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Introducing cats
My adult son is moving back home for awhile. We're not sure how long but it could be awhile. I am thrilled to have him back again as I'll get to see him more now. :)
Here's the dilema (if there is one). He has a kitten, who's about 5 months old. I'm not as worried about her as she's still a kitten and playful but I don't know how our 3 year old cat will like a new cat being brought into the house. She did pretty well with the two puppies and even plays with them sometimes but another cat is a whole other thing, I know.
This kitten had siblings (from his roommates) and is used to being around other cats and I'm sure she'll want to play with our cat but I'm just not sure how our cat will react.
I'm thinking we should start off keeping them seperated and introduce them gradually. I really don't want a cat fight or to freak either one out.
But I also know I can't keep the poor cat locked up all the time and will eventually have to let them both have the run of the house. It would be different if it was just going to be a few weeks or something but this will probably be more long term so I will have to get them to the point of getting along.
I'm up for any suggestions that you all may have as to how to make this work. Thanks everyone!
Here's the dilema (if there is one). He has a kitten, who's about 5 months old. I'm not as worried about her as she's still a kitten and playful but I don't know how our 3 year old cat will like a new cat being brought into the house. She did pretty well with the two puppies and even plays with them sometimes but another cat is a whole other thing, I know.
This kitten had siblings (from his roommates) and is used to being around other cats and I'm sure she'll want to play with our cat but I'm just not sure how our cat will react.
I'm thinking we should start off keeping them seperated and introduce them gradually. I really don't want a cat fight or to freak either one out.
But I also know I can't keep the poor cat locked up all the time and will eventually have to let them both have the run of the house. It would be different if it was just going to be a few weeks or something but this will probably be more long term so I will have to get them to the point of getting along.
I'm up for any suggestions that you all may have as to how to make this work. Thanks everyone!
Just uploaded a couple of pictures of Abby if you guys want to go to my profile to take a look. :)
I know you miss Misha. From the way you've described her, I could tell she was a very special kitty!! =) BUT, this motor mouth kitten is here to help ease your pain. She's doing a good job of it. Wish I could meet her!!! LOL
Oh yeah! If you talk to her she'll carry on a whole conversation with you, lol.
We were playing with her just a little bit ago with one of those pet lasor lights and she was chasing that all over the place, trying to climb the walls, curtains, etc. It was so funny!
Thank you, ZQ. I still miss my sweet Misha kitty. I think God knew the timing was right, though, because this little ball of energy would have only stressed poor little Misha out even more. Misha never did handle new pets coming in very well. Sakura, on the other hand, does real well with it. She's so patient with the dogs and this new kitty. :) It's working out better than I had hoped it would.
We were playing with her just a little bit ago with one of those pet lasor lights and she was chasing that all over the place, trying to climb the walls, curtains, etc. It was so funny!
Thank you, ZQ. I still miss my sweet Misha kitty. I think God knew the timing was right, though, because this little ball of energy would have only stressed poor little Misha out even more. Misha never did handle new pets coming in very well. Sakura, on the other hand, does real well with it. She's so patient with the dogs and this new kitty. :) It's working out better than I had hoped it would.
She does sound like a very pretty cat!!
I think it's great that this kitten has brought some much-needed fun and happiness into your home to help take away some of the sadness over Misha. Abby sounds like a lot of fun!!! I just love talkative kitties. Does she answer you when you talk to her? I LOVE that!! =)
I think it's great that this kitten has brought some much-needed fun and happiness into your home to help take away some of the sadness over Misha. Abby sounds like a lot of fun!!! I just love talkative kitties. Does she answer you when you talk to her? I LOVE that!! =)
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm so happy this all worked out so well, April. Abby sounds like a sweet little girl with lots of energy. Jade still runs around like that a night. A few nights ago though, she was chasing her mousie and ran headlong into the rocking chair leg. I mean, I *heard* her head connect! All I could see was $$$ signs and vet bills, lol.
Just thought I'd give a little update. This little cat is such a funny, little thing! I thought Sakura was funny and clumsy but this little girl is so much like her (especially when Sakura was more of a kitten,) She dashes around the house, falls off the windowsill sometimes, is quite the talker! My goodness, she sounds like she's complaining a lot, lol.
