Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

As many of you know we have two cats, Sushi and Miso. Sushi is the oldest (6) and really should have been an only cat. Miso is the youngest (3) and is a big fat bully to Sushi. While they are able to co-exist to a much larger degree than in the beginning, Miso is definetly territorial and blocks the litter box and food areas. This had resulted in Sushi going outside of the litterbox and peeing in my laundry and pooping where ever she got cornered. With the help of prozac and giving Sushi her own room (our bedroom) as a safe haven, things are workable. We have just received an accepted offer on a home and will be moving in December. I am trying to figure out how to integrate the cats. Do I just let them into the house and figure out their territories? DH wants Sushi out of our bedroom now. We will have a full basement (which is finished into several different rooms). Do I just throw a bunch of litter boxes down there and hope for the best? Miso tends to take over everything and has no respect for Sushi's boundaries. Anyone have any experience with this?

Re: Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

Hmm your Sushi stories always remind me of my Penny. She is our first and oldest cat (6yrs old also) but with 3 other cats in the house. Two of the others are territorial and they give her a hard time. She's had some peeing issues but we dealt with it by adding more litter boxes and it's been fine. We actually received a lot of advice from our vet who is also a behaviorist. He may be a good person to speak to about this. FM if u would like his info!

Re: Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

You shouldn't just let them out and work it out. You should just re-introduce them. Keep each cat in a separate room for a week, exchange scents, let each cat visit the other cat's room, etc. I'm sure you know the deal.

Also while keeping them separate, have them eat on each side of the door. This helps, it really does.

Also Feliway and Rescue Remedy! They help a ton!

ETA: I had two cats like this when I was a teenager. The dominant cats beat her up, but she found her way to the litter box. She had one room that was her room. But I'd try reintroducing because with a new house it might just work.

Message edited 10/18/2013 7:57:55 PM.

Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

I agree with pp. you might also want 3 litter boxes if you can and put them different places. They should learn to co-exist. If they don't and one gets stressed the stressed one can get sick. My eldest got a nasty upper respitory infection from being stressed out over construction. I would seperate and then reintroduce.

Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

Poor kitty! I agree with the above posters about trying to reintroduce them. But they should definitely have more litter boxes in different areas. I have two males and two litter boxes (but they share well), and my cousin (who is a vet tech) said that technically I should have three litter boxes.

Re: Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

thanks for everyone's suggestions. We will keep them in seperate rooms in the beginning and try to reintroduce them. Having enough litter boxes has never been an issue. It doesnt matter which litterbox Sushi is in the process of using, Miso will come over and block her in (if it is covered) or stalk her while she is in it (not covered). He is not nice

Re: Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

We have closed on our house and have moved Sushi into one of the rooms in the basement. We are moving Miso into the room next to hers tonight. We'll keep them seperate for a week and see how it goes

Re: Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

How are things going with the cats?

Re: Suggestions on moving into a new home with our cats

Well it has been three weeks and I have kept both cats seperated in their own rooms. Both have become aclimated to the house and tomorrow we are going to start putting them together. Wish us luck!

As an aside, these three weeks without Miso bothering Sushi have done wonders for her. She seems like the loveable cat she used to be before we got him. It's been three years since I saw this side of her. A bit sad though, since I didnt realize how much of her personality changed