Hi Brandi,
To start, it's always good to have thorough medically assessments done for the cats going into the space as well as the male cat himself. Hidden health conditions or discomfort can have a big effect on behavior. Getting a vet involved can also give you options for behavioral medications or supplements if recommended. But all the behavioral tools in the world won't help if there is something health wise going on, as I'm sure you know.
What you are addressing - cat introductions - can be complex and require assessment and several slow steps. It also sounds like it could potentially be an ongoing situation with this cat. I often include the pattern game Super Bowls to introduce or re-introduce cats and help them to stop hyper focusing (engage and then disengage) and coexist peacefully. I'm not sure if it would work in your particular environmental setup without seeing it - especially with multiple cats in the space. Also, not all cats get along with all other cats. Right now, that area is his territory, so it requires quite a bit of assessment, management, and finesse to avoid aggression and escalation. I would recommend getting the assistance of an animal behaviorist/behavior consultant - someone with an actual behavior certification(s) - to assist, since there will be several key components to be managed when introducing new cats into his territory. I also recommend for any cat facility to have various options for housing, since not all cats are alike or do well in the same kind of space - and not all cats are a good fit with each other. It sounds as if you do have some version of this which is allowing you to keep the other cats separated. Cat social relationships in big groups are different than in small groups, and they don't have a technical hierarchy structure. It is flexible and can change when different individuals are added or when things within the environment change.
I can reach out to some of my behavior groups to see if there is a behavior consultant who is willing to do a free consultation with you either remotely or in person. They could help you assess and address this particular situation but also give you tools and techniques that you'd be able to use in similar situations in the future - any time you needed. There may be people on this platform willing to consult as well. Feel free to reach out to me at michellef@seattleareafelinerescue.org If I have your email address I can forward on resources.
Good luck!
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Michelle Flowers
Foster Program Manager
Seattle Area Feline Rescue
UW-AAB
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-15-2025 08:54 AM
From: Brandi Washburn
Subject: Selective Alpha Cat Aggression
I am welcoming suggestions or solutions that others have utilized dealing with cats that are selectively aggressive towards other cats. We have a cat in our sanctuary that is just wonderful to humans and all of the cats in his section of the facility but we have to have a separate area for some of the other cats because he will hyper-focus on them and go into "Alpha Mode." These are cats that smell the same (same house, etc.) and he sees all the time (through the access door/gate) and that are submissive to him. We'd like to integrate a few of those cats into the larger living area where he is but he just wont leave them alone.
We have tried FELIWAY products but they do not seem to make a difference. If there are other products of this nature that you've tried and that have helped please let me know.
I appreciate any helpful guidance that this community has to offer.
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
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Brandi Washburn
Executive Director
Mr. Bigglesworth's Home for Wayward Cats
VA
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