My son said in their apartment she used to use the litter box then dash out, down the hallway and almost crash into the wall. I've seen her do something similar here! She does seem to dash out of her litter box. My son said the only thing he could think of was, she was either scared of something or trying to run away from her own smell. When he said that I about died laughing! She is just the funniest little thing! :)
My son said in their apartment she used to use the litter box then dash out, down the hallway and almost crash into the wall. I've seen her do something similar here! She does seem to dash out of her litter box. My son said the only thing he could think of was, she was either scared of something or trying to run away from her own smell. When he said that I about died laughing! She is just the funniest little thing! :)
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi April, I'm happy this all worked out so smoothly and Abby is making herself at home and everyone is getting along. She sounds real sweet...and talkative, that's cute. Clipping her claws will turn into a weekly event though so you might consider those 'soft paws' I think their called.
I took a look at the photo but too small for my eyes and will have to get a magnifying glass. She sounds pretty. I grew up with two calicos.
I took a look at the photo but too small for my eyes and will have to get a magnifying glass. She sounds pretty. I grew up with two calicos.
We decided we're going to try clipping her claws at the vet, maybe, and see if that helps with clawing, etc. She's not too bad but sometimes tries to climb up things with her claws.
She's quite a talker! You should see her, walking around the house talking (or complaining, as my son says, lol).
I posted a small picture of her on my pets photo album if you all want to see her. We believe she's a long haired calico. She's a nice kitty (just talks loudly!) and a pretty little thing. She's adjusting well to the family now. :)
She's quite a talker! You should see her, walking around the house talking (or complaining, as my son says, lol).
I posted a small picture of her on my pets photo album if you all want to see her. We believe she's a long haired calico. She's a nice kitty (just talks loudly!) and a pretty little thing. She's adjusting well to the family now. :)
I have a question. I hope you all see it here or I guess I could make it a new question. I will try here first.
The new kitty is adapting well to the household, I think. However, she does have claws and I cringe when she climbs onto some of my furniture or grabs ahold of things with her claws. Some of my furniture is leather and I know how easily that can get ruined.
My son did buy her a scratching post and rubbed it with cat nip. She likes it but it doesn't seem to help with climbing and jumping on furniture.
I don't want to keep her locked up. She doesn't like it anymore and will bang and scratch on the bedroom door to be let out in the mornings (she sleeps in his bedroom).
She does need to get fixed soon. My son doesn't want to get her declawed, which is fine. I respect his decision. I did ask him to look into something like the Soft Paws but I don't know what else we can do to keep the kitty out with us and around the family but still protect the furniture. I don't have enough heavy blankets to cover everything but I'm going to see what I can come up with there.
Any suggestions I haven't thought of yet?
The new kitty is adapting well to the household, I think. However, she does have claws and I cringe when she climbs onto some of my furniture or grabs ahold of things with her claws. Some of my furniture is leather and I know how easily that can get ruined.
My son did buy her a scratching post and rubbed it with cat nip. She likes it but it doesn't seem to help with climbing and jumping on furniture.
I don't want to keep her locked up. She doesn't like it anymore and will bang and scratch on the bedroom door to be let out in the mornings (she sleeps in his bedroom).
She does need to get fixed soon. My son doesn't want to get her declawed, which is fine. I respect his decision. I did ask him to look into something like the Soft Paws but I don't know what else we can do to keep the kitty out with us and around the family but still protect the furniture. I don't have enough heavy blankets to cover everything but I'm going to see what I can come up with there.
Any suggestions I haven't thought of yet?
She has the run of the house now and she's doing great. :) The only thing she doesn't like is the dogs running up to her and trying to jump on her to play. She freezes when they do that but she hasn't tried to hurt them. It's actually going very well. :)
Very true Jade. Young kittens sometimes though haven't quite figured out the claw retraction thing so they may have claws extended even though there is no intent to scratch. Even so, it usually does no real harm to another cat. It is done more to send a message or even in play rather than to do damage.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm happy to hear this is going well, April. I think it's going to be okay, too. Nancy may correct me if I'm wrong, but lot's of times when cats swat at each other, the claws are retracted, they're just using the power of their paw alone unless there's a true fight happening.
