How to help stressed cats adjust to a new home and stop fighting?

Question

My cats were just rehoused to me from my dad who was neglecting them. They are very unsure of their surroundings and they keep growling and hissing. They got along fine before but now they are attacking each other. We also have a dog and im worried our male cat will attack her. Do you have any advice on how to get them to feel more comfortable and less aggressive? Also how do i get the two cats to stop fighting?

Rebecca, DVM · Accepted Answer

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/

How to help stressed cats adjust to a new home and stop fighting?

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