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Introducing New Cats...?

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: Hairball Haven (ARCHIVES): Introducing New Cats...? users admin

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Archive through January 02, 2005Missy225 01-02-05  1:35 pm
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Sunday, January 02, 2005 - 2:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Love them!
Kittens...God's gift to mankind.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Sunday, January 02, 2005 - 8:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Missy, you might want to do the towel swap thing. Give each cat a towel to lay 'round on. Then give swap the towels out, so the older kitties can get used to the smell of the new ones (and vice versa, natch). That may help a bit, too!

Missy2
Member

07-31-2001

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 5:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay this isn't going as easy as I had hoped. My two older sister kitties are having a hard time, especially Greta. I brought in the blanket that the kittens sleep on at night and she starts growling and hissing! She attacks her sister because she doesn't recognize the scent!!! I use spray bottles to correct bad behavior should I be spraying her when she growls and hisses? My other cat, Missy is just curious about the scent and has heard the kitten mewling. She also plays with their toys.

The kittens are adorable when they play the little girl, Leia, hisses at her brother, Luke. So my house will soon be the house of hiss! Do you think it will be about a month before we all meet? I was anxious to have them meet before but after seeing Greta's behavior I'm afraid for them!! I just want them to all get along...

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 9:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sloooow it down. Patience is the watchword!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 9:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
No Missy, don't use a spray bottle. You are freaking her out more than she already is.

Don't even show her the blanket or anything else yet.

SLOW-SLOW-SLOW. It will take a loooong time. One of my cats still hisses and it's been 2 months since our newest kitty joined us. But he (the hisser) is not hissing as often or as frantically.

Just keep them separated. Don't try to speed things up. the kittens will be fine confined in one room for a while. They have each other for company which is huge.

I know how anxious you are. But don't introduce them for a while yet.

Good luck!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 10:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i have two cats that have hissed at each other for 9 years! they each have their own spots, their own toys, and their own people. i agree about not using the spray bottle on your older cat. you're basically telling her that she is wrong with her own natural instincts. the biggest piece of advice i can give you is the same as julie's. SLOW SLOW SLOW!

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 10:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The others are correct, you need to slow down, and be very patient. Ignore the hissing as much as possible. Absolutely do NOT introduce the kittens to the older cat that is struggling to adapt. Definitely do not spray Greta, as this gives her a negative association with the scent of the new kitties and she'll be more reluctant to accept them.

Instead, try to give her lots of extra love and reassurance.

When we got two new kittens last year, it took us well over a month before they could all hang out together unsupervised. And even then one of the older kitties kept hissing at the babes for about 3 months. The little ones just learned to stay away.

But now, a year later, that same one that hissed like mad licks the younger two all over and they just purr like crazy.

So, just make up your mind that you will let them take as long as they need, no rushing.

Gina8642
Member

06-01-2001

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 10:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hissing alone is not a bad thing. My sister has a cat that hisses all the time. Heck, she'll hiss at me if I stand too close or don't open a door fast enough. I would be a bit concerned if you older kitty was never a hisser and now has started.

My two new kitties never hiss, it is the strangest thing to me, since I've always had hissers before. I've only heard one hiss in 6 months and I'm not even sure which one did it. I've only even seen my girl kitty's tail puff once or twice. Every kitty is different.

It sounds like your older kitties will need a lot of patience. Good Luck!!!!

Missy2
Member

07-31-2001

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 10:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay - thank you all for the advice. I'll slow down more. I thought introducing the scent was the best thing. The growling really scared me and I felt so bad for her sister! I won't spray her, I've only done it twice. I really didn't know what to do if anything.

SO I should avoid swapping the blankets? I was thinking about letting the kittens out into the main area during the day and the older cats roaming that same area at night. Right now, my older cats spend most of their time in my bedroom. The kittens are in the downstairs bathroom but they get use the living room and kitchen often.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 11:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I wouldn't swap blankets for a while. I would keep the babies in a room with a shut door and let the older kitties have roam of the house. Cats are creatures of habit, so I wouldn't switch their living areas too often.

How many rooms (not including your bedroom) do you have that have doors so the room can be completely shut off?