Good job, April : -)
Good job, April : -)
Ok, I'll try that next, thanks!
It's funny, but my cat did really, really well. She just seemed interested. She's a funny cat, though. I think she's part cat/dog, lol. She plays with the puppies and is incredibly patient with them! I think she'll do ok with my son's cat but I'll have to watch with his cat because she does have claws and my cat doesn't.
But I will try to just let her out and lock up our cat for awhile and let his cat explore. We will give that a go and let her get a little more familiar with the suroundings. Thanks again!
It's funny, but my cat did really, really well. She just seemed interested. She's a funny cat, though. I think she's part cat/dog, lol. She plays with the puppies and is incredibly patient with them! I think she'll do ok with my son's cat but I'll have to watch with his cat because she does have claws and my cat doesn't.
But I will try to just let her out and lock up our cat for awhile and let his cat explore. We will give that a go and let her get a little more familiar with the suroundings. Thanks again!
You might try giving the kitten some time to explore the house on her own without the other cat. To her, your house is a whole new world. Once she is familiar with that world, she will show more interest in your cat and you. But first she needs to become familiar with her new physical surroundings.
Today we brought my son's cat out and shut the upstairs doors and put the dogs outside and let the cats just wander around and get to know each other. The biggest surprise to me was it was my son's cat who hissed and growled a few times when my cat got close. Our cat would watch her and approach and try to sniff her but my son's cat didn't seem to want to get too close. I would have thought with her being the younger cat that she'd be easier to adapt but she just wanted to explore the house and my cat watched her but you could see she was curious.
Still, I was encouraged that it went as well as it did. We will keep bringing them together more and more while we can watch them together. I think it's going to be ok!
Still, I was encouraged that it went as well as it did. We will keep bringing them together more and more while we can watch them together. I think it's going to be ok!
Hm, I thought it was the other way around, that it would be better to introduce slowly. Well, I do think we should carefully watch them when we do have them out. The kitten still has claws and could probably hurt my other cat better if she wanted to.
It was interesting because today I brought my son's cat out and held her in my arms and my cat walked up slowly and put her nose right up to her nose and it was my son's cat who hissed, twice! Then my cat backed off.
I will bring her out more and more and watch them.
It was interesting because today I brought my son's cat out and held her in my arms and my cat walked up slowly and put her nose right up to her nose and it was my son's cat who hissed, twice! Then my cat backed off.
I will bring her out more and more and watch them.
My experience with introducing cat to each other is that it is better done sooner than later. If you draw it out to long you are conveying to them that you expect problems and you will likely get them. You are also showing Sakura that hissing results in the kitten being taken away, just the opposite of what you want to accomplish. They need to establish the pecking order amongst themselves. Sakura sounds like an alpha cat and she needs to communicate that to the kitten. Most kittens are fine with that, the earlier the age, the better. There many be some hissing an growling and swatting, but that is all part of the communication process. As long as there isn't a total full body attack, I'd let them work it out. Kittens are very resilient emotionally, so it is unlikely that the older cat's behavior will have anything other than the desired effect of communicating who is in charge.
Jade, my son has been home a little over a week now. And yes, when I said my cat I meant Sakura. The other little kitty is my son's and she's about 5 months old. She's a real sweet, pretty little kitty. Maybe I'll post a picture of her later.
I don't want to draw it out too long but I worry that my cat would beat up his cat. She can be a bit of a bully and she used to chase our other cat sometimes, more in earlier years. It took a long time for even them to tolerate each other. I just don't want to traumatize my son's cat because she's only been around her siblings and got along with them. I just want to be careful not to traumatize either cat.
I don't want to draw it out too long but I worry that my cat would beat up his cat. She can be a bit of a bully and she used to chase our other cat sometimes, more in earlier years. It took a long time for even them to tolerate each other. I just don't want to traumatize my son's cat because she's only been around her siblings and got along with them. I just want to be careful not to traumatize either cat.
