NTTGPR: Cat question

[kasaundrar]

Hey guys!

Yesterday DH and I adopted a kitten from the shelter. She is 6 months old. We already have a kitten who is 8 months old. They don't like each other very much so I was curious if anyone knew the best way to ease them in to it and make it work? I have googled it but I just wanted some personal opinions. I'm already in love and would hate to have to take her back  

Thanks!

[spartanchick88]

Give them time! Sourdough spent the first day growling and hissing at Brie - he NEVER says bad words. Within a couple days they were tolerating each other. Now they are best friends and sleep together and groom each other.

When you bring a new pet into the house, there is an adjustment period. The new kitten has invaded established territory. Just keep an eye on them to make sure no one is trying to kill the other. Good luck and congrats on the new kitty!

[SheilaTheTank]

Keep them seperated for a few weeks. Slowly introduce things that smell like the other cat (such as a blanket or a toy) during that time. Whatever you do don't force it. Some cats just don't like other cats. I've had cats who cuddle with eachother in the past but my current cats tolerate eachother. Please please please don't take the cat back. It would do more harm than good. Cats can learn to live with eachother but it WILL NOT happen overnight.

[kasaundrar]

Jan 17, 2015 16:55:00 GMT -5 spartanchick88 said:

Give them time! Sourdough spent the first day growling and hissing at Brie - he NEVER says bad words. Within a couple days they were tolerating each other. Now they are best friends and sleep together and groom each other.

When you bring a new pet into the house, there is an adjustment period. The new kitten has invaded established territory. Just keep an eye on them to make sure no one is trying to kill the other. Good luck and congrats on the new kitty!

Thank you! Yeah they hiss at each other through the door

[kasaundrar]

Jan 17, 2015 16:56:19 GMT -5 SheilaTheTank said:

Keep them seperated for a few weeks. Slowly introduce things that smell like the other cat (such as a blanket or a toy) during that time. Whatever you do don't force it. Some cats just don't like other cats. I've had cats who cuddle with eachother in the past but my current cats tolerate eachother. Please please please don't take the cat back. It would do more harm than good. Cats can learn to live with eachother but it WILL NOT happen overnight.



**** Stuck****

Okay I will try that. I was just worried about the stress on both of them but I am glad there is a light at then end of the tunnel!

[SheilaTheTank]

Jan 17, 2015 17:00:06 GMT -5 kasaundrar said:

Jan 17, 2015 16:56:19 GMT -5 SheilaTheTank said:

Keep them seperated for a few weeks. Slowly introduce things that smell like the other cat (such as a blanket or a toy) during that time. Whatever you do don't force it. Some cats just don't like other cats. I've had cats who cuddle with eachother in the past but my current cats tolerate eachother. Please please please don't take the cat back. It would do more harm than good. Cats can learn to live with eachother but it WILL NOT happen overnight.



**** Stuck****

Okay I will try that. I was just worried about the stress on both of them but I am glad there is a light at then end of the tunnel!

The only time you have to worry about stress is if they are hiding for over a week and will not come out for food or to use the litter box. My first cat Fluffy (I was 7 when I named him) was a tiny kitten when we got him. When he was about 6 months old and still tiny we got him a companion cat named Louise who was 2 and about three times the size of Fluffy. She was so terrified of him and the house and everything she spent two full weeks in the litter box and would NOT come out. That was the only time we have "returned" an animal because it was clear that she was completely miserable and that keeping her would be detrimental to her health. 

[WVaRN]

My cat hated each other for a good week or two when I brought the black one home. He spent his first few weeks hiding in a room with just a litterbox, food, and water. The white one eventually stopped hissing at him and they are BFFs now. Just give them time and space for them to have their own food away from each other. I hope they get used to each other quick for you.

[proudtobeazebra]

Congrats on the new kitten! I have three cats, (that we got at different times) so I've definitely gone through the adjustment period before. I found that keeping the new cat in a smaller area helps with fear and adjustment. Let them be together gradually - start with just a few minutes, and increase the time as they get more comfortable. Don't leave them alone together until they seem comfortable.

