acclimating an existing cat to another cat

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Hactar - 21 Oct 2007 19:07 GMT

I have a (deaf) cat who's about 7 or so months old. I'm getting (when
it's on solid food) another cat (hearing), much younger, only a couple
weeks old. Her mother abandoned her, so that's why I'm getting her so
young. What can I do to ensure that no felicides occur in the
transition? I've heard that putting the same kind of perfume on both
helps (cat thinks "we smell alike, so we must be related"). True? Do
I need separate feeding dishes/litterboxes? How can I tell if the new
cat can tolerate free feeding? Most importantly, if I _do_ need
separate thing for cat_2, how do I keep cat_1 out of them?

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AMUN - 22 Oct 2007 01:24 GMT

>I have a (deaf) cat who's about 7 or so months old. I'm getting (when
> it's on solid food) another cat (hearing), much younger, only a couple
> weeks old. Her mother abandoned her, so that's why I'm getting her so
> young. What can I do to ensure that no felicides occur in the
> transition?

You are going to get as many different answers as there are people here, and
what you may find best depends on the cats and your home layout.

> I've heard that putting the same kind of perfume on both
> helps (cat thinks "we smell alike, so we must be related"). True?

HUH? Perfume ?
I doubt that would be such a good idea, as the residues may make the cat
ill, as cat's ingest whatever is on their fur while cleaning.
Drink the perfume yourself first, every day for six months, and if you don't
have any health issues, THEN consider putting it on the cat.

>Do I need separate feeding dishes/litterboxes?

Maybe.
Some cats just won't share, some have no problem with it as long as
everything is kept clean.
But what makes you think a 2 week old kitten knows what a litterbox is ?

How can I tell if the new

> cat can tolerate free feeding?

?????????
Do you mean just putting out unending food and letting the cat decide how
much is enough ?
A two week old kitten may not be ready for solid food of any type

Most importantly, if I _do_ need

> separate thing for cat_2, how do I keep cat_1 out of them?

Lock cat_1 in the basement !

Seriously, there is no one answer as some cats will take to each other
without any problems at all, and others will fight each other to the death.

But bringing home a two week old kitten is going to be enough problems,
unless your existing cat "adopts" it, right from the start.
You don't mention if the original is male or female ?
Female may be more inclined to adopt the kitten, a Tom might be more likely
to regard it as a meal.

General rule is to lock the newcomer in a room on it's own, and let them
"talk" through the closed door for a few days until they get used to each
other.
Then under supervision, open the door a few times to see if they start
ripping each others fur out.

I've seen lots of people who had no problems bringing in a freind for
"kitty", others who had get rid of the newcomer after a week or two, as
neither would have survived, and some in the middle, who have a few problems
that work themselves out after a few weeks.

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Hactar - 22 Oct 2007 03:07 GMT

> >I have a (deaf) cat who's about 7 or so months old. I'm getting (when
> > it's on solid food) another cat (hearing), much younger, only a couple
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> You are going to get as many different answers as there are people here, and
> what you may find best depends on the cats and your home layout.

Well, I was mainly interested in answers like "100% chance the kitten
will be killed within a week". But That is not what you're saying...

> > I've heard that putting the same kind of perfume on both
> > helps (cat thinks "we smell alike, so we must be related"). True?
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Drink the perfume yourself first, every day for six months, and if you don't
> have any health issues, THEN consider putting it on the cat.

OK, not perfume then. Something which has an odor more powerful than
whatever the cats have naturally then but is pretty benign
(gastrointestinally speaking)?

> >Do I need separate feeding dishes/litterboxes?
>
> Maybe.
> Some cats just won't share, some have no problem with it as long as
> everything is kept clean.
> But what makes you think a 2 week old kitten knows what a litterbox is ?

Well, she's ~3.5 weeks old now, and I won't be taking her until she is
weaned, so I have a few weeks to prepare (I hope). How instinctive is
housetraining, or must it be taught?

> How can I tell if the new
> > cat can tolerate free feeding?
>
> ?????????
> Do you mean just putting out unending food and letting the cat decide how
> much is enough ?

Yep. In particular, one of those feeders that holds ~3lb of food.
Like this:

http://everything-for-your-dog.com/petmate-le-bistro-feeder-p-2471.html

> A two week old kitten may not be ready for solid food of any type

No, not yet, eventually.

