dog whisperer.... is there a cat version' ?

[mandimoo2]

i need someone to take control and make our 2 cats (who lived as single alpha cats for 10 years) be ok with each other. i dont want miracles and have them curled up together on a bed. just to enable the newcomer to go from a to b within the house without needing stitches. i think im too emotionally involved to let them fight it out. and besides its my cat thats the newcomer (to my bf and his cat), and i suspect he (cat, not bf) will just find a new home. for the last 10 months or so we have been operating an 'air lock procedure' to ensure they dont really get in fighting distance.

[mandimoo2]

errr, not really - but happy sat'dy xx

[persianlady]

Have they been neutered? Have they actually had a physical fight?
Cats do an awful lot of posturing when they first meet? It often looks and sounds a lot worse than it is.
What I would do in this situation is have them both in the same room. Get a large cage, make it comfy with a blanket and a cushion. Let them take turns in the cage for a while, just so that they can get agood look at one another. They need to be able to check out the scent of each other also.
If they are taking turns in the cage, their scents will mingle. One of the cats will have to be the dominant one. Sooner or later they will have to come face to face. Usually one will back down. If you introduce them whilst one of them has got the protection of the cage, that will take the stress out of it for you. They will not be able to tear each other to pieces. In my experience, cats will learn to tolerate each other, even if they dont like each other.

[wildwood]

Despite popular believe that all cats except lions are solitary animals, domestic cats have proven to be able to live in 'harmony' with each other, always accepting that there is going be a bit of biffo until the hierarchy has been established. Eventually they may even manage to be in the same room without fur flying, but the subordinate is always going to be trying it on occasionally to see if the boss still has the power , it is the way things work.

Putting the alpha cat in a cage in the room while you feed the other one may have a calming affect but if they have the same character it may make things worse.

[wildwood]

Sorry persianlady. Obviously I am a very slow typer.

[mandimoo2]

im afraid they fought on the first day. i was very stupid and did not research how to intro them properly. the result is that still, 10 months later, the dominant (existing resident female) stalks the newcomer male, who is terrified of her. we did the cage thing for a while, do you think we should go back to it? i suppose it can do no harm.

[Silvercat]

I think its just a case of making sure each has access to food in peace, and the litter tray of course, even if you have to provide two because I have read that the dominant cat can even scare the other from the litter tray which can lead to the obvious problems.
Then it might just be a case of letting them have a few tussles (supervised of course) until they decide a pecking order. With one being a female and one a male this should be easier.

Our big ginger tom beats up our little tabby but she always sneaks back and cuddles up to him so who knows what goes on in their heads.

You can also get some units that you plug in and they scent the air rather like air fresheners with something to calm the cats down. Cant remember what they are called but I believe the vets should know.

Good luck, hopefully they will settle in time.

[persianlady]

Mandimoo....... Sooner or later they are going to have to get together. They will have to sort out their differences. You will need to supervise them initially. It sounds to me like they have sorted out the pecking order already. just make sure that he has a bolthole he can run to if she gets too nasty. Good luck!

[Ava77]

Have a look on the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors website http://www.apbc.org.uk/

If you really are thinking of getting a professional in, make sure they're accredited either by the APBC or the COAPE http://www.coape.org/

Both sites have a list of recommended behaviourists.