Multiple cat household

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If you were still in the process of trying to integrate a new cat into your previously two cat household, and then inadvertently acquired another cat, would you metaphorically throw the baby out with the bath water and bring the fourth into the mix whilst all still adjusting, or leave it some time potentially unsettling them again down the line?

Also, whats the longest amount of time your cats have taken to accept a new one?

To clarify, keeping the newest is not a definite, in case anyone was concerned - welfare of the original two is our priority, just we've inherited this last one after their owner died

Bring the fourth in while boundaries are still fluid. But I'd generally recommend against having more than three in a normal size house+garden, if there's anyone else who can take the last one.

Condolences on the circumstances.

Sorry to hear of your loss 💐

Regards to the cat question - a couple of days seem to be as long as it’s taken for a new order to establish itself. With a couple of weeks for the cats to establish the new order / rules between themselves. I have watched over mine closely ready to referee, but it’s not been needed. The worst that’s happened is a bit of hissing from older cats to put new cats in their place, one older cat did shove a kitten out of the window seat just so she could have the view, but no claws or hissing. It literally was ‘I’m sitting there either you move or I’m sitting on you too’.
They all now share bowls and litter trays and sleep together. But not all cats are the same.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

We've never, ever done the slow cautious introductions you read about online. Our latest is a six month old kitten and we brought him home at 10 weeks. There was maybe 24h of hissing/wariness from our two resident cats but after that there was no problems.

We've never, ever had a fight. We have two males and a female. No behavioural issues from any of them. None of them are related, either.

When you say you're in the process of integrating the third - what are you doing? Are there any issues arising? If there are problems I would say it's not fair to add a fourth and therefore more stress. We're at our max with three and I wouldn't want to upset the balance we have.

I have six cats and have introduced many over the years. I would definitely recommend that you take things slowly, I had terrible problems after a rushed introduction that took about 18 months to sort out. A lot depends on the cats temperaments, I have one cat who adores other cats and one who takes much longer to get used. I've just introduced an ex feral and did the whole scent swapping feeding each side of a barrier etc and they all get along fine now.
I think it will be very stressful for the new cat to be in a new environment and have to face new cats, especially if it has lived alone for a long time. Slow and steady is the key imo, once things go wrong it is harder to establish a harmonious household. Patience and persistence is the key.

Thanks all for your condolences and advice. The cat we're already trying to introduce has been spayed since she came here, she's very playful and full of character, but there is still at least a daily flare up where she will charge at one of the existing cats when they are just moving about normally. We've tried Feliway plugins, pet remedy spray on furnishings, and for the last few days yucalm capsules too but there is still a definite atmosphere. The newest cat has been being taken up to sleep overnight as the other cats just spend their day stuck in the dining room otherwise, they are too timid to roam the house with her about.

I should say we had a third cat previously, he passed away earlier this year due to kidney failure in old age, so we know they are used to other cats, it just seems to be a personality clash.

Fourth cat is a lot more docile, already spayed, and older, which is why I wonder do we try and introduce her to see if she restores some calm, shes not currently in the house (we have an outbuilding shes quite happy in at the moment and have placed her on a rescue waiting list).

We can afford to keep them all, and the house is three storeys and quite large, so I felt it was our duty to them to try rather than put pressure on rescues, but I can't force them all to get along and to be honest I feel like if we had have known we'd end up with fourth cat we'd never have taken in third as her temperament seems far more suited

Can you not rehome the third and try the fourth? Sometimes it's just personality and no number of slow introductions will change anything.

It very much depends on the cats. I've had 4 before who were all the best of friends and then two who hated each others guts and in the end had to be kept apart in different areas of the house forever until one of them dies. current cat won't tolerate another cat so she lives with me on her own.

How long have you had them all? It can take many months to get them used in some cases. In my experience they will all get along albeit grudgingly initially in some cases given the time and right environment. I always tell people to watch Jackson galaxy for some good tips, I think the blue Cross have decent info too. It sounds like the newer cat is more boisterous, so make sure it has plenty of toys and regularly played with, boredom will make her look for trouble!

Cat 1 we've had 6 years and is 9, cat 2 18 months (from a stray kitten), both boys, cat 3 we've had around 8 weeks and she's probably a little older than cat 2 (was stray so not 100% sure), spayed 3 weeks ago. Cat 4 is spayed and around 5 years old. She's definitely very playful, and cat 2 has joined in playing with her but only at distance
Ive watched quite a few youtube videos and we've changed some furniture around to give the boys perches etc, but I feel awful that they won't venture around the rest of the house freely

@TheHighestSardine

Bring the fourth in while boundaries are still fluid. But I'd generally recommend against having more than three in a normal size house+garden, if there's anyone else who can take the last one.

Condolences on the circumstances.

I agree with the first sentence but couldn't disagree more with the second.

It doesn’t sound like at three wants to be in a multi-cat household, so would try to rehome her. She sounds stressed and would probably settle much quicker in a new home by herself.

Not all cats are happy living with others.

Maybe keep 4 and re-home 3 if things don't settle?
I think it can take several months for a multi cat household to work out. Or hours/days. It really depends on the personalities.

I think it sounds like they aren't doing too badly to be honest, especially if they're playing near each other. I'd be inclined to leave them to it, they will be staying where they feel safe and secure for now, but I'm sure they'll venture out in time.

As for not all cats being happy living with others, I've personally not found this and many behaviourists don't believe it to be the case either, I am aware that some disagree though. Unless there is obvious bullying, badly stressed or fighting I wouldn't be thinking of rehoming at this point.

A relative has said they'd give cat 4 a home if we were open to letting them, so I think that is the best course of action for her.... they've lost both their cats this year to illness and are missing having a cat around. The suggestion of keep 4 and rehome 3 did cross my mind but I'd feel so guilty so I'm going to let them meet her and see.

Cat 3 is currently curled up in the crook of my knee snoring away, shes definitely a people cat rather than a cat's cat but we will give them a few weeks longer and see how it pans out. We had some positive interaction between the three earlier, hopefully they can learn to co-exist at least for now!

I'm sure it will work out just fine, once they're all settled I hope you enjoy them all 😊