 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / February 2005Introducing the new cat
I picked up my new kitty tonight, and I am wondering how I should go about introducing him to my kitten. Right now, I have them separated. The new cat is locked in the bedroom with all of his necessities, and my kitten is checking out the carrier I brought the new cat home in. How do I know when they are ready to meet? The new cat was just neutered today, so should I wait awhile? Any other suggestions for a smooth introduction would be very helpful. I also need to figure out a name for the "new cat" Justin > I picked up my new kitty tonight, and I am wondering how I should go > about introducing him to my kitten. Congratulations!! I want to hear all about him. > Right now, I have them separated. The new cat is locked in the bedroom > with all of his necessities, and my kitten is checking out the carrier I > brought the new cat home in. > > How do I know when they are ready to meet? The new cat was just neutered > today, so should I wait awhile? There has been a lot written about this in this group so I think a Google search on "introducing" for this group might be helpful. The most experienced people recommend that it be done gradually. For example, leave the new cat in the bedroom where he is for maybe two days, then put him some place with a barrier like a screen door where the cats can see and smell one another, but not touch. I have heard others say that it may be helpful to expose each cat to the other's scent by placing a blanket or toy that one has been around in the room with the other. > Any other suggestions for a smooth introduction would be very helpful. When I did it three years ago I just opened the carrier upstairs for the new cat and she and the other cat, who stays pretty much on the lowest of three levels, just worked it out on their own. These cats, two grown girls, still pretty much stay in their own turfs, one on the third floor and the other on the first floor. But at feeding times and play times they meet on the middle level. At first there was hissing and posturing, now just some half-hearted swatting. Next they will be playing together, though I doubt they will ever cuddle and groom. > I also need to figure out a name for the "new cat" For that we need PICTURES!! :) >>I picked up my new kitty tonight, and I am wondering how I should go >>about introducing him to my kitten. > > Congratulations!! I want to hear all about him. well, I don't know all the technical cat terms, but he has stripes and a white belly! I will be taking pictures sometime soon. He is very friendly though, when I went to go see him for the first time, he didn't even try to run and hide, he just came up to me and started rubbing on my leg and purring. I can hear him meowing right now, and the kitten keeps going by the door.. is this a good sign?? >>Right now, I have them separated. The new cat is locked in the bedroom >>with all of his necessities, and my kitten is checking out the carrier I [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > expose each cat to the other's scent by placing a blanket or toy that one > has been around in the room with the other. Thanks I will try those suggestions. I am mainly worried because the new cat is older and bigger than my kitten. He also was a unnuetered stray for who knows how long, so he may be used to fighting and all that jazz. >>Any other suggestions for a smooth introduction would be very helpful. > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > they will be playing together, though I doubt they will ever cuddle and > groom. I am hoping they will at least interact a little bit. The main reason for taking in this new cat was to keep my kitten company while I am away during the day. Maybe new cat can share his old fight stories over some catnip or something. >>I also need to figure out a name for the "new cat" > > For that we need PICTURES!! :) Yea I know, I am working on it :P I think he is pretty neat looking. He is definitely a lot different looking than my kitten. I will let you know once I get some posted. Justin > Thanks I will try those suggestions. I am mainly worried because > the new cat is older and bigger than my kitten. He also was a > unnuetered stray for who knows how long, so he may be used to > fighting and all that jazz. My experience with neutered males and kittens is that they get along great. In every instance I've seen them in, in multiple combinations. Older females sometimes act funny, but males have always sort of adopted them. Good luck!  SignatureCheryl >>Thanks I will try those suggestions. I am mainly worried because >>the new cat is older and bigger than my kitten. He also was a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Older females sometimes act funny, but males have always sort of > adopted them. Good luck! That is good to know! Thanks! Justin > well, I don't know all the technical cat terms, but he has stripes and a > white belly! > I will be taking pictures sometime soon. > He is very friendly though, when I went to go see him for the first > time, he didn't even try to run and hide, he just came up to me and > started rubbing on my leg and purring. Oh, you got a friendly little guy! > I can hear him meowing right now, and the kitten keeps going by the > door.. is this a good sign?? Sure! I hope you're visiting him a lot so he isn't lonely. > > There has been a lot written about this in this group so I think a Google > > search on "introducing" for this group might be helpful. The most [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > cat is older and bigger than my kitten. He also was a unnuetered stray > for who knows how long, so he