Pinging you two - cat advice needed
Those new crystal litters are a REALLY big help - and if you get them at the dreaded Wal-Mart, they cost even less per month than an equal amount of clay litter. I've been really impressed with them...
I don't want any of these animals to be more unhappy than they need be in this situation.
Thank you.
Meeoing.
We occasionally take in a stray, and I can tell you, it's not easy. Our vet advised us to make the "introductions" gradually, and increase the time spent together a little more as time went on. It might have helped, but it still wasn't easy. The two cats we already had wanted to trounce the newbie, and we had to keep them in separate (but of course equal) spaces for a time. These days they curl up together all in a pile (all three of them) in front of the fireplace--so eventually it gets better.
Have the new cats in separate pet taxis. Introduce them to your cats that way. Leave them in the taxis for a few minutes until everybody settles down. As far as the smell goes, you're going to have four cats so you can't get around it. Just keep the litter boxes clean.
It's best if you have all four cats spayed and neutered. They'll be calmer around each other that way.
My wife and I have 6 cats (was 9 at one point). Some get along. Some don't. Some get on each other's nerves every now and then. That's just the way it is. Don't try forcing them together because they won't like it.
Again, unless they are fighting to the point of drawing blood, simply introduce them to each other slowly and let the cats work it out.
One last thing is to have at least one litter box per cat and get a container of enzyme-based cleaner in case they have a urine accident or try to mark territory.
If you have any specific questions, please let me know.
The Hapster and Bacon can tell you what to do.
I've had cats not quite as many years as you, but almost!
What I do when introducing a new cat (or kitten) is to toss the newbie in the bathroom with the door shut. That way they (the cats) get to sniff each other out for a while. Five minutes? Ten minutes? About that.
Then I open the bathroom door. 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.
ping
No problem. . .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 and go "hunting" the light.
Works in this house.
Otherwise a fews days of separation should work. Let them meet at the crack under the door to the "quarantine" area..
Thanks.
Separate litter boxes and food dishes.
If possible, keep the new cats in a separate room, with door closed. Allow your cats to sniff around the door for a few days before you very carefully introduce the new cats to your cats one at a time.
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. Once they get settled a bit, they'll hiss at each other a lot but get along o.k.
We introduced a new Siamese baby to our two older cats (then 10 and 12). We kept the new baby in a dog crate with a tunnel inside for her to hide in, a little litter box and a water bowl. That let the other cats come up and sniff (and hiss - a lot.) She slept in my daughter's bedroom with the door closed for awhile.
She is now 7 and they are all best buddies, sleep together in a sheepskin heated cat bed that was meant for one . . . They kept on pretending to hiss at each other for a long time - - I walked in our bedroom and found the new baby and my big 14 pound male attack Siamese sleeping cheek to cheek with their front paws around each other. Their eyes snapped open and they looked a bit sheepish - I told them, "You are both SO busted . . . "
Probably not until some fur flies, though. If there is a scuffle, check each cat for open wounds(bites) that may become abscessed. As long as each pair of cats has a safe place to retreat to, they will work it out.
You're an angel to take in two needy cats.
Suggest you keep them separated from yours for at least a week, maybe two. It's good if they're in a room with a door hung high enough so they can work a paw under it. That way, your kitties can check them out at their leisure. Then after two weeks, you can try opening the door. Hopefully there will be only a brief period of pretend hostility, back raising, hissing and fur poofing before they become bored with it and settle in. You WANT them to be bored with one another.
On the other hand, a neighbor of mine just took in his 16th needy kittie. He just brings them in and puts them on the floor, and none have had too hard a time fitting into the enoromous herd except an aged Siamese who now has his own room.