Really sorry for how long this post is, but wanted to cover everything.
My roommate and I currently have 3 cats.
Odin - 9 year old white cat, male, neutered
Loki - 2 year old black cat, male, neutered
Thor - 3 month old tabby, male, will be neutered in February
TLDR; One adult cat is bullying the other adult cat all of a sudden after new kitten arrived.
Odin was the only one in our household for 7 years, but I had started to work and didn't want him to be lonely during the day, so I picked up Loki (who was 3 months old at the time) from a shelter. We did the introductions properly, and they didn't even see each other for the first 3 weeks. Once we allowed them in the same room together, they kind of just ignored each other, and I took that as a good sign. Neither felt threatened from the other.
As the years passed, Odin would sometimes hiss at Loki because Loki wanted to play all the time and Odin is a solitary cat, but for the most part they tolerated each other. I was honestly surprised Odin took it so well after being the only cat for so long. Some days they would even play with each other. Things were going okay.
Fast forward to 2 months ago. My roommate brought home a 4 week old kitten, who we promptly named Thor. Thor was found behind my roommates store near the train tracks with no mom in sight. I felt extremely nervous about bringing home a 4 week old kitten, as I knew the work involved, but I agreed. We kept him in my room for the first month, away from the other two cats. We took him to the vet the day after he came home to get checked out, and he was fine. He was given some worm medication (just in case), but he was too young for his shots.
During the first month of Thor coming home, we had to take Odin to the vet as well, because he was constantly throwing up and acting a little weird. He was diagnosed with Pancreatitis. We had given him antibiotics and after a month, took him back to the vet. His Pancreatitis was no longer there, and he was fine.
So we slowly introduce the cats after Thor was done with his worm medication, one at a time, and then both at the same time. No hissing, growling, etc. was happening, just a lot of staring at each other. The first few days, we only let Thor out during the day, and he still slept in my room. While he was out during the day, we monitored them, but ultimately let them do their own thing. We noticed Odin just ignored Thor like he did with Loki, but Loki loved playing with the new kitten, and cleaning him. Sometimes he would play a little too rough, and we would separate them for a bit, but that's really the extent of our problems at the time.
Now, things have changed. Thor is 3 months old. He sleeps out in the living room with everyone else. He's more playful, and maybe that's the problem. He chases Loki around and Loki flees, while hissing. This is constant, but this isn't the main concern, as there is no smacking or anything else physical going on. The problem is between Loki and Odin. Loki has started to chase Odin around, and sometime he will get on top of him and bite his neck. Odin never fights back but he hisses a lot and sometimes swats. But more and more nights, I will hear loud angry meows coming from the other room and I'll walk in and Loki will be on top of Odin. Just this past week, Odin has started growling at Loki, and every time Loki walks by him, his ears will lay flat. I know this is escalating and I have no idea what to do. Thor has started to do the same thing to Odin, like Loki is teaching him or something. I feel like they're bullying Odin.
They've all had a check up at the vet recently, and I know everyone is healthy. For now, I've been giving Odin his own space by keeping him in my room by himself. I really don't want him to think I'm punishing him, as this is not his fault, but if I ever put Loki in a room by himself, he just meows and meows. Sleeping is difficult. If Odin and Loki are in the same room, there WILL be growling, hissing, running around, etc. If I put Odin in a room to sleep by himself without worry, then I get Loki hissing at the new kitten.
And ANNOYINGLY enough, Loki has now started to meow loudly whenever Odin is in another room, and Loki can't reach him. He's acting like he misses him, but then terrorizes him when they're together.
I wanted to try the Feliway diffuser, but I heard it's a fire hazard, and not all cats react to it. I've been quarantined from work for the past month because I was COVID positive, and don't have much money right now, but would get something if I knew it absolutely worked.
If anyone has any suggestions on products I could try, advice on where to go from here, etc. Please let me know!!
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/jtgsya/cats_fighting_after_new_kitten_arrived_need_advice/
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