improvement we'll make plans to rehome Rescue Cat to someone else.

I took in a boy cat around 2 months ago, and he was a right thug to my existing old boy. However, the pecking order now seems to be established and old boy gets to the food first and the comfiest spot on my bed. Sometimes they just need time to settle and get used to one another.