New cat issues...

[irocfan]

well we've got a new cat #4 () and the good thing is that he seems to be very mild mannered, loves being stroked, picked up etc etc. The problem is that the other 3 seem to be st scared of him. I know it's early doors yet but we'd really like to know how to settle the existing ones down and get them 'on-board' with Harvey.

I don't know if it's relevant but cat:

1. 1 is 9 years old and pretty much a loner, very unfriendly (so to be fair this is less of an issue)
2. 2 is 5 years old and a generally friendly fur-ball
3. 3 is 17 months old ginger, a little nervous generally but sweet natured

1. 4 (the new boy) is 5 years old part maine coon and 50% larger than the next biggest

[Mobile Chicane]

I reckon it's his size which is spooking the others. Take the introductions gradually, following the advice here:

http://www.icatcare.org/advice/how-guides/how-intr...

[bexVN]

As above but do be prepared for the fact that you have pushed the other cats limits of tolerance by adding another cat to the equation.

Multicat households can be very stressful environments for non related cats but they manage to cope until a certain point.

I did exactly the same as you had 3 added a 4th, last cat was a female main Coon (she is the only one with us now) but it caused a lot of problems, not by her tbh apart from weeing in the house!)

Good luck and you need to allow at least 6 months to know if things will improve.

[irocfan]

thanks for that - suspected that the size may be an issue IMO #4 is a lovely size (a "bloke's cat" so to speak) but as much as I (already!) like him if the other 3 are being distressed it'll have to be back to his old home

[bexVN]

Give it time, follow the link above (excellent site) and invest in things like Feliway, zylkene and Kalmaid.

They should get over his size fairly quickly and actually size isn't always a concern for them.