New cat swats at my other cats

by Courtney
(Atlanta, GA)

It has only been a week since I adopted Pressley so it may be too soon to start worrying. I already have two cats that are about a year and half old and I recently adopted a two year old cat. I put him in his own room for awhile and then introduced the three of them after a couple days. There was some hissing and growling, but that has all stopped. My cats are very interested in him and just want to get to know him. Whenever they come up to smell him or even touch him he swats at them and walks away. I just feel like he has no interest in getting to know them. He doesn't even try to smell them. He is very sweet, but I almost feel like he doesn't like it here. He may not have been around other cats before. I just don't want my old cats to feel threatened everytime they go near him. Do I just need to give longer and see what happens? Will he ever stop swatting at them?

RESPONSE:

You are right in thinking that it is too soon to judge. However, your new guy may never be cuddle buddies with the others. It is wrong to expect all cats to be best buddies just because they live together. They have different personalities and different needs. As long as they are not trying to kill each other, just let it go. They will likely work things out for themselves. Your new guy is probably a bit unhappy because he is in a new environment and cats HATE change. Just give him some time to adjust, make sure everybody get lots of love and see how it goes.

Donna
House Full Cats Mom