Some will know that i adopted a new cat called Evie 2weeks ago. We allready had 2 cats, Shelly and Heidi. Everything went smoothly although there was a few growls and hisses here and there in the first 3/4days all from Evie, then it carmed down and all was going great. There was no fights or swiping in the earlier days and so i thought that's a good sign cause if there not fighting or swiping each other now, then it's unlikely to happen further down the line.

That all changed today. I was watching Shelly and Evie on top of a roof and Evie seemed to creep slowly towards Shelly, as if cats are getting ready to attack/pounce. I thought it was weird so i stayed and watched for few moments, next thing i know Evie swipes at Shelly and Shelly returns the favour and both kinda run off. Then they meet again, both swipe at each other and run, but they both meowed in the way that cats do when fighting. I thought this was getting a little too rough and so shouted at both of them, they got scared and both ran and jumped into my bedroom through my window...and AGAIN they both swiped, Evie going for the swipe first. Shelly only swiped back when Evie first swipes her.

Then at mealtime Evie AGAIN went for Shelly, but this time Shelly didn't react. but meowed kinda. I have no idea what changed today. Evie seemed to swipe at Shelly for some unknown reason and Shelly only retaliated. I have no idea whats changed and/or whats happened. Shelly hasn't been an agressive cat for years, she has really mellowed down to a non-agressive cat. She won't fight with anything, but today she did cause i think Evie swiped at her too many times and so she had enough. But i'm not worried in the slightest about Shelly reacting...im concerned that suddenly after getting along so well Evie today decided to attack Shelly.

She hasn't been hurt or scared by anyone from my family cause we're not like that, nor has she by anyone else cause she's been in since last night and this behaviour started at around 12pm this afternoon and has carried on until meal time. I can't think of anything that has changed. Surely things get better in time when introducing a new cat to the household, not go great then suddenly turn bad. Can anyone give my any ideas as to why Evie has now suddenly taking up a challenge to swipe at Shelly every time they meet??

You have three female cats in a home and wonder why there is fighting?

Females are FAR more territorial that neuter males. Now the settling in is over, Evie is trying to get more 'territory' for herself. They all need their own space.

Make sure they all have their own food bowls - even water bowls - and a litter tray each (if you do litter trays). Then they need their own 'space' whether it be a room or bed. Take a soft cloth and rub the head of the cat to 'scent' the cloth then transfer the scent to their bed. A squirt of catnip would also make it more attractive. Do this (with a fresh cloth) for each cat.

Also, rub the cloth on the other cats and back on the original cat so they all have each others scents on them.

There is also an eliment of letting them settle it between them - as long as it doesn't get out of hand. When Layla was new, Stripe (the resident queen) and she had the odd spat - resulting in a paw infection for Layla But, after that they settled down.

Good luck - brilliant that you got a rescue kitty I'm sure they'll settle down sooner or later

Thanks for the advice.

Before Evie came along, i had Suschi along with Shelly and Heidi, Suschi was the oldest but soft as muck who didn't know how to fight nor show agression. Suschi was female and all 3 seemed ok though Heidi occasionally has her mood swings lol. Point is, i had 3 females before...no fighting, hissing or growling. Now Evie came along and all went smoothly til today. Evie is about 2yrs old give or take although not 100% sure, Shelly is about 7yrs and Heidi 5. Does the age have anything to do with it?? All have been neutered, but Evie has only been done recently cause she still has her shaved patch.

I'm just suprised it's suddenly outta the blue happening now...things are met to get better in time. And i really can't understand why Shelly would react. When we first got her, she would fight off any cat they came in her's and Suschi's territory (we didn't have Heidi at the time) but now she has mellowed soooo much, so i was shocked to see her react. More shocked though at Evie swiping. It's not been full on attacks but simply one paw lifted up and suddenly...wham a strike with that one paw. Like this picture here shows on this link:
http://cats.about.com/cs/behaviorali...ion_cats_2.htm

...that one paw raised and swipping at the other cat.

Your new cat is probably just asserting herself and setting her status in the cat hierarchy.

