What is serious fighting when introducing two adopted cats? Cause for alarm?

[pgiordano]

We adopted two cats from the shelter about six weeks ago. A 6 yr old male-Felix and a 2 yr old male-Garth. We did the introduction by the book. Seperate rooms, traded smells, meals opposite side of the baby gates and all went very well. Nominal hissing and growling down to nothing. The first four or so encounters went well, no fighting. We have increased their time together each time up to about 4-5 hours.
The past three times the 2 yr old has stalked the 6 yr old. Jumps on him when he's not looking or just laying streatched out on the floor and they fight. (6 yr old is declawed the other is not)
Fur flys from the 6 yr old and he runs away with the other in tow, but that is the end of it until the 6 yr old comes back upstairs, then he stalks him again and again. 2 yr has gotten time out in his room for a few hours or for the evening and even has been squrited with water. We even attached a bell to his collar so the other one can hear him coming. What is normal? It breaks my heart to let them spat/fight. They eat well next to each other, many times they they sit quietly ( always one eye on each other) but then the 2 yr old walks over and starts something. The 6 yr old has been around other cats, the 2 yr old has not. I'm lost!

['too crazy]

If the 2 yr. old is attacking the 6 yr. old, why is the 6 yr. old getting time out or being spritzed with water? Are you sure the 2 yr. old isn't playing? I think the problem you may be having is they are trying to decide whose going to be top kitty. You got them both at the same time so neither has established this in the house yet. I have 4 cats and I never did the separating thing. I know they say to do that, but I never did. I just bring the new one in and of course they start sniffing and hissing. I had a 6 yr. old Siamese go after a 12 week old kitten. I kind of let them battle it out until the kitten knew she wasn't top dog...or cat! :) Anyway, thats how I did things. I'm sure others will have things that they did that might help you out. Good luck!

[pgiordano]

Sorry, typo. I corrected it. The 2 yr old is getting the time outs. I'm not sure if it's playing? The 2yr old jumps on his back, hangs on and bites him, all the while they are making cat fight screaming/growling sounds. The 2 yr old has a fat tail while the other ran down the basement. We stop the 2 yr old from following scary pants down the basement. I'm afraid they will go at it again. I know they need to figure out who will be the top kitty, but I'm confused as to how much and what degree of fighting is normal and how much fur flying and biting before they figure it out, if ever. Wish I had the nerve just to put them together when I brought them home.....I guess I'm really the SCARY PANTS. Thanks for your post, it always feels better to talk to someone.

[Furbaby Mom]

I get a lot of dumpster cats and kittens by me so am constantly bringing in new cats to the household (and adopt most of the out). I always separate the cats at first. Shortest time was about 2 hours and longest time was 3 months. Each cat or pair of cats are different and will work thru their own pace.

I would suspect that the 2 year old is probably trying to play, but that there is also some dominance issues going on that makes it go beyond play. Not knowing the backgrounds on the cats can be difficult, as you don't know if they were dominant where they came from. 2 years old is about the time that males will make an honest attempt at dominance in a multi-cat household (some wait until they are older).

It sounds like you are using the right techniques thus far. If they are out of their "quarantine" areas, make sure they have their own space (a tall cat condo gives vertical space that most cats love). If the 2 year old goes after the 6 year old, separate them, give the 2 year old a big "NO" and slight scruff, then redirect him towards toys. You might have to play with the younger one a bit harder to redirect him. And lastly, perhaps they need a bit more separation time? Some just take more time.

Good luck!

[NiteRose]

When I was growing up, my parents were always rescuing strays. More often then not when the new cat came in, there would be a bit of tension in the house from the “old timers” and fights would break out. My parents always said they needed to fight it out and establish who was boss in the household. Of course if things got too heated they would break it up. But honestly that plan worked out every time. Sometimes once dominance was established the cats actually got along with each other and worse case scenario if one cat got to close to the other a growl would be enough to make sure the cat kept their distance.

Don’t get too distressed over fur flying. My two kitties love to wrestle with each other and fur often flies. At times one of them is walking around with pieces of the others hair hanging out of their mouth. They do bite each other when they wrestle, but it is a gentle bite that never draws blood(even when they groom each other they chew on each other). I would suggest to let them be, unless things start to get too heated. If they don’t establish who is boss the fighting is going to happen every time they meet.

Best of luck to you!