Reintroducing 3 cats after 6 years apart: What problems to expect?

It's very kind of you to want to take in your mom's cat! It's hard to say whether she and Tipsy would remember each other or not - cats can be very sensitive about this, and often have more trouble being reintroduced to a previous companion than dogs do. I would recommend making up a separate room for your mom's cat so that she will have her own separate area to stay in at first - make sure that she has her own food and water bowl, litter box, and cat tree or scratching post. Keep her in this room with the door closed for at least a week or two, so that Tipsy can get used to hearing her and smelling her again. At that point, you can try leaving the door open for short periods of time so that the new cat can venture out into the house. A gradual introduction like this offers the best chance for success, so don't rush things! A Feliway Multi-Cat pheromone diffuser may also be helpful for this situation.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I would be sure that the new and old cat are up to date on vaccines and deworming before coming in to contact. Then I would take the older cat and place her in a separate room or bathroom with a liter box and food and water for 7-14 days. Basically until she seems acclimated. I would purchase a Feliway diffuser, one for the room she is in and one in a location that the new cat can smell it. They can get used to each other by sniffing and hearing each other under the door. After the 7-14 days put the older cat in a cat carrier or use a baby gate at the door so they can see each other and hiss/growl if needed safely. Again for 7-14 days. Then let her out when you are home to supervise. Once that goes well they can be left together alone. You may be surprised out quickly she gets comfortable. I wish you the best! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37242

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Animals have short memories and will not recognize family or cats they previously knew if they are separated for a length of time. Cats go by smell and behavior. I would recommend confining Fuzza in a room by herself for 2 weeks to allow the cats to get used to her smell from under a door. Get a few Feliway diffusers (multicat) to put around the house, be sure one is in the room with Fuzza. After 2 weeks use a baby gate at the door or put Fuzza in a cat carrier a few times per day so all the cats can see each other and smell each other. Do that for a week. Then let Fuzza out in the house for short periods of time when you are home. If things are going well then they all can be out together permanently. If it doesn't work out you may have to find her a new home. I wish you the best!

If your older cats have been together for several years, they probably have their "territories" picked out. It is quite possible that they just don't like each other. Having more than one pet is often like being placed with a roommate that you didn't choose - sometimes it is a great fit and sometimes you can't wait to move out! It is hard for me to tell you if getting new kittens will help or hurt the current situation, as it would just depend on how happy your current cats would be with new, and very young roommates. Kittens like to play, a lot, and often need to be taught the rules of the house. There will likely be a lot of fighting at the start until the kittens grow up a little. There is a possibility that kittens will help the other cats mellow out together, but my gut feeling is that this may not happen. If you do decide to get new kittens, remember that you will need a drastic increase in litter boxes (and feeding stations and water bowls). Veterinary behaviorists recommend 1 more litter box than you have cats, so that means 6 boxes! And they all need to be in different areas of the house to give a sense of privacy. You will also need additional quiet space so that everybody can feel safe in their own area.

You could start by feeding them on each side of the door that separates them so they can smell each other and have it be a positive experience. Next, you can switch rooms - lock your cat in her room so your cat can investigate the smell of her cat and let her cat roam the house. Then you can try them together while you can supervise and see what happens. You could get some Feliway spray or a diffuser and use that to alleviate any stress/anxiety.

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Congratulations on your new kitty! In these situations it is best to do introductions very slowly. Some suggestions I have for you are as follows: 1) Use a Feliway diffuser to reduce overall tension in household 2) Go back to the beginning and over the first week introduce by smell only (introducing cats to each others bedding or something that has their scent on it) 3) Then introduce by sight only but no direct interaction. Do this for a week 4) Finally introduce cats together but only with direct supervision and with plenty of escape routes for both cats. Only leave them together for a very short time at first 5) Have plenty of tall cat towers and other things for the cats so they can observe each other from a distance 6) Have at least 3 litter boxes in different locations and definitely continue to feed separately and have separate water bowls. I hope this is helpful! Good luck to you and Malish!

Oh no, that's not good! I would separate the cats, and slowly reintroduce them to each other. Take the cat who is aggressive, and put her in her own room with her own food, water, and litter box. Keep the door closed, and for a few days, feed them both treats on other side of door so they associate each other's smell with a good experience. Then let the other cat in the aggressive cat's room while the aggressive cat is in a cat carrier. They can smell each other, but not be in contact. If either becomes upset or show signs of aggression, remove the second cat from the room, and try again later. Praise them when they interact appropriately. When they are interacting well with each other through the carrier, you can let the aggressive cat out of her room, and see how she interacts with the other cat. Praise them when they interact appropriately, and separate them with any sign of aggression or upset. I would get a cat tree with lots of shelves to give the cats vertical space to get away from each other. I would keep the cat in her room when you go out until they are comfortable with each other.