Introducing a new pet to your cat
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- faltraz
- Caroline
- RoxianneM
- Caroline
- RoxianneM
- Caroline
- RoxianneM
- RoxianneM
- ChristineM1
- Denere
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» faltraz - Adding a pet
We got a puppy last summer. Out cat took to him pretty well. She was 6 at the time. She wasn't thrilled with him, but she seemed to tolerate him. Now he is 60 pounds and he tries to play with her. She really doesn't like that at all. She has batted him several times and he is scared of her. That was why I wanted to get a puppy instead of an older dog. I figured she would be able to take command. We haven't had any type of behavioral problems with her. She doesn't get to play as much with us, but she seems happy. I try to do some special things just for her. All in all it has worked out well and maybe when the dog calms down after a few years, they will become better friends and play together. I can always have a fantasy, Can't I??!?!?!?!-- posted by faltraz
» Caroline - Hi Trisha
You didn't mention what kind of dog the puppy is - that can make some difference (since some breeds are more high-strung than others).Did you do "proper introductions" like in the article? That may help over the long term. Make sure that your cat has good hiding places away from Doggy. Cats are very sensitive to constant stress from such things.
Want to tell us more about your cat? :-)
-- posted by Caroline
» RoxianneM - Re: Hi Trisha
In response to message posted by Caroline:Last week, we got two new kittens, somewhat by accident. We'd talked about getting ONE kitten, but Dan and I had the same idea on the same day (our 18th anniversary). So, now we have two kittens to introduce to our two older cats.
So far, the oldest cat - a male - doesn't seem at all bothered by the newcomers. We've introduced them gradually, and they still spend the night behind closed doors where the older cats can't get to them.
The real problem is our older female (both kittens are also female). She's started spraying, and hisses at the kittens when she sees them. Mostly she's been avoiding them, but we haven't tried a formal introduction yet.
Do you have any suggestions for making this intro less traumatic for the older cats? Any suggestions for getting the older female to stop spraying? (Don't get me on the subject of a spayed female spraying ...)
-- posted by RoxianneM
» Caroline - 2 intros at once
In response to message posted by RoxianneM:Hi Roxianne, Have you tried the 'towel' method mentioned in the article? Its where you take a towel (or other similar item) and be sure your scent is on it. Let the kittens spend the night with it, then bring it out to the other cats. Just have it near you when you pet them or play with them (be sure they're getting lots of attention!). Do this several times. Also, if the kittens are not spayed also, this can cause additional stress to your mature girl. If they're old enough to be adopted, then they're usually old enough to be spayed (8-10 weeks).
Females can be funny - often less laid back than neutered males. Be sure she has a place to hide & call her own (preferably a high place like a window sill, etc). Keep encouraging her & don't give up. :-)
Let us know how things go. Have you decided on names yet?
-- posted by Caroline
» RoxianneM - Re: 2 intros at once
In response to message posted by Caroline:Well, the introductions are going better than I expected. I did use a variation of the towel method, and our male certainly seemed interested in the scented items. The new kittens -- Brigit and Sabrina -- now have the run of the house. This works so far because the older female is mostly an outdoor cat (a stray we adopted who'd been on her own).
We haven't had the kittens spayed yet; the vet wants to wait until they weigh two pounds, which should be soon. I'm sure that will help matters.
We