Advice from CAT PEOPLE!

[PrestoChango]

Hey everyone...

Lurker, not much of a poster, but have found lots of great cat advice in the LOUNGE in the past.

We have a 9 month old cat, Damon. Awesome boy, but gets really lonely when no one is home. We may adopt another cat tomorrow, male named George, 1.5 years old, good personality according to the shelter people.

Any advice on introducing these two boys? A neighbor cat visits our window to look at Damon and growls up a storm, but Damon just sits in the window sill, curiously looking at the cat. This is the only clue we have as to how Damon will react. George has been in foster homes with other cats and is apparently good with them.

Separation is advised, at least for the first day or two, until George can get used to the house, and Damon can get used to his smell. Anyone have any experience with this? Any advise would be much appreciated.

Thankyaverymuch!

[purr]

1. Slowly..very slowly...

Dont just toss new kitty in and expect them to get along.. even with warming up they might not get along as well as you'd like.

I'd do it slowly and very supervised so they dont maul each other.

Good luck, hope everything goes well!! I'm happy to hear your going to adopt a new kitty :)

[PrestoChango]

4. i am happy too

So many boys George's age (over a year) can't get adopted... happy to be giving someone a new, loving home.

Thanks. We'll take it slow.

[montanacowboy]

2. You never know how they will react

every cat is different; I got a new boy at Xmas and the male I had already just would not stop attacking him - so I got another cat a few weeks ago and now all three are buddy buddy - its a crap shoot, just play it by ear and let it play out

[jukes]

3. allow them to greet each other before seperation

guardidly, o/c. many cats have no prob w/new cats & no need to create stress in either by a "lock-out" unless they react VERY badly to each other. a little hissing is acceptable.

EDIT: have a spray bottle w/ clean water available when they meet. if they appear combative, give the aggressor a spray in the face & then seperate them for a day or 2.

lavish attention on your present cat so he doesn't become jealous. feed @ opposite ends of the same room @ 1st, unless they clearly are having problems adjusting. also, provide seperate litter boxes. they'll share, but need to feel dominant over a particular box for awhile.


i've raised many cats and have had very few problems w/ adjustment.

PM if a problem arises.

[PrestoChango]

5. Thanks!!!

Thanks Jukes! The advise is greatly appreciated!!

[catbert836]

6. First, I'd hold off on adopting another one.

What I did when I got another cat was to show Sadie (my first) that Carmel (the intruder) was a presence in the house. Then, I shut Carmel in the basement for the night. The next night, I locked Sadie downstairs while Carmel explored the rest of the house.

[xultar]

7. Put a towel in the new kitty's carrier to get the new cat scent. Then

place the towel under Damon's bowls.

Put a towel on Damon's bed and a towel on the new kitty's bed then switch them after a day or so. Always add a treat when you are trading scents.

It shows the kitties that with the new scent comes a tasty treat.

Also do the same thing with towels under the feeding bowls and switch them every other day or so.

Hope it helps

:hi:

[EC]

8. Bathe, the new cat, so there aren't any outside smells on him

from the shelter, and don't show favoritism...let the new cat explore, but supervise any visits between them. Separate for the first few days when you are not there, but when you are there, let them smell each other and investigate...they will either hiss, or be indifferent to each other, either way, don't interfere unless claws and teeth start entering skin...Cats seem to be amazingly tolerant of other animals...