I got a second cat back in April and it's been drama drama drama.
I followed suggestions online.
Kept them separated.
Slowly introduced them.
Bought pheromone calming diffusers.
Both are neutered males. My old cat is 11. The new one is probably 2yrs or so.
I've tried to do what I can but ultimately, they don't like each other and I don't think they ever will.
Here it is 4 months later and at least once a day, the newer cat Noir attacks my old cat Paxton.
Usually tries to sneak up on him when he's sleeping and put the smack down on him.
My old cat also has poor vision and is , well old and a little overweight so it's not a fair fight. Almost always I see Paxton roll over on to his back with his legs out.
I don't know if this posture means something other than defensive. Submission?
I've tried using a water squirt bottle to deter Noir. And it will definitely chase him off, it doesn't seem to stop him from making these attempts.
Every now and then the older cat initiates the attack.
The attacks are usually short but that's because I am always there with the squirt bottle to break it up.
It's honestly incredibly exhausting. I work from home and it feels like all day supervision.
They also definitely try to antagonize each other multiple times a day. Blocking each others path. Following each other around. Stalking , hissing.
Should I just let them duke it out?
Should I keep intervening with the squirt bottle ?
Will two cats who don't like each other ever learn to just give each other space ?
Also I swear they both be farting a lot when they fighting. Is that a thing ?
What are some of your experiences with two cats who hate each other ?
Please tell me the drama will chill out.
So, first, drop the squirt bottle. It'll break up the fights in the moment, but negative reinforcement won't change the cats behavior long term; it will just make him see you as a threat.
Second, how many litter boxes do you have? Litter boxes are an important part of staking out their territory, and having to share one litter box can make them think they're encroaching on each other's territory. Experts recommend one more litter box than cats in the house, but one litter box for each, in different parts of house, should be the minimum.
Next, how much are you playing with the younger cat? If he's stalking and instigating most the fights, he might just have play aggression that he's trying to get out on the older cat, who might not have the patience for it. Try playing with the younger guy until he gets tired, at least once a day.
Finally, look around your house and try to eliminate the areas where the older guy might get trapped. Give him escape routes, make sure he has a shelf or a piece of furniture he can not only jump to, but make an escape from. If there isn't enough vertical space, the younger guy is just going to run him down until he gets him cornered.
I have 3 litter boxes. They each have their own that the other can't access (behind a door that they paw at and I let them enter and exit) and then one in a shared area.
I have a mostly open floor plan so the only areas they can block each other in is really just one door in the house. But there isn't much I can do about that one.
They also both like to look out the front door which has a window front. Other animals come up so they like watching them.
So my desk also has a window that faces my porch. I generally don't let the cats on my desk but I recently gave in and just cleared out a spot for a cat so now they can both watch the porch without fighting over the front door.
I don't really want a cat on the desk but it's a compromise I'll make for now. Plus the young cat likes to sleep on the desk so it does make it easy to keep an eye on where he is.
I def try to make sure the younger cat is entertained as much as I can.
I have a lot of toys including electronic ones. He does like them and likes playing with the wand with me. He's also able to play by himself with some toys. He occasionally plays on the cat tree.
I got a wheel too but not been able to get either cat to use it. Treats nor toys nor laser pointer will incentive them to use the wheel.
I definitely feel like young one sometimes picks on my older cat out of boredom.
But I can't supervise/entertain him every moment he's awake.
Sounds like you're killing it on the litter boxes. So, does this open floor plan allow for a cat to traverse the space without touching the ground? Having vertical pathways where your cats can make an exit without getting blocked on the ground is important for side-stepping conflict. I have a very patient cat and a surprisingly gentle toddler, and they get along very well, but he's often too excitable and loud for her. When he's in the dining room, blocking her path and getting rambunctious, she can avoid him by jumping on the dining room table, then to an island bar counter, then down to the kitchen counter and from there exit into one of the bedrooms. Similarly, in the living room, she makes use of the back of our L shaped couch to reach the two exits if she doesn't feel like engaging with the toddler playing on the floor. Some cat shelving, or even just some strategically placed furniture, can give them an exit route (doorways are tough, but maybe a small end table they can jump up on or something? Difficult to say without walking through your house).
It sounds like you've got a lot of enrichment for the younger guy. The only thing I could possibly suggest would be adding more structure. You could try playing until he gets exhausted in the morning, then do his morning feeding, which would probably get him to burn some energy and do a big morning nap. Then do the same thing at night to get him to calm down for bed. For all I know you're already doing this, but it's all I can think to suggest. It definitely sounds like the younger guy is instigating out of boredom and the older guy is just is not having it.