> Most importantly, if I _do_ need
> > separate thing for cat_2, how do I keep cat_1 out of them?
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> unless your existing cat "adopts" it, right from the start.
> You don't mention if the original is male or female ?

F, spayed.

> Female may be more inclined to adopt the kitten, a Tom might be more likely
> to regard it as a meal.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> neither would have survived, and some in the middle, who have a few problems
> that work themselves out after a few weeks.

OK, thanks.

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AMUN - 22 Oct 2007 18:40 GMT

>> >I have a (deaf) cat who's about 7 or so months old. I'm getting (when
>> > it's on solid food) another cat (hearing), much younger, only a couple
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
> weaned, so I have a few weeks to prepare (I hope). How instinctive is
> housetraining, or must it be taught?

All other points aside, lets concentrate on the primary issue that will
be/is most important.
You earlier said the mother abandoned the kitten, now it's "until she is
weaned".

Which is it?

Almost all "instinctive" cat behavior is learned from the mother.
Including using a litter box, hunting skills, and interaction with other
cats

So without knowing more, most here will probably say that you should wait as
long as possible to make sure the kitten is weaned and "taught" by the
mother how to be a cat.
*less problems for you.

And then let them worry about their own scents.

As for,...."100% chance the kitten will be killed within a week".
Not that it can't happen, but if you keep them apart until they get used to
each other, you stand a better chance of both living without problems.
Cats allow humans to live in THEIR homes, so if you do it right, they may
allow you another cat to play with. <g>

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Hactar - 22 Oct 2007 21:07 GMT

> >> >I have a (deaf) cat who's about 7 or so months old. I'm getting (when
> >> > it's on solid food) another cat (hearing), much younger, only a couple
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Which is it?

Both. The mother _did_ abandon the kitten, but I'm not getting her
until she's on solid food. Until then, my grandmother is bottle-feeding
her. I can't be at home all to feed her every few hours.

> Almost all "instinctive" cat behavior is learned from the mother.
> Including using a litter box, hunting skills, and interaction with other
> cats

Hunting skill isn't so bad to lose, but the others are various shades of
"useful". Maybe cat1 will "adopt" cat2...

> So without knowing more, most here will probably say that you should wait as
> long as possible to make sure the kitten is weaned and "taught" by the
> mother how to be a cat.

I don't have a choice. The mother is out of the picture. I don't know
if she got hit by a car, or nabbed by Animal Control, or what. Without
human intervention, this kitten would die. My grandmother's house was
catless, but she (the gm) is allergic to cats, so she (the cat) can't
stay there.

> *less problems for you.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Cats allow humans to live in THEIR homes, so if you do it right, they may
> allow you another cat to play with. <g>

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AMUN - 23 Oct 2007 02:39 GMT

>> >> >I have a (deaf) cat who's about 7 or so months old. I'm getting
>> >> >(when
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
> catless, but she (the gm) is allergic to cats, so she (the cat) can't
> stay there.

Little clearer picture here now.
Long story, short.
You are making the best of a bad situation, so you are going to have to make
decisions on your own, day by day.

Here's a question though.
Have you tried bringing the kitten in for even a few hours and see how your
cat reacts ?
Maybe just having it around on weekends will allow the two to meet
"gradually".

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Hactar - 23 Oct 2007 04:07 GMT

> > The mother _did_ abandon the kitten, but I'm not getting her
> > until she's on solid food. Until then, my grandmother is bottle-feeding
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> Maybe just having it around on weekends will allow the two to meet
> "gradually".

Good idea. Hard to do though. GM's place is maybe a half hour from
here, so bringing the cat over for a visit involves two hours of
driving.

I have to go to that area of town, so I'm going to transfer some
cat-scent on towels. Putting cat1's scent on cat2 isn't as important,
since cat1 isn't in any real danger from cat2 (the newcomer). But I'll
take two washcloths in baggies anyway, to transfer scent both directions.

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Lesley - 22 Oct 2007 09:54 GMT

I've heard that putting the same kind of perfume on both

>helps (cat thinks "we smell alike, so we must be related").

You've either heard of Feliway which is a synthetic form of a feline
pheromone or you might be thinking of keeping them seperate but rubbing one
of them with a towel and then rubbing the other cat with the same towel and
vice versa so they can get used to each other's scent

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

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