My new female cat is sad and not eating with male cats. How to help?

Question

My friend has male cats and recently brought in a female cat. She says the female cat has been sad and doesn't eat much because the male cats don't like her. She says the female cat curls up when she sees them. My friend says she's giving them a week to adjust but if they don't, she has to give them away although she doesn't want to. She said she keeps her in the bedroom because she's afraid the male cats will attack. She feels bad she keeps her in there and wants her to be happy. What to do?? Pet's info: Cat | Siberian | Female | spayed

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Coming into a new house is very stress for a cat, and she could be lethargic and not eating much due to the stress. It would also cause her to curl up when approached by the male cats. She will need more than a week to adjust to her new home, and I will give a method that will help all of them adjust. I would slowly introduce them to each other. Take the female, 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 all treats on other side of door so they associate each other's smell with a good experience. Then let the other cats in the female's room while the female 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 other cats 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 female 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 female in her room when you go out until they are comfortable with each other.

My new female cat is sad and not eating with male cats. How to help?

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