feuding cats

Question
I have two cats that I took in as strays after my two cats passed away from old age. The first one I found was a spaid older female, she is about 10 and I have had her about 5yrs.Two years ago I found a young mother with 3 newborn babies. I took her in and found homes with relatives for the kittens had the mother spaid and kept her.i also have two small dogs. the problem is Lucy the young one attacks another animal right away. She doesn't have to see what it is dog or cat she will fly at them. She stays in the celler during the day, it is a nice celler with a couch and bed and windows for her to look out and a radio on all the time for company.She has the run of the house at night when we are in bed.I want to be able to have all my pets together with us in the same room. I asked my vet and she told me that where I didn't take them in at the same time they might never get a long. I read the other letters who wrote into you but none of them were about strays.Sometimes I sleep on the couch so she can have human companionship and she is very lovable to me and sleeps on my belly at night. Can you help me?

Answer
Marijane,

Your young cat has serious territorial issues and she includes YOU in her territory!
Is there a reason why she is in the basement during the day and not with the other pets? As you stated "she has the run of the house at night" . She thinks the cats and dogs are invaders in HER territory.

You should start at the beginning with a slow introduction to the other pets in the household, just like she was a new cat. And I'm sorry to say that you veterinarian gave you the wrong information. That is NOT true that you have to get pets all at the same time for them to get along!

The only difference with strays is that you don't know their experiences and behavior that they inherited.

I am including a couple of links on introducing a new pet. It might help all your animals to get along though it may take a couple of weeks of time, patience, and love. Also a good thing to do is put her in a carrier in the middle of the room for short periods of time so the animals can safely smell her and she can get used to them. You should allow her to be with them during the day when it is safe for all at least sometime of the time.

Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar:

http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm

http://www.catclinicofroswell.net/faq/detaile27a.html?faqid=9

I hope this helps.
Tabbi