Two Cats, One Territory

Two Cats, One Territory: How Will it Work Out?

About a month ago, we introduced a two-year-old male cat from our local animal shelter into our household where we have a twelve-year-old male cat.

In the beginning, the older cat was acting a bit aggressively and seemed resentful of the new cat. He seems to want to make friends now, but the two-year-old has now become the aggressor. It's like he wants to take over the house. The older cat seems to be living in fear, and whenever the younger cat comes into the room, he starts to crouch in fear and growls.

Both cats are sweethearts with people and have adorable personalities. What I've noticed is that for a while it seemed like they might get along. They would touch noses and the older one would sit or crouch down, kind of showing the younger one that he meant no harm.

Now the younger cat seems to be taking advantage of the situation and remains standing, turning his body so that it looks longer and more threatening to the older cat. He also holds his head in what looks like a somewhat aggressive posture. They stay away from each other for the most part, but the younger one struts around like he owns the place.

I am worried about our older cat feeling depressed and living in fear. What can we do?

Thanks~~ Robin

Expert Reply

Hi Robin,

The territorial struggle you're witnessing is common to many multi-cat households. Thankfully, the cats seem to be working it out better in your situation than in some I heard of.

When you first brought the new cat home, he definitely felt like he was in another cat's territory, and so he was very ginger around your established house cat. Your older cat felt supremely confident about his territory, and so he was willing to show tolerance for the new cat.

Now a month later, the new cat has become comfortable with you and his surroundings. He's ready to claim some territory for his own, hence the small conflicts you're witnessing. The crouching and growling you're observing in your older cat isn't necessarily fear, but he is communicating with the new cat. He's basically offering some leeway, and your new cat's posture says "I'm taking it".

As I understand it, there has been no true fighting, just posturing so far. This is good. There's a change going on in the balance of things in your household, and while your older cat may feel a little stressed at this point he is making efforts to adjust.

There are a few things you can do to help both cats through the transition while they're working things out on their own.

• Make sure you have provided at least two litter boxes in separate areas of the home, and each cat should have his own set of dishes.
• If you notice one of the cats becoming more aggressive, try removing that cat from the situation to another area in the house. This will diffuse the immediate conflict.
• If things escalate into true fights it may be better to confine both cats to separate areas of the house, in essence sorting their territories out for them.
• If the new cat hasn't already been neutered, have this taken care of right away. It will take a little of the bluster out of him.

For now, I'd still let them continue to work it out on their own. Consider that first month the honeymoon period. Now they have to figure out how to live together on a daily basis.

Thanks for your question~~ Kelly

Territorial Siamese

I have a nine-year-old female seal point Siamese named Phebe. Almost a month ago, we brought home Mo, a now three-month-old male seal point Siamese. We did the whole separation thing for a week. Now, whenever I or my husband are home, they are together. Phebe is still hissing, swatting and growling whenever Mo comes near her. Do I just let her hiss, swat and growl? I usually yell, "Hey!" and clap my hands. I don't want any cat fights, and I don't want them to hurt each other! What should I do? Whenever Phebe hisses and swats and I yell, she runs and hides! Any advice will be helpful.

~~Rebecca

Expert Reply

Hi Rebecca,

I have always owned at least one Siamese. Aren't they wonderful cats? Siamese can be particularly territorial cats, and it sounds like Phebe is having a hard time adjusting to the new kid in town. There are several steps you can take to help ease this transition a bit.

First, a week of separation was probably about right, but did you slowly introduce the new cat into the room? If not, the process is described in the article Bringing a New Cat Home. It is okay to go back to square one and start over with introducing the two cats to one another. More than likely, Phebe will adjust eventually, but if you can help ease this transition, it will be less traumatic for both cats and for you and your husband.

I would also stop yelling at Phebe. She needs extra attention and love as she adjusts to the new family member. It is likely that she doesn't even really understand why you clap your hands and yell. She may think it is because you don't like Mo either. Cats are very hard to train with any type of negative reinforcement. They respond best to praise for good behavior. I've had to learn that the hard way with a cat that refuses to get off my counters. Nothing, absolutely nothing, worked until I began to praise her for not jumping on them. Now she does much better.

I hope these suggestions help, but if you're stilling having trouble after trying these steps, please don't hesitate to come back, and we can brainstorm some additional ideas.

~~Lori