Posted on 02/11/2005 2:36:18 PM PST by beyond the sea
OK girls and boys, please help me.
I have two 10 year old cats living with me. A friend with a problem is asking me to take his two cats (five year olds) to live with mine in our house.
I am begging you for any advice on this!
I have two floors in the house, but you all know cats, the smell will be there. They will know.
How is the best way to deal with this?
The cats are coming here in about 36 hours.
Please tell me what you may know on this matter!
I've has cats all my 58 years, but this is a first situation like this with me.
HELP!!!
I'm reading without posting, so this has probably been said already...but what's worked for me on several occasions is to set aside a room for the newcomer(s) and leave it that way for a few days - feed them there and all. After a couple of days, let them out and put the "old" cats in the room so they can sniff around and let the new cat check out the rest of the house. Maybe even do that a couple times - THEN introduce them.
I've never had a seriously doesn't-get-along-with-anyone cat, so maybe this doesn't always work, but it has for me.
I didn't have much of a problem introducing two new cats to my older one, but I think it's because they were six weeks old when I found them and brought them home. All they wanted from her was some mothering and she quickly realized that they couldn't hurt her.
thank you... FReepers are wise!
Buy a large dog.
No i hear you! Thank you for your input. I love FR!!!
Keep iodine handy. :) -- LOL!!! God I love FReepers and the humor. I hope I'm laughing in a few weeks!
;-)
Do not punish a cat for being dominant . They are just setting up a order. --- Right......... very correct.......... DANKE!!!
I have 4 cats ages 14, 12, 10 & 9. The oldest is the only female & I have to lock her in the bathroom everynite so the "boys" don't pick fights with her. I agree that they should be kept apart for awhile. Let your cats have the run of the house & keep the 2 new ones in a closed room until everything settles down.
Thank you!
You might want to investigate Feliway. It helps calm cats and might be helpful in easing the transition.
http://www.nationalpetsupply.com/feliway.htm
I have had cats as long as I have been alive, and have not had any litter mates since I was a kid. All my cats, as an adult, have been rescues. Only once did I have a permanent problem with all my cats never liking one, and that kitty had some mental problems. Cats will pick on the sick or injured ones. Other than that, it's been smooth kitty sailing for all of mine.
It's only supposed to be for about three months. But as the two new cats coming here have been constricted to being "inside cats" all their lives, I would like to eventually let them out her on my very private and large property. I would like them to see the real world......
Hah! Our only female thinks she's the Queen of All There Is--I have to protect the "fellas" from her sometimes! We have no idea what any of their ages are, though--rough estimates are that the newbie is 3-4, and the other two might be anywhere from 10-15 years old, just no telling for sure.
Send them to Viking training so they'll be ready for the next Zot.
Thank you....!
ROFL!
There will be AT LEAST four litter boxes in the house.......thanks!
Do not let them outside if they are going to go back to the original owner. My kitties are all indoor kitties, because I do not want them to be roadkill (I live in the city). If you let them outside, not only will they have trouble when they go back to the other home, you mentioned before that they are declawed. Declawed kitties should NEVER be allowed outside unless on a leash or closely supervised.
LOL, my female "Sheba" is the smallest of my cats so she is the lowest on the "pecking" order. I have to protect her all the time & she is usually with me all the time.
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