Cats who hate each other

Question
I have rescued a cat from the pound.  I next rescued a second cat.  The two do not get along together.  We are fond of them both, but the second one tried to attack the first one.  I now keep them in separate rooms to avoid fights.
How can I reconcile these two cats that are affectionate to humans?  Is there some method that will work?
Thank you for any help.
Bill T.

Answer
William -


Cats are very territorial. The first thing to do is to make sure that each kitty has his/her own litter boxes.  The rule of thumb is to have one extra litter box per the number of cats you have.  In your case, you should have three litter boxes.  

You may also want to have individual food bowls and water bowls.  This will help to eliminate the fight for territory as each cat will have their own food and water bowls.  

Next you should consider placing pheromones that will help to reduce the stress in the household.  There are "aromatherapy" items that mimic the smells that only cats can detect.  These smells help the cats to relax - they are called pheromones.  You can purchase these items at pet stores.  One brand is called "Feliway".  It is plugged into the wall and usually helps to relieve the stress between the cats.  Make sure you consult with the salesperson to determine how many Feliway items you need to purchase.

Consult with your veterinarian to make sure the cats are healthy. If one of the cats has a subclinical illness, the cat that is sick may be picking fights with the other kitty.  Once you have determined that both cats are healthy, you will know then that the environment that should change.

Often it takes time for cats to get used to each other.  Be patient - it may take a while for the cats to get along.  Provide the cats with areas to perch - cats like to sit high - and areas to scratch.  Cat condos are great for areas to perch - you may need to get two(smile) and scratching posts are great ways to provide areas to scratch.  Scratching posts provide a great deal of exercise in addition to places to scratch. Your cats will thank you for it!!

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM