How to reduce stress for my timid male cat from aggressive females?

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/

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. It sounds like Calvin is quite stressed from this encounter with the other cat. I would try and give him a calming treat such as NaturVet Quiet Moments with Melatonin calm chews for cats and the Feliway spray and collar. Keep him calm in an isolated area for the next 2 to 3 days as well and hopefully he will wind down and not be as stressed. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Unfortunately the new cat is likely causing stress and this is a common feeling reaction to stress. She may not want to go outside as long as that other cat is around. It may be difficult to keep the other cat out of your area unless you want to purchase or build a fence. There are fences available that have curvature to the top that make it difficult for a cat to climb over. There are some things you can do at home that can help to manage her stress. Set aside 30 minutes a day for a vigorous play. Use a pheromone diffuser. There is a special prescription food made by Royal Canin called calm which may help. Use food puzzles. Give environmental enrichment. Lastly, your veterinarian has medications which can help as well. Many cats require a combination of therapies. Best of luck.

The older cat probably has the smaller, younger one intimidated. I suggest providing more litter boxes, maybe one the smaller cat has exclusive access to. To avoid behavior problems due to territorialism, the rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, plus one, that way no cat can 'guard' all the boxes and limit access to the others. Make sure the timid cat has plenty of places to hide, perch, separate food and water sources if needed, anything to help her relax and be able to be less intimidated by the other. Also, make sure the older cats get plenty of attention, playtime, treats, to help them stay calmer and less likely to lash out. Calming diets are also available, if you have not tried them yet. Royal Canin and Science Diet both have well-received diets of this kind. A good source of additional information about how to help cats get along and how to make your house more appealing and enjoyable for your cats is Jackson Galaxy's Catification books.

That does sound stressful. It would be a good idea to rule out urinary issues with your vet first, as blood in the urine can be a sign of illness. If Nikita checks out OK, providing separate spaces for her to hide, eat, drink, use litter, etc without your male harassing her is best to help reduce stress. Shared areas can also have a pheromone diffuser placed in them to help with inter-cat aggression.

Have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury. Either are common culprits of a sudden behavioral change. Being an intact male may also be playing a role in the behavior. Consider having him neutered. In the meantime, provide additional food/water bowls, beds, toys and litterboxes to prevent food aggression or resource protection. Consider a pheromone product, such as Feliway Spray or plug in diffusers, to decrease any anxiety or aggression in the home.

Here is an article on introducing new cats to the home. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-steps-to-introducing-your-cat-to-a-new-feline/ In addition, I recommend a calming pheromone such as Feliway that can help with anxiety. It is available as a plug-in room diffuser for large areas, and as a spray for small areas like a mat or bed. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8906 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37241 Another product I like is Composure, which is available as a little treat. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews I hope this helps. Thanks for using PetCoach.