When I've introduced a new kitten to Spirit-our older female, I've kept the kitten in the carrier during the day while at work, then brought him out when we got home for a few hours or so, then back in the carrier during the night. Gradually, the kitten is allowed out for longer time as he got bigger and he and Spirit adjusted to eachother; this worked fine with both Butters and Bob. Our bedroom is the attic with no door so they were never completely separated from eachother so Spirit could look at them when she felt like it, or stay downstairs. Good luck!
COMMUNITY LEADER
Aw, that makes me sad, little girl is starting to meow. Are you bringing the little one out in the carrier once a day? I'm thinking this is Sakura we're talking about? Jade has a girlfriend who began coming over right when we got her. They get along fairly well unless jade isn't in the mood for company, then she'll run Tipsy off. Sometimes what looks like a possible fight is only play.
Your cats have been aware of each other for weeks now? I'd see what happens if you let the little girl out of the carrier, but with tight supervision. Hopefully they will surprise you. Your son is there to say for a while so it has to happen some time. Fingers crossed :)
Your cats have been aware of each other for weeks now? I'd see what happens if you let the little girl out of the carrier, but with tight supervision. Hopefully they will surprise you. Your son is there to say for a while so it has to happen some time. Fingers crossed :)
We're still working on this. The first week she stayed in his bedroom. The other day we took her out a few times in a cat carrier so they could see each other and sniff each other. My cat is the one who seems more cautious and not too pleased. She approached very cautiously and watched the carrier for a long time. There were a few hisses and growls so we took his cat back to his room. His cat is a very sweet cat and didn't hiss or growl. She remained quiet.
I'm a little worried to let them get too close yet as my cat is quite a bit bigger than his cat. His cat is very little and petite.
I hope this doesn't take a long time as his poor cat is starting to get tired of being in a small room! I'm hearing her meow more now.
I will let you all know how things go! I sure hope they can learn to at least tolerate each other. I don't want any fights!
I'm a little worried to let them get too close yet as my cat is quite a bit bigger than his cat. His cat is very little and petite.
I hope this doesn't take a long time as his poor cat is starting to get tired of being in a small room! I'm hearing her meow more now.
I will let you all know how things go! I sure hope they can learn to at least tolerate each other. I don't want any fights!
Thanks Opus. That's what I decided. He's bringing her over tomorrow while they finish cleaning up the apartment. I figured I'd put her in his bedroom with a small box, food and water. It's a small bedroom, though. I feel sorry enough for her as she's not only going to be stressed being brought into a new house with new people, animals, etc., but she's losing her siblings. :( His roommates each had a cat (from the same litter) and they're each taking their cat when they move. These cats grew up together, playing and sleeping together. I know she'll miss her sister and brother, poor thing. :(
Yes, everything is fine, though. His roommates lost their jobs and were not able to keep up with the bills, etc., and they all just needed to move back home for awhile and try and save some money. Not a good economy out there still.
I'll let you know how things go, thanks!
Yes, everything is fine, though. His roommates lost their jobs and were not able to keep up with the bills, etc., and they all just needed to move back home for awhile and try and save some money. Not a good economy out there still.
I'll let you know how things go, thanks!
how nice for you to have your son coming back for awhile, everythings ok I hope!!
as far as the introduction April just take it slow, keep the new kitten in your sons room for awhile, they'll do alot of sniffin under the door at each other, thats good....thats how they'll become accustomed to one anothers scent.....give that a few days maybe even a week if theres NO hissing go a step further and let them see each other from a distance just play it by ear, being that the new kitty is a kitten this shouldn't be very difficult, new kitties just want to play so it will be the older one who'll need to do the accepting....after all its her house and cats like to be the ones deciding whos welcome and whos not....it'll work just go about it slowly dear, keep us posted♥
as far as the introduction April just take it slow, keep the new kitten in your sons room for awhile, they'll do alot of sniffin under the door at each other, thats good....thats how they'll become accustomed to one anothers scent.....give that a few days maybe even a week if theres NO hissing go a step further and let them see each other from a distance just play it by ear, being that the new kitty is a kitten this shouldn't be very difficult, new kitties just want to play so it will be the older one who'll need to do the accepting....after all its her house and cats like to be the ones deciding whos welcome and whos not....it'll work just go about it slowly dear, keep us posted♥
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