may be used to fighting and all that jazz. I see--it sounds like you have reason to be careful. Bless you for adopting an adult cat, so many people just want kittens. You're a good soul! How old is this boy, do you know? And I assume he is now neutered? Could the shelter tell you much about him? >> I am hoping they will at least interact a little bit. The main reason > for taking in this new cat was to keep my kitten company while I am away > during the day. Maybe new cat can share his old fight stories over some > catnip or something. You know, the key ingredient is patience. They will probably be fine together, and play and keep one another company eventually, but just not as fast as you want them to do it. Above all don't pick one cat up and take it into the other's space. I would spend some time petting and playing with the kitten, then go in and spend some time with the new boy, to mingle their scents. > >>I also need to figure out a name for the "new cat" > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I will let you know once I get some posted. Excellent. <snip> > Oh, you got a friendly little guy! Seems to be so far! > Sure! I hope you're visiting him a lot so he isn't lonely. Yes, I was just in there now. I noticed his front claws are *very* short. It almost looks like they are broken or something, but I am afraid to try and get a real good look because he gets kind of nervous when I do. Does this mean he is declawed, or do some cats just have short claws. Poor guy :( I hope he isn't in pain. <snip> > I see--it sounds like you have reason to be careful. Bless you for adopting > an adult cat, so many people just want kittens. You're a good soul! How old > is > this boy, do you know? And I assume he is now neutered? Could the shelter > tell you much about him? The vet he saw estimated about 1-1/2 yrs old, and he was just neutered this morning. I didn't get him from the shelter. I saw an ad in the paper "rescued cat from cold". The lady I got him from said he started coming around for food. Then one night he had frozen little tears running down his face, so she took him in. She already had 2 cats, and can't have anymore. >>>I am hoping they will at least interact a little bit. The main reason >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > time petting and playing with the kitten, then go in and spend some time > with the new boy, to mingle their scents. That is what I have been doing so far, they seem to be interested in each other, but I am going to wait at least a few days before letting them see each other. I think new cat did a spray in the room. yuck:( Justin <snipped> > Yes, I was just in there now. I noticed his front claws are *very* > short. It almost looks like they are broken or something, but I am > afraid to try and get a real good look because he gets kind of nervous > when I do. Does this mean he is declawed, or do some cats just have short claws. I bet someone clipped them. If he was declawed his little feet would look deformed, like dustmops, with no normal arch. It is literally the chopping of of the first joint of the toes. > Poor guy :( I hope he isn't in pain. I hope not too. > The vet he saw estimated about 1-1/2 yrs old, and he was just neutered > this morning. Oh, my. He will take some time. At least he is young: if he did not have his "stuff" for long, he may not have had time to form too many bad habits! > I didn't get him from the shelter. I saw an ad in the paper "rescued cat > from cold". The lady I got him from said he started coming around for > food. Then one night he had frozen little tears running down his face, > so she took him in. She already had 2 cats, and can't have anymore. Oh, gad, poor guy. So you had him neutered of the lady did? I wonder if he has had a regular checkup? If not I guess you may want to have his feet checked. I hope the cold did not hurt them. > > You know, the key ingredient is patience. They will probably be fine > > together, and play and keep one another company eventually, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > them see each other. > I think new cat did a spray in the room. yuck:( Oh, that is too bad. Maybe it was a one-time thing, to mark his turf. You can get a product called Feliway that is supposed to calm cats down. (Marking can be an anxiety behavior.) I comes in a spray and a find of effuser/plug-in thing I think. It is said that once his hormone levels calm down from the neutering, he will be much less likely to spray. Good luck and keep us posted. > <snip> > [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > > <snipped> Be sure to clean the area well with a good enzymatic cleaner. It will take a while for his hormones to calm down. Mature males that are unneutered may also just have REALLY strong smelling pee so it may even just be from peeing in the box if all you went by was smell. You might also consider a Feliway diffuser just to get him calm. As for names, Your kitten is Elwood yes? My mom was engaged to an Elwood, but his first name was Harold. You could name the new boy Harold :) >><snip> >> [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > in the box if all you went by was smell. You might also consider a Feliway > diffuser just to get him calm. Yes, I think it was just his normal pee. It is quite strong smelling. How long can I expect it to stink like that? It will go away, right?? > As for names, Your kitten is Elwood yes? My mom was engaged to an Elwood, > but his first name was Harold. You could name the new boy Harold :) Yes, Elwood is my kitten. Harold, I like it :)....I am still thinking though. Justin p.s. since he was just neutered today, I bet the vet clipped his nails really short. My vet clips them much shorter than I do. > p.s. since he was just neutered today, I bet the vet clipped his nails > really short. My vet clips them much shorter than I do. I thought about that, they just seemed to be very short to me. He is a "stocky" cat though, so it may be just the way they are. Justin >I picked up my new kitty tonight, and I am wondering how I should go >about introducing him to my kitten. