My two male cats are fighting after moving to a new home. What to do?

Moving can be very stressful on any species. Cats will sometimes display signs of mis-directed aggression when they are stressed. I would recommend getting Feliway pheromones started asap. These come as plug in diffusers or even collars if the cats will tolerate them. They release calming hormones into the air that people won't smell, but do help relax agitate pets. Give the cats a safe place to retreat to - a room or hideout where they can get away from each other, the dog and people. If possible try to have items from their last home there (a bed or toys). Try to feed the same food, switching it over gradually. I would recommend having several litter boxes in different areas of the house while they are acclimating. If the fights are serious enough you may need to separate the cats into separate areas of the house and gradually reintroduce them to each other. If the behaviours continue or worsen, I would recommend consulting with their veterinarian. There are medications that can help in conjunction with training to decrease behavior problems. The following website has some great information about cat behavior by one of best behavior veterinarians there ever was. You may want to search for articles on aggression and anxiety in cats for some more ideas. https://drsophiayin.com/resources/cat_behavior/

I am so sorry to hear about your kitties! I would recommend getting some Feliway multicat diffusers https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-MultiCat-Diffuser which are a pheremone releasing product that can help these situations. A calming supplement such as Zylkene can also be helpful. Ensure the cats each have places they can hide/get away if needed as well as adequate numbers of litter boxes (one more than the number of cats in your household), water and food available where they can eat/drink without being disturbed by the other cat. If they are still fighting despite this, some training may be needed. You can read this article by a veterinary behaviorist for details on this: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/feuding_felines/

Most cats will settle down within a few weeks. Kittens do play rough and it can be hard to tell. If they willingly come together, play willingly and you don't see any bullying behavior (avoidance, hiding, arching the back and puffing up the tail) they are likely playing rough. If they play too rough they could injure each other by accident so continue to separate them when not supervised but most kittens will not require this. Giving each kitten one on one play time with you to burn energy, feeding out of a food puzzle and providing cats trees/other environmental stimulation can also help. Continue the current therapy as well. I hope this helps.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear that TC is having some behavioral issues after the move. It sounds like you have tried lots of changes at home, so it may be time to consult your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications. These have few side effects, typically including sedation, which may help your cat feel more calm and comfortable at home. I hope this is helpful!

I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. The change of environment is likely the cause. I would try feliway diffusers and spray. Feliway is a cat pheromone to help with anxiety behaviors like this. You can also look into trying a calming chew like composure or the Rx version composure pro. I would also tried to have 2-3 litterboxes throughout the living area if at all possible to help with territorial spaces. If these don’t help, i would talk to your vet about starting your cat on an anti-anxiety medicine like amitriptyline. I hope this helps and he starts to be more like himself.

The next step is to rotate rooms daily for at least 2-3 days. This allows the new cat explore the rest of the house while the resident cat spends some time in the new cat's room. This will give your resident cats a chance to smell the new cat and rub their own scent on objects. The cats should be fed in each area with wet food twice daily, and it is also good to play with the cats in each area at least twice daily. The practice of setting up a schedule of feeding treats of wet food, as well as a playtime routine, minimizes anxiety and makes the cats feel more secure. Keep the cats in separate areas for as long as it takes to allow them the chance to become desensitized to the smells and sounds of the cats in the other area. When they all seem particularly relaxed with this process, begin to expose them to the sight of each other. A good way to accomplish this visual introduction is to bring the new cat(s) in a carrier to meet your cats and sniff each other through the carrier wire door. Place the carrier on the floor and allow them to meet this way several times a day for about an hour. Continue these meetings for several days or until they remain calm in each other's presence. If and when the cats are able to stay calm in each other's presence during these meetings, it is time to let the new cat out into the rest of the house for a few minutes. The length of the visits can be increased gradually each day. Depending on the personalities of the cats involved, this process may take a few days or a few months. If it appears that any fighting maybe be close to occurring while you are supervising, put the newcomer back in his/her room and proceed more slowly. If those supervised play times go well, you can begin to allow them to cohabitate in your home. If any aggressive behavior occurs at any time, begin the introduction process again. It is very important to understand that this process can take as little as a few days, to sometimes much longer. It is all dependent on the cats involved. If things don’t go well right away... One of the most important steps to dealing aggressive behavior between cats is to recognize the different types of aggression and understand their underlying causes. A short list and description of some commonly seen aggressive behaviors include: chasing; ambushing; hissing; swatting; and/or biting. If you see these behaviors, seek help from your veterinarian. Most cats get along fine if the introductory process is done correctly. Please seek help from your veterinarian if you feel that things are not progressing well, or if you have other questions.

I would give her some more time. I would also entice her to come out with some new toys and even an interactive laser. I say give them at least 2 weeks to become fully comfortable with the new house. It can be normal for cats to take some time to adjust to a new place. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.