We have 3 cats. Tigger is 11, Smokey is 9, Love Bug is 2.
When we brought Smokey home she made great friends with Tigger, but when we moved into our current residence, our son decided to keep Tigger in the garage with him ( he's using the garage as a bedroom). Now anytime Tigger comes in the house Smokey hisses and growls. She also hisses and growls at Love Bug anytime she sees her. We at first solved this by keeping all the cats apart, but 2 years have passed and nothing has gotten any better. We tried yelling at Love Bug for scaring Smokey, with no luck because all Love Bug has to do is be seen and Smokey is scared and hissing and growling, so we tried yelling at Smokey, all that has done is get Smokey to hiss and growl at us and attack us if we try to pick her up. She is normally the sweetest cat in the world, until another cat appears then she's like a devil.
We are now trying ignoring them completely whenever this starts, and hoping eventually Smokey will get used to having the other cats around and stop this behavior.
Any other suggestions?
I've thought of locking them up together in an extra large pet cage and waiting for them to stop fighting, but that sounds too mean to me. However if people think that would be the best way to end this I could try it. I am open to any and all suggestions! Except, of course getting rid of the cats. Smokey is my little sweetheart, and I can't sleep without her, and my daughter is equally fond of Love Bug. We can't bear to give up either of them!