Solving the problem when cats don't get along

Before I adopted my cat Raspberry in 2012, she had spent nearly a year at the shelter. A majority of that time, she lived in my office. I can say that I have personally witnessed her live harmoniously alongside multiple cats, so, when I decided to bring home my semi-feral office cat, Misu, this past December, I assumed that Raspberry would accept her just as easily as she had accepted those other shelter cats several years ago.

Misu is, shall we say, overwhelming. Just over a year old, she is full of energy and ready to play at all times. She also has no concept of “personal space.” Raspberry, on the other hand, is quiet and sophisticated. I was hoping Raspberry would put Misu in her place and teach her how to calm down but, instead, Raspberry was so startled by her energy and in-your-face attitude that she resorted to hiding at all times, oftentimes too fearful to even come out to use the litter box.

I know I’m not the only one who has experienced cats that don’t get along. In fact, it’s a common reason many people surrender cats to the shelter. Raspberry and Misu have been living together in peace for many months now, so it is possible to help two cats get along if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. In fact, it took nearly three months for my cats to get to know each other. If your cats are behaving the same way mine did, the following tips may help you.

Start with a good match

In a previous article, I mentioned how important it is when adopting a second (or third, or fourth) cat to find one that will be an appropriate match for the cat you already have at home. While my cats may not seem like the perfect pair at first, I was a witness to the fact that they both were able to get along with other cats and, with some effort on my part, they would be fine together. Some cats, however, will never be comfortable with other cats no matter what you do to help them.

Slow down the introductions

Properly introducing two cats is an article unto itself, but the basic concept is this: go slow. Even the most calm and laid back cat can be overwhelmed and possibly even aggressive if a new cat is suddenly tossed in his face. Start your cats in separate areas of the house and then, after a few days, switch them so they can become familiar with each other’s scents. When you do introduce the cats face to face, do it slowly and in short bursts so your cats aren’t too overwhelmed all at once.

Take what you’ve got and double it

When cats have issues with one another, it often stems from them feeling like they do not have access to their basic needs, namely the food dish and the litter box. If you have an especially social cat, your pet may also feel like they’re not getting enough access to you. If your cats feel like there’s not enough food, playtime, etc. for them they will start to display bad habits, like destructive behavior and litter box accidents. Fortunately, this is usually an easy fix – just take what you’ve got and double it. For my cats, I set up dishes and a litter box in two completely separate areas of the house. Two is enough in my house, but, depending on how many cats you have, you may need more.

If you have more than one cat, it’s also important to split your time amongst them. Playing with both cats at the same time may not be as rewarding to your cat as you spending one-on-one time with him, so make sure to shower all your cats with the same amount of love. Although it was tempting for me to baby Raspberry and scold Misu for being so annoying, favoring Raspberry would’ve only made Misu more persistent about getting attention.

Cleanliness is key

Here’s an all too familiar concern we hear from pet owners: “My cat never had litter box issues before, but as soon as we brought home our other cat, he began having accidents.” This is very common – it happened to me, too! One thing to keep in mind is that, in addition to providing multiple litter boxes for your cats, it’s important to make sure that you’re keeping the boxes as clean as possible. A dirty litter box can lead even the most content cat to start having litter box issues, so adding another cat to mix only makes it worse. For my cats, they are happiest when I use clumping litter and scoop the litter box every morning and every evening.

Alone time is appreciated

Misu does not leave Raspberry alone. Ever. When Misu first came home, though, her constant presence was a source of great anxiety for Raspberry and she was often too nervous to come out from hiding long enough to eat or use the litter box (because Misu was always right there for THAT, too!). I took to shutting Misu into my bedroom with me at night and letting Raspberry roam free in the rest of the house. In the first few months of Misu being at the house, those peaceful hours at night by herself was when Raspberry would come out from hiding and familiarize herself with Misu’s scent. The two of them are best friends now, but I still keep up this nightly ritual because I know Raspberry appreciates the peace and quiet.

Don’t give up

There are some cats who are destined to be “only children” but, for the most part, a majority of cats can learn to get along together if just given time. We have many free roaming cat areas at the shelter and, unlike dogs, the cats just seem to work things out on their own. The key thing to remember is that the entire process will take time. Do not give up just because your cats do not get along within the first few days, or even the first few weeks. Just because your cats aren’t best friends overnight does not mean they cannot learn to get along!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org.To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.