Missy2
Member

07-31-2001

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My older kitties don't roam the house much. I lived in a small apartment, two rooms before. So they mostly stayed in my room with me. I recently moved in with my boyfriend and I just started letting them come down to the other rooms. So its not really "their" territory yet but they knew they were the only kitties! They basically like being with me. If I'm not here and my guy leaves the bedroom door open they tend to stay in the room. If I'm here they will come into the room that I'm in. We have two bedrooms, and two baths. The kittens are in the downstairs bath. So what would be the best way to handle it? Cats are so complex!!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 12:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Missy, you might want to consider getting Feliway. It's a pheromone mimicking product and has been known to calm down kitties. I've never had any need to use it, but I've recommended it to several friends, and they were VERY thankful when their kids calmed down. It's a great stress reducer!!

(If you purchase it from Cat Faeries, tell Gail Sue and Costa in San Diego said "hi".)

ETA:
P.S. You might wanna check out the rest of the Cat Faeries Web site... There are a few other options you might want to consider, such as the flower essences -- homeopathic remedies that will calm kitties down, too.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 1:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I would let the older cats have free access to your bedroom (what they are used to). Set the newbies up in the 2nd bedroom and visit them often. Since you have 2, that will be easer cuz they will have company if you can't spend a lot of time with them in that room.

Then after a few weeks, I would follow Karuuna's suggestion and get two baby gates and stack them in the doorway of the second bedroom. Leave it like that way for a long time. The cats can see each other and can investigate at their leisure...

Then when they all get to the point of looking at each other without freaking out, then you can start to have them all "face-to-face". Short periods of course to start.... But you won't be at that point for awhile.

Good luck and have patience!

Katoncoast
Member

07-31-2004

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 7:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
its been three months since introduction of a new cat here to my other two. it has not been easy but yes slow going.they still hiss, growl and occassionaly swat at him but its becoming less often. the kitten is very outgoing. i just let nature take its course.

Missy2
Member

07-31-2001

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 7:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good News ----

After a week of my Greta attacking her sister. Considering the different options... feliway... rescue remedy... anti-anxiety medication... On Friday night we had a supervised first meeting. Greta hissed a lot and she's still hissing a lot but it went VERY WELL. She no longer attacks her sister - :-) She doesn't attack the kittens. They are respecting one anothers space! Its really quite cool!! - > all four kitties living in somewhat harmony ! My older kitties are back to acting normal... and the kittens are doing GREAT. The little boy is a major chow hound rather chow kitty.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 7:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yay! But don't get too excited and overdo it.

As soon as I figure out how to get the pix off my camera, I will post a few of my own that are just now agreeing to eat and sleep near each other....(after 3 months)

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 1:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i

They still don't like each other much, (actually George is fine--the gray one, Frosty--the white one is the grouchy one, however he was here first...) but at least they tolerate being somewhat near each other...

Missy2
Member

07-31-2001

Monday, January 10, 2005 - 5:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
They are adorable -

There has been a lot of hissing at my place but we are only doing supervised visits. I think my older babies are doing VERY WELL! I know it will take a while but they are just doing so well.

Katoncoast
Member

07-31-2004

Monday, January 17, 2005 - 11:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
its been about 3 months here since the introduction of the 3rd cat. the hissing and growling has reduced significantly but still happens on a daily basis.there is more tolerance by the older cats. occasionaly play if they think no one is looking.the teenage kitten would make a good advertisment for this is your brain on drugs. weve also come up with a new disease for him..'attackcataTOEsis'

Missy2
Member

07-31-2001

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 8:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay I have a funny kitten story. This morning I was making tuna fish for our lunches. I hadn't fed any of our four cats yet. The kittens and the older cats still don't get along but its all good. We haven't lost any eyes yet. Everyone was crowding in the kitchen because of that tuna. My Greta (older kitty) was growling up a storm at the kittens. So when I finished making the tuna I decided to feed her first. I usually feed the kittens first because Greta won't go near their food unless they aren't around. So I bring my older kitties upstairs put the food down and I start coming downstairs when my guys son runs up and says the kitten ran under my bed (into the room that my cats are eating). That is a big no no!! My older cats are very territorial about their sacred bedroom. No kittens allowed! So we're looking under the bed trying to get him to come out when we look up and him sitting next to the two older kitties trying to get his face in their dish - ! It was quite funny. When the saw him they hissed and swatted at him. But he was like, doh - here I am - give me some of that food. We're worrying about him and there he is trying to feed his face - :-) Very cute. Tomorrow I'm going to try feeding them altogether. Missy, one of my older cats won't come down from my room, so I think feeding them in the hallway - neutral grounds may work the best.

Missy2
Member

07-31-2001

Monday, January 31, 2005 - 1:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Update - my cats are getting along much better. We are down to about two hisses per a day. And about two swats a day! My older kitties are very tolerant with the kittens. I'm really happy that its working out. :-)