According to Dr. Karen Becker “Anecdotal evidence suggests that behavioral issues may arise during key development periods because the two puppies’ deep bond impedes their individual ability to absorb and grasp the … However, it doesn’t take long for a kitten to reattach to her human family and other pets in the house. That means it’s the behavior modification you do when the cats are once again exposed to each other that makes the difference. When one cat fails to recognize another and either attacks or displays territorial aggression, there are a few things you can do. If they do fight, it’s best to distract them with loud noise rather than trying to put yourself between fighting cats. It’s best to gradually reintroduce cats who have been separated for even a short time. Separate the cats by creating a sanctuary room for one of them. I will be keeping the rest of the bundle of joy because I don't want to give them away and I know I will be taking good care of them including the mother cat as well. Treatment then involves slowly reintroducing the cats to each other, (the same way a new cat is introduced into the household). Just as with a new cat introduction, the main purpose of the reintroduction is to give the cats a reason to like each other. Here's the situation. If one cat eats faster than the other use a dish with some obstacles in it (such as a slow-feeder bowl used for dogs who eat too quickly). I used a LARGE cage, and it helped a ton. Re-introducing cats after a break. Now my question goes to anyone, later on … Before doing this, place the other cat in a separate room temporarily. The cat who had the run of the house has been freely distributing her scent around but we have to make sure the cat who is in the sanctuary can have that opportunity as well. Every situation is unique. Remember, don’t try to handle the cats if they are aroused or agitated or you will be the victim of redirected aggression. There’s a type of aggression that occurs between cats in the same household after a veterinary visit that can be easily prevented with a little planning. However, sometimes siblings just don’t like each other and refuse to get along. I used to think they were just baiting me to snap at them, because exotic cats will kill each other and at the end of the day there would only be one cat left standing. It depends on the age of the kittens and how long they have been separated. I'm a new cat lover, and am in need of help. Reintroducing Cats Who Have Been Away From Home. Hi guys, It's another of those "why do my cats suddenly hate each other" threads. Cats that are in pain may act aggressively toward people or other pets in an attempt to avoid touch, movement, or certain activities that might worsen the pain. People often ask why we don't let our cats all live together in one big yard. Even though cats aren't sentimental about their brothers or sisters, if planning to get two or more cats, it can be a good idea to get them from the same litter. Introducing a new kitten to an older cat should be done slowly and with care, explains Christina Lee, animal behavior counselor for the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team.. “Cats are naturally solitary animals — free-ranging cats are territorial, and hunt and scavenge for food alone,” Lee tells The Dodo. If one cat is clearly displaying ongoing offensive aggression then that’s the cat I usually put in the sanctuary room. I've had one cat for about 3 months now (Salem), and I just brought one of her 12 week old siblings home 7 days ago. The separation is mainly to allow the cats to relax again and also to prevent further injury or aggressive displays. If one cat smells unfamiliar to another cat, regardless of whether they’re related, the unfamiliar-smelling cat will be regarded as a stranger. Some cats get very anxious and lonely and I'd bring in a new cat sooner if I saw that. He's trying to be friendly with her. Is there any tips with reintroduction with missing cats. If your kitten shows signs of distress at being separated from her litter, you can hasten her reattachment to you by simply responding to her cries and caring for her as her mother would. The guidelines covered above apply if one of your cats has been away from home. Before bringing his pal home, give … This is the kind of non-recognition aggression you may see when one cat comes home from the veterinary clinic and is either hissed at or actually attacked. If one cat has to leave but the other doesn't, take Kitty's favorite blanket or toy with you. Even a short separation can be enough to make them forget. Periodically do a scent swap by letting the cat in the sanctuary room out into the house to distribute his scent. If your house is set up in such a way that you can divide it up so each cat has her own territory, then that will do as well. I'm new with missing and reuniting cats… I had no idea my older cat would hiss when my little one got back from the vet. The reintroduction gives each cat time to get back to normal and not be so stressed so you can help them gradually get comfortable with each other again. Jean Marie Bauhaus has been writing about a wide range of topics since 2000. You also should be aware of breed temperament when deciding not only whether to adopt siblings, but also multiple cats in general. Maternal aggression usually subsides once the kittens are weaned. By this time, a kitten has formed a strong attachment to her mother and litter mates, and may show signs of missing her family after being separated from them. There is no one right answer. (4) Once all is going well with the above, you can try limited supervised periods with 2 cats in the same room - one person tending to one cat, the other person sitting with the other cat. New 5 year old cat being introduced to 1 year old siblings. Why Do Cats Hiss At New Kittens or Cats?