What is the worst that can happen if my unsociable cat is moved into a house with other cat residents?

I’d be worried that he might be get himself into an argument and be unable to defend himself with these new kitties. You have to remember that cats aren’t the most social of creatures to begin with, and in my experience are only likely to like the other being that they have grown up with. I’d be worried about the other cats ganging up on him.

However, having a dwelling is kind of necessary, so I would suggest carefully following these instructions on introducing a new cat into a household. There are many resources with information put out on this issue by humane societies and other legitimate sources, so read up a bit and play it safe with introducing the cats to each other.

You just never know, I have done the strict, by the book, introductions of a new cat and had it not work out and then have also just introduced the new one quickly and it has all worked out.
I tried to introduce a new female last year that my daughter found and it was hell, it was NOT going to work out, period. The new cat was waaay too aggressive and my mellow little siamese had the crap beat out of her.
Usually opposite sex cats do best, and my newer male I have had for 8 months now blended immediately with my female and they are great buddies now, romping and playing together all the time.

You can also get the Feliway diffuser and spray, that might help, it mimics happy cat hormones.
It’s always a gamble, just keep them separate for at LEAST the first 3— 5 days.
Good luck…cats, they can be so finicky about everything. lol

Pussy fight!

In my experience they will just need time to adjust. If you do go forward with this move, don’t just suddenly toss them in a room together. Have them separated in different areas of the house, and rotate every day or two who’s where (keep your cat in a large room one day, and the other cats in there the next day). This will acclimate them to one another scent and presence without having to directly face one another. After a weeks try supervised visits of 10–15 minutes, and then supervised interactions with no ending. Eventually they’ll get used to each other. If your cat is truly spiteful of all other cats, I doubt he’ll ever become “friends” with the other cats, but he’ll almost certainly come to tolerate their presence eventually.

The Humane Society has some good information on introducing cats to new households with pets.

Worst case they won’t get along and you will have to find a new home for your cat.

Whether they will all get along great isn’t as much of an issue as “will they physically fight ?”

For over ten years or longer I had three cats and my older cat. Velvet was hostile to the others unceasingly.

However, she didn’t go out of her way to fight so there was a lot of hissing, growling and posturing but never any fights needing vet care. An occasional scratched nose but nothing serious.

I always did very gradual introductions with each successive cat but Velvet just disliked other cats. As long as they steered a clear path around her, relative peace reigned.

That might me what you have to settle for and that’s not the worst thing in the world. As long as no one gets horribly bitten, it should be ok.

It’s good that the other cats are also moving into the place new. That way no one has any already established territory. But expect there to be turf disagreements for quite a few months as they jockey for position as top cat.

Mine did that literally with Velvet constantly chasing new kitty off the highest bookshelf and dresser tops etc. But the challenges settled down after awhile.

This is pretty normal for cats and posturing is much more common than knock down drag out fights. As long as nobody is getting bitten, let them figure out their own hierarchy once intros are done Don’t interfere. Let them figure it out for themselves. Wherever Barry fits in is where he fits in. He may or may not end up as top cat but if they all do it on their own, he should be fine.

Once you allow the cats to roam at will, make a point to have a litter box in every room, and keep them really clean. Then as the cats get used to each other, you can start slowly moving the boxes to a single location.

Great suggestion. You are so right. The less they have to argue about, the better :)

The worst that can happen.

The two other cats start to slowly and deliberately taunt and harass your cat. They start with little things like ignoring your cat whenever another cooler cat is around. Then it moves on to little verbal jabs at your cat’s clothing or housekeeping. Your cat won’t be too affected by this at first, but it won’t stop there. Soon the verbal abuse becomes more persistent, and every attempt your cat makes to defend itself is turned back on your cat that proof that your cat is difficult. Your cat doesn’t want to appear difficult, so it gives in to the other cats demands.

This act of defeat is embraced by the other cats and is rewarded with brief, fleeting moments of gratitude and happiness. Your cat revels in it’s acceptance and love from the other cats. But the honeymoon is soon over. The abuse starts again, but worse this time. Your cat can’t understand what it did to upset the other cats so. Your cat does all it can to placate the oppressors, and one again it works. Another honeymoon.

Like all honeymoons, this one is short lived and the other cats ratchet up the torment to almost unbearable levels. Your cat is living in a state of unrelenting fear and anguish. Your cat makes an attempt to leave, but is violently attacked and nearly killed for it’s obstinance. Your cat awakens and realizes that any further attempts to leave will likely result in it’s death. Your cat begins to cut itself in a act equal in self-hatred and desire to feel something. The controlled pain releases small amounts of endorphins that temporarily placate the death-like emotions.

Fast forward two years. Your cat is now a hollow shell of it’s former self. Seeking happiness in any form, your cat has started to self-medicate with it’s one and only true friend… heroin. The other cats, former roommates, are now your cats pimp. Forced into a life of prostitution, your cat spends it’s time turning tricks and chasing the dragon. Sure, the other cats give your cat enough to stay alive and on the smack, but the majority of the profits go straight to them.

After a particularly brutal night spent placating the perverse demands of three shriners, your cat can no longer go on. Hoping to put an end to this eternal suffering, your cat swallows a bottle of pills and chases it with a bullet. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

Your cat awakens in a hospital to realize that the bullet hit a nerve center, and your cat is now paralyzed from the neck down. The bullet also took your cats tongue and eyesight.
Your cat spends the rest of it’s days in free hospitals where it can perfectly hear the voices of the nurses as they openly discuss your cat’s hideous form, and their disgust at it’s former lifestyle. The claim that your cat deserved what it got, due to it’s promiscuous and drug-filled lifestyle. They spit on your cat and ignore it’s bedsores. Your cat develops many illnesses, but the nurses pay them no mind.

Year after year go by. Your cat is now elderly, and cannot remember the last time a kind word was uttered in it’s presence. The cancer in it’s stomach had made the mere act of eating an chore of anguish. Feeling the remains of it’s last meal catch in it’s throat as it’s stomach attempts to once again dislodge the substance it needs to survive, your cat chokes to death alone in a filthy bed.

You need to get a job writing pulp fiction. Maybe Tarantino is hiring :)

Another thought along the lines of they don’t want to share:

Offer different sources of food and water around the house.

LOL @GladysMensch!

“They spit on your cat and ignore its bedsores”.....that was my favorite part. Fucking bravo @GladysMensch

BTW:

I just remembered one more thing. Will he have places in your new location where he can easily get to a high place. Cats instinctively want high places, even if it means putting in some custom shelving of some sort.

If they have no access to any higher locations, it makes them feel unstale and unsettled. High places represent safety to them. They have a vantage point from which to observe whats going on.

Once they are together in common areas having enough high places for th will go a long way in their general level of peace. They may initially spat over who gets which spot, but as long as there are 3 or 4 spots, they’ll figure it out. But if theres only one, thats a sure recipe for trouble.