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Justin If the new cat is past sexual maturity, wait at least a month for best results, so the hormones can wash out of his system. Just an anecdotal reference, but one that is backed up with at least a little research.. Grown (male) cats and kittens seem to have a somewhat easier time acclimating. We brough Louis the Bengal (neutered male) home at about two months old, and at the first meeting Tiger the Eight-year-old neutered male) hissed once, then started grooming the new kitten! We kept them separated a couple weeks, with short times together, and Tiger fell in love almost immediately. They are now the best of friends, playing and sleeping together. Luckily, this was by design, since Tiger (a mutt) has always been a playful cat, and in our first purebred purchase we wanted a breed that would share his enthusiasm for play, after Tiger had lost two friends to disease. Bengals are advertised as such, and Louis plays to type. The ten-year age differential has us somewhat concerned, which is why we adopted the stray Henry (about Louis' age and as precocious). It's this addition which underlines the difference between introductions with kittens and introductions as adults. Hope this helps. Enjoy your new kitty! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! BLink <snip> > If the new cat is past sexual maturity, wait at least a month for best > results, so the hormones can wash out of his system. When is sexual maturity? He is about 1-1/2 years old, but his exact age is unknown. > Just an anecdotal reference, but one that is backed up with at least a > little research.. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > two months old, and at the first meeting Tiger the Eight-year-old > neutered male) hissed once, then started grooming the new kitten! I hope my cats meeting goes that well! > We kept them separated a couple weeks, with short times together, and > Tiger fell in love almost immediately. They are now the best of [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Hope this helps. Enjoy your new kitty! I think you'll be pleasantly > surprised! Thanks Justin > BLink ><snip> >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >When is sexual maturity? He is about 1-1/2 years old, but his exact age >is unknown. He's past maturity .. others here can give more exact figures, but a year is definitely maturity for male cats. >> Just an anecdotal reference, but one that is backed up with at least a >> little research.. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > >> BLink Congratulations! Good move! I second the recommendation to wait a bit until the hormone level settles down. But I don't think a month will be necessary. Give it a week or two. Let them sniff each other under a door, then through a baby gate (or two--one on top of another) and stay in the (closed)room with them when introducing. Start with short meetings, and after a few days if all goes well let them out of the room. You want to limit it to one closed room because if the worst happens, you don't want to be running through the house after them! But I think it will be fine. Keep us up to date. >I picked up my new kitty tonight, and I am wondering how I should go about >introducing him to my kitten. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Justin > Congratulations! Good move! > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > But I think it will be fine. Keep us up to date. Good suggestions, thanks!! I guess taking this slow is the way to go. They seem like they are curious about each other, so that is good I guess. Justin Justin Justin L <Leejustice2@hotmail.com> wrote in news:eTzMd.420$1K3.369 @newssvr31.news.prodigy.com: > I also need to figure out a name for the "new cat" I suggest "Buster." I just love that name. --Catherine & Rosalie the calico > Justin L <Leejustice2@hotmail.com> wrote in news:eTzMd.420$1K3.369 > @newssvr31.news.prodigy.com: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > --Catherine > & Rosalie the calico I like Buster too! This isn't going to be easy. Justin > > Justin L <Leejustice2@hotmail.com> wrote in news:eTzMd.420$1K3.369 > > @newssvr31.news.prodigy.com: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I like Buster too! > This isn't going to be easy. Bing. :) Justin L Feb 3, 5:05 pm show options Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats.health+behav From: Justin L <Leejusti...@hotmail.com> - Find messages by this author Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2005 01:05:14 GMT Local: Thurs, Feb 3 2005 5:05 pm Subject: Introducing the new cat Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse I picked up my new kitty tonight, and I am wondering how I should go about introducing him to my kitten. Right now, I have them separated. The new cat is locked in the bedroom with all of his necessities, and my kitten is checking out the carrier I brought the new cat home in. How do I know when they are ready to meet? The new cat was just neutered today, so should I wait awhile? Any other suggestions for a smooth introduction would be very helpful. I also need to figure out a name for the "new cat" Justin How about "Felix"or "Felicia"thats my cats name, Felicia
|
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.