When we went from one to two cats, we had trouble telling when they were fighting and when they were playing. I watched a few YouTube videos of cats fighting/playing to make sure they weren't being really mean to each other (I was a total cat newb). Just make sure to keep their nails short so that they don't hurt each other.

Good luck! I'd love to see pictures

[kasaundrar]

So I should keep them separated for a week or so then until she gets comfortable here? I will post some pictures

[kasaundrar]

Here she is! Her name is Abby a domestic medium hair/mix. Our older cat is my profile picture.

Attachments:

[SheilaTheTank]

Jan 17, 2015 17:41:06 GMT -5 kasaundrar said:

Here she is! Her name is Abby a domestic medium hair/mix. Our older cat is my profile picture.

OMG she is gorgeous!!!! I love her face!

[Deleted]

I concur with PPs. We only have one cat and have been looking into getting a second. The advice I've received from most cat owners is to keep them separated initially and ease into an introduction.

[kasaundrar]

Jan 17, 2015 17:45:46 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

I concur with PPs. We only have one cat and have been looking into getting a second. The advice I've received from most cat owners is to keep them separated initially and ease into an introduction.

Thank you! I want pizza rolls now... Is that an acceptable thing to make for dinner?

[proudtobeazebra]

Jan 17, 2015 17:41:06 GMT -5 kasaundrar said:

Here she is! Her name is Abby a domestic medium hair/mix. Our older cat is my profile picture.

She's so cute!! Look at her little kitten face!

[SheilaTheTank]

Jan 17, 2015 17:47:49 GMT -5 kasaundrar said:

Jan 17, 2015 17:45:46 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

I concur with PPs. We only have one cat and have been looking into getting a second. The advice I've received from most cat owners is to keep them separated initially and ease into an introduction.

Thank you! I want pizza rolls now... Is that an acceptable thing to make for dinner?

As long as it is edible I believe it is acceptable for dinner

[Deleted]

Jan 17, 2015 17:47:49 GMT -5 kasaundrar said:

Jan 17, 2015 17:45:46 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

I concur with PPs. We only have one cat and have been looking into getting a second. The advice I've received from most cat owners is to keep them separated initially and ease into an introduction.

Thank you! I want pizza rolls now... Is that an acceptable thing to make for dinner?

HELL YES!!!!!-

[kariann12]

Jan 17, 2015 17:36:27 GMT -5 kasaundrar said:

So I should keep them separated for a week or so then until she gets comfortable here? I will post some pictures

I don't think there's necessarily a set time frame. Give them a couple minutes every day together, longer if its going well, shorter if its not. It may take a few days for them to get acclimated, it could take weeks or longer. But don't push it. Make sure each cat has their own litterbox, food and water. 

[MrsRC88]

What a cutie!

My cats don't get along, but they tolerate each other. Lily was probably 2 when we brought a new kitten into the house. We didn't separate them. I was honestly hoping she would want to be a "momma" - I was severely disappointed! My only piece of advice is to make sure you are giving both the new and old cat attention. Jealous cats like to fight.

[rooskie]

We got a kitten in August and had 2 adult cats. We kept the kitten in a separate room for close to 6 weeks. Usually we fed the older cats by the door to the kittens room to help them get use to his sounds and smell. We felt bad keeping him separate but now he and the middle cat are inseparable.

[spartanchick88]

She's beautiful!

[Sammich_Cat]

I did a lot of research on this a while back so I remember a bit.
The guy to google here would be Jackson Galaxy IMO (yeah, the guy who does the "my cat from hell") he used to work my shelter.

First put the new cat in a separate room and let the cats smell each other through the closed door, switch out bedding as PP said.

Then when they are adjusted start out with a small amount of time seeing each other (as pp said) and always try to end on a positive note (try to end the meeting before any fight or negative reactions start - a smaller amount of only positive time is preferable to a longer time that risks a negative reaction).

Try to feed them together or play with them together so that they associate good things with seeing each other/ being near each other.

Just letting them meet right away might work OK (my first two cats were like this), but it might not (I fucked up and my first cat hates my third). But none of my cats cuddle and I didn't do the slow approach so I would definitely go with the slow approach next time.

ETA: I think there are a lot of books on this so while they are separated I would recommend looking at your library!