Cat question

Denim Deb

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I asked this in my journal, but didn't get a response, so I'm hoping I get a better response here.

For those who don't know, I had to take my cat, Rerun, out to the farm, and put her in my tack shed. Only problem being, her mother, Cinderella (Cindy), was already in there. They will not both stay in the shed at the same time. And, if they are in there together, they do nothing but hiss and yowl at each other. Rerun's been sleeping in there, but not Cindy. And, I felt bad last night since it looked like a fairly large storm moved over the farm. There are other places Cindy can go for shelter at the farm, but I don't really like leaving her out like that.

What can I do so they'll get along together? Should I just shut them up together, give them time, or what? I've never really owned cats B4, so I'm at a loss as for what to do.
 

freemotion

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They are better off getting to know each other at their own pace. Even though they are mother/daughter, now they are two adult cat strangers to each other. Best way is to keep them separate and let them sniff each other through the crack under the door for a few days, then let them be together in the big, wide world where they are not confined. Or in a larger area, like the barn, where they are not in each others face all the time.
 

Mattemma

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My cats still hiss at each other,and they have been together for 5 or more years.2 of our cats are sisters. I think you just let it go unless there is some serious cat attack fights. Eventually both will learn to share the shelter.
 

savingdogs

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freemotion said:
They are better off getting to know each other at their own pace. Even though they are mother/daughter, now they are two adult cat strangers to each other. Best way is to keep them separate and let them sniff each other through the crack under the door for a few days, then let them be together in the big, wide world where they are not confined. Or in a larger area, like the barn, where they are not in each others face all the time.
Sorry I missed this question in your journal Deb.

I most definetly second what Free said. In cat rescue, we would leave cats separated for a very, very long time before introducing them. Introducing them too fast can encourage spraying and other out-of-litterbox experiences as well as cat fights, so give them each their own personal space and feeding areas. I would create a PERMANENT area for each cat to have rest time, eating time and petting time. They may later come to like one another, maybe not. Cats that were not raised together may never become friends, but they can coexist peaceably if you give them plenty, plenty of space and time.
There are cat pheremone products you can spray around or plug into a electric plug that are supposed to help if you have more than one cat of the same sex. I have seen this seem to work with cats and other times, no response at all.
 

abifae

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One thing I do when I foster cats is to brush all the cats with the same brush and get their smells on one another. (After I'm sure they're all free of any icks that would spread that way!)

But mostly it just takes time.
 

gettinaclue

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I'm experiencing the same things with my two. One adult female cat and one kitten - not related.

We're giving plenty of space and time and are watching them very carefully. The kitten will arch his back and hiss his little hiss. Way to cute now, but won't be cute at all later.
 

abifae

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It's easier with babies. They're more adaptable and older cats tend to be more accepting of kittens than adult cats.
 

Denim Deb

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Just remember, my tack shed is only 8x12, so it's not like I have a lot of room to keep them separate. Rerun is definitely enjoying the farm. Today, she discovered chickens! I think she was going to attack them-until she realize how big they were! :lol: But, she loves being able to go outside. She never showed any desire when I had her at home. And, they did share the tack shed when my hubby kicked me out in November. They didn't fight, or spray, so maybe there's hope. I just wish I could spend more nights there, it might make it easier to do this. :(
 

patandchickens

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Honestly, if these are outdoor barncats "on the loose", I don't see that there's really anything at all you can DO about it. Either they eventually learn to get along, or they don't. As you say, there are other places that one can go for shelter if chased out of the tack shed; perhaps you could fix up a corner of a barn or something and try to deliberately get the new cat to use it by feeding her there etc?

Humans really can't do a lot to change cat society, IME. Other than to just not make things worse and give them room to work things out.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat
 

Denim Deb

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Rerun has been a house cat most of her life. And, Cindy was a stray when I found her. There's no barn, per se where they are, just a run in that we're converting to stalls. The barn is on the other side of the farm, and I took Cindy out of there last year because she got real sick. There's a portable garage that's used for a hay shelter. There's a few cats that get fed in there. They're not pets, just farm cats. I don't want either of my cats turned into that.
 
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