My Cats in the House "Hosting" New Cats (HOW? -I Need Help!)

FreeRepublic ^ | 2/11/05 | self

[A knight without armor]

I may be misunderstanding something. I don't know if you mean 4 cats will create a strong litter box odor and your human visitors will know they are there OR if you mean your original cats will smell the new cats and will know there are other cat interlopers in the house.

If you are concerned about people: I say get one or two more litter boxes if necessary and use multi-cat litter. It works pretty good. It won't be any big deal.

If you are worried about the cats: Let them adjust their own pecking order. Maybe they will scrap with each other some but I promise things will settle down. Sounds like you have a nice roomy place. There will be peace soon.

It is so good of you to take in extra pets who are in need of a safe place.

Don't fret. It will work out.

Oh, and by the way, I cannot say enough good things about Carpet Fresh No-Vaccuum Foam Carpet Refresher in the "Super Pet" scent. You just spray it on the carpet or any cloth and it immediately disappears and smells very fresh and clean for days.

[Question_Assumptions]

I've had cats from different litters get along. So has Ronin. I think it depends on personality as much as anything else. For example, our pariah cat does get chased by her siblings but he used to follow one of our older cats around like a shadow because he was nice to her before he passed away. He'd gendly hold her down and groom her, despite being a year or two older.

[beyond the sea]

Have the new cats in separate pet taxis.---

"taxis" -- do you mean carriers..... the things you take them to the vets in??

[Vicki]

I would call PetSmart and/or the vet and ask them for advice. Good Luck!

[beyond the sea]

It's best if you have all four cats spayed and neutered. They'll be calmer around each other that way.

Yes, they all are "fixed", but they're still cats!

Thanks!

[agrace]

Are they male, female, neutered or not? Are your cats normally aggressive, good with each other, good with people, adaptable to change? Every cat is different of course, but if OUR older cat can adapt to a new kitten, any cat can I think.

About 15 months ago, a stray, starving, flea-infested kitten made its way onto our property and we took her in. We have a 10-year-old, somewhat ornery, only-loves-one-person (me), hisses-at-everyone-else cat and were a little concerned about the interaction.

We kept the kitten (who was extremely skittish and fearful of humans) isolated for a couple weeks - first to eliminate the possibility of distemper after her shots, then to acclimate them both. We first set her up in our son's walk-in closet for a few days, then opened the door and she gradually crept out and hid mostly under our bed, where we fed her and tried to coax her out slowly.

Meanwhile, our older cat imposed a self-banishment to mostly the downstairs, which was kind of a shame since she had always slept on our bed previously, but we didn't discourage it because anytime she got a glimpse of the kitten, she freaked - hissing and growling and taking an aggressive posture - we thought she would seriously hurt the kitten if she felt threatened enough. The kitten was mostly curious and actually much more eager to get to know our cat than any of us humans! But she was very wary and very obviously deferred to the alpha cat. And in the meantime, I tried my best to make our older cat sure she had favored status with me.

We put a child gate at the top of the steps to keep them separate - not that they couldn't get over it but it seemed to allow them to observe each other more comfortably. Made me feel better too.

So this went on for several weeks, with the older one getting more and more curious, and eventually there was an established tolerance - the older cat would let the kitten come around but would hiss and warn her away if she got too close. We kept separate litter boxes (in different rooms) and separate feeding locations for a long time as well.

Now, they're reasonably good friends. Months later, my older cat is back to sleeping on our bed, often in close proximity to the kitten. They play, and their food is at the same location, but they have different dishes. I think the kitten is actually helping her to stay more active than she would have been otherwise.

My advice - establish them in separate locations, maybe separate them behind closed doors at night for a few days. Make your cats feel extra loved. Let them adjust at their own pace, even if it takes months. It should happen eventually, and probably quicker for you since you have 2 cats who are used to being with other cats and are getting 2 who are the same.

[annyokie]

I have had cats for 46 years, and have had no luck with different litter cats unless you get them as babies.


I'm glad you have done better with yours.