I took on 2 rescue females in June (bonded) and they got on great with my Bernard from the moment they met. Luckily he's a very laid back, friendly cat who was used to and liked other cats. Every now and then, however, my Millie rubs herself up against him, in a loving way, and if he doesn't respond favourably to her gesture, she 'swipes' him and sometimes a little stare off occurs between them until one of them backs away. This happens about once or twice a week but most of the time they get on really well. Millie is very bossy but Bernard has been used to such behaviour because my previous cat Tabitha also used to swipe Bernard occasionally - this was usually due to him trying to play chase her. Poor Bernard seems to always be bossed around by females

Cats tend to set their own house rules and hierarchy. I would just let the cats get on with it for the present and only interfere if fights become physical.

Well the fights haven't been overally physical, but simple a few swipes with one paw just like that picture shows in the link above. Shelly is a laid back cat and very mellow, Heidi is laid back to a certain degree but she is her own cat and doesn't tend to go up in Shelly or Evie's faces and she will always tend to wander herself or sleep in her own spot. She does have her moments when she will growl/hiss and swipes but this is only when one cat suprises her, like suddenly appearing in front of her face or if she is in her 'tortie moods'.

Evie is VERY affectionate and wants cuddles and loves them and she don't seem agressive at all and she got on well with both cats, but why now has this swiping attack suddenly appeared? To state her hierarchy, well why didn't she before when she first came....why now??

She's only been with you a few weeks so it's taken a while for her to settle in I suppose. She's now establishing her position in the household. As I said, my 3 are mainly good friends but the odd altercation occurs as it did with my Bernard and Tabitha who were together for years. The shelter also told me that Millie and Lucy, who are great friends, had the odd disagreement though I haven't seen any since I've had them. My Millie is overtly affectionate but she's the one that does the swiping when her affection for Bernard isn't reciprocated.

I'd just let them get on with it for the moment. They'll sort themselves out, hopefully.

Talking about playing now...Evie loves to play, whereas Shelly doesn't play as much so when Evie wants to play with Shelly and she rebuffs her...maybe this may have something to do with it..? Cause everynow and then Evie will run towards Shelly hinting she's wants to play hide and seek but Shelly isn't at all keen and just continues to sit there. Do you think Evie got annoyed? Or it is the fact that she is now settled and wants to 'be boss'?

That's about it.

It isn't even about being boss - look at feral colonies. There isn't a boss as such, but they all have their 'patch'. Shelly and Evie each need their 'patch' and need to establish their relationship. The first you can help with as per my previous post, the second you have to let them get on with it for the most part.

Sometimes though i get the feeling Evie has now begun to be afraid of Shelly. Shelly will just sit there and Evie will slowly creep towards her....like slow motion lol. She'll stare at Shelly for a few seconds and, then Shelly will meow as if to say leave me alone, then Evie runs off. I think it's more about Evie wanting to play but Shelly isn't interested. My other cat Heidi goes off in her own spot and will just watch or sleep.

I've had Evie for over 2weeks now and i don't think it's about hierarchy or being boss..Evie is still a young adult and wants to play loads and when Shelly doesn't play, Evie then begins annoyed and starts to swipe, but i think she then got scared cause Shelly swiped back as if to say 'don't try that again'

Shelly used to be a cat that would fight of any other cats that come into her space (execpt my other cats) and she would give it all she gots and would ALWAYS scare of other cats, but that only happened for the 1st 3yrs or so cause now she won't do that at all. I haven't seen her hiss or growl or swipe in over 5yrs and now suddenly a new cat enters the mix and Shelly suddenly snaps kinda. All started perfect with all my cats and Shelly would even sit by Evie as to say i'll look after you, but one afternoon it turned and im still trying to figure it all out. All being females isn't the reason as to why they fight i don't think. I honestly feel it's a myth it being easier introducing a different sex, my family has never had a problem before...we've ALWAYS had females and only 1 male in the span of like 20yrs.

Nothing has changed and i honestly think its cause Evie is very playful but she isnt getting the attention she wants from Shelly.