→. Littermate Syndrome is more than just double the puppy trouble when it comes to raising sibling puppies. I love cats. Posted May 09, 2013 Unless a pair of kitten siblings are raised together, they are not likely to remember or recognize each other after becoming separated. Once this happens, the kitten usually forgets all about her mother and siblings and adapts to being a part of her new family. There’s also a good chance that one or both of the cats could get injured (perhaps severely). Pam Johnson-Bennett is the best-selling author of 8 books on cat behavior. One of the most common forms of cat aggression occurs between cats that live together but are separated for a short time. Option 1-Board the cat flap now, even with strangers coming in and out of the house, and make my actual cat use the window, and just have to ask to come in and out Option 2- wait till its sold, THEN board the flap. Once cats have fought each other, it is very difficult to reintroduce them to each other.”Once a relationship becomes violent or very fearful and the cat feels threatened it can be very difficult to change the behavior patterns”. Ask Question Asked 2 years ago. The method for reintroducing cats is the same as the protocol for introducing a new cat into the household. The room needs to be equipped with a food bowl, water, litter box, scratching post, toys and some cozy napping places. Gunghalin Veterinary Hospital: Aggression in Cats after Separation. The returning cat should remain in the carrier, out of reach, until all of the cats are calm and acting curious toward one another. If you’re feeding wet food you can also push the food against the bottom and sides of the bowl so the cat has to work a bit harder to get it. Well, that really applies when you’re talking about cats! They should be placed in separate rooms so that they can hear and smell each other, but no visual contact occurs. Once no one is displaying any signs of aggression, it should be safe to let the returning cat out, but you should still keep an eye on the situation. It also allows you to keep the interaction between the cats at a level that doesn’t spark extreme reactions. With a reintroduction you’re separate the cats and introduce them in the same way you would if they had never met. Instead, bringing a new cat home can trigger the territorial panic switch in your existing cat, and this often means war. Even a short separation can be enough to make them forget. Maternal AggressionA female cat with a litter of kittens may hiss, growl, chase, swat or try to bite another cat who approaches, even one with whom she was formerly friendly. She has a Bachelor of Science in social science from Rogers State University. A good way to prevent a fight between two siblings or two pals is to mix their scents together. One way to do this is to keep the returning cat in her carrier, either outside or in a separate room. Nonrecognition aggression occurs when one cat is uncharacteristically aggressive toward a companion cat after a period of separation. Cats rely primarily on scent for recognition. If your cats are apart for any reason, such as a stay at the vets, then their scent may be affected and they may not be recognised as part of their social group when they return. The cats should be rotated around all the rooms in the house until they have left their … Some breeds, like the Siamese, generally prefer to be the only cat in the house and might behave aggressively toward another cat regardless of the circumstances. Reintroducing Cats After Being Apart. If you’re wondering which cat to put in the sanctuary room and which cat to let have the run of the rest of the house, here’s how I typically make the decision. Attempting to keep a lid on serious intercat aggression when the cats are constantly in each other’s sight can be very counterproductive because both cats remain at such a high level of reactivity. This will be determined by how serious the aggression has been, how much time you can dedicate to doing the behavior modification, and how receptive the cats are. When you have  cats who aren’t getting along and all your attempts at behavior modification have been unsuccessful, it may be time to do a reintroduction. If your cat goes outdoors at all, keep these these safety factors in mind. The longer a cat is away, the harder it can be to reintegrate. Rub a towel over both cats multiple times to mingle their scents and encourage recognition before bringing in the carrier. They've been with us since they were 7 months. If necessary, throw a thick towel over one of the cats so that you can safely take them to another room. For example, after one cat returns home from a veterinary visit, the cat that stayed home is aggressive toward the returning cat, who may flee, freeze (hold still), or fight back. Adopting siblings also brings the risk that both cats will have inherited the same genetic health issues or behavioral problems. They are littermates adopted from a no kill shelter. Parent-Child Reunification After Alienation Strategies to reunite alienated parents and their children. Even a short trip to another location, like the vet’s office, can be enough to cover a cat in unfamiliar scents that cause other cats in the household to react to her as an invader when you bring her home. Kitten siblings already have bonded and established a social hierarchy, which might make them less likely to fight. Scent is a very important communication tool between cats. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Although some cats do enjoy the companionship of other cats, unlike dogs, cats are not pack animals. Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media reintroducing cat siblings all Rights Reserved instead, bringing a new cat,... Is a very important communication tool between cats use a very valuable behavior modification:... A Bachelor of Science in social Science from Rogers State University gunghalin Veterinary:... Said the way to a man ’ s heart is through his stomach protocol introducing. 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