[teenyelliott]

How you handle all four will depend on how long you plan on having the visiting two. If only a few days, just keep them in separate parts of the house. They will be able to smell each other, but when no enemy kitties materialize, they will calm down. If you want to integrate them, put the new kitties in a room with a door that is accessible to your kitties. Put a litter box, food and water in the room, and let the new kitties stay in there for a couple of days. They will be able to smell, and touch, each other at the bottom of the door. That way, they can meet each other and have a couple of days to come to terms with it without being able to kill each other and wreck your house. As for the litter issue, PetSmart makes some scoopable stuff called ExquisiCat that is pretty inexpensive and works really well. Arm and hammer makes some as well. It is a little more expensive, but you can get it at Target or the grocery store. Good luck, and enjoy your visitors. I love kitties. Would keep them all if I could.

[lowbridge]

How can you be sure that they won't get along?

Not sure either way. I have two cats, then recently had two additional cats dumped on me. Some get along, some dont. They all have their individual personalities.

[MizSterious]

I haven't had a cat that was young enough to be a kitten for years. We live out in the country, and I'm afraid these are all "throwaways." So they're all adults, some younger, some maybe a little older, we're not sure. The finished basement sounds ideal. I see someone else mentioned the 1 litter box per kittycat thing--we do that, too, and it helps a lot with the odor thing.

These are also all neutered/spayed. When we take in a new cat, we first stick him/her in a carrying case and take them to the vet for shots and neutering or spaying and other medical needs. Then they get to come home and meet the "gang." ;)

[beyond the sea]

Second, don't expect them to be best buddies. --- LOL!!! sorry. that's funny.

Don't try forcing them together because they won't like it. -- never!

If you have any specific questions, please let me know.

Thank you, I will. I've had cats for 50+ years, but this is a first with new adults meeting other adults. I know it will take time, and I will not hurry them.

These cats here have lived with a mellow FReeper for 10 years, I think they will be as cool as a cats can be when the new darlings come!

Thanks again!

[Phiebe]

That helps a lot :)
I have a lot of cats at home and my experience (sorry for the spelling) has been that there is no controlling them so sit back drink a hot cup of tea or coffee witch ever one you prefer and watch the happenings
Phiebe (the newbie)

[beyond the sea]

The newbie runs for cover, hiding somewhere and well... I just let nature take it's course. You might hear some hissing and howling, but w/i a couple hours things will have settled down. ---

LOL! thanks........ they're all (4) neutered........ I'll take all the time in the world to let them get accustomed to each other.

The new ones coming here were declawed (disgusting). Mine have all their parts. I hope mine don't take advantage........ I doubt it!

[Question_Assumptions]

The reason why I mentioned that you shouldn't expect them to be best buddies is that you do get people who think, "Well my existing cats get along and they should all be friends." That leads to unrealistic expectations and people trying to force cats together. Cat's aren't social the way humans and dogs are but they have their own social structure that they can work out. Unless they are actively drawing blood with each other (and cats have excellent control over their claws and teeth so if they are drawing blood, they probably mean to hurt each other), they'll work it out.

[beyond the sea]

.have a laser pointer handy and when they decide to go after each other, point the laser at a nearby spot on the floor or wall and they immediately forget about each other -- LOL! I won't be there nearly all the time to do that./....maybe I should just drop a box of mice on the floor before I leave the house.

;-)

[beyond the sea]

meet at the crack under the door to the "quarantine" area.. ---

LOL! great phrase!!!!

[beyond the sea]

But it does take some time.---

Yes, thank you!!!...."Time is On My Side"

;-)

[beyond the sea]

The important thing is for them to have the chance to see and smell each other without being able to do more than touch noses through the baby gate or the screen door.---

Yes........ thank you very much!!!

[Question_Assumptions]

While none of our cats are declawed and I think it should be a last resort, after talking to a variety of people including a vet tech relative, it's better to have a cat declawwed than sent off to a shelter where they'll wind up being put to sleep. So while I asked, for example, that a friend I gave a kitten to not declaw the cat if he could at all avoid it, I try not to be too judgemental to people who do. There are worse things one can do to a cat.

[beyond the sea]

"You are both SO busted . . . " -------

SWEET!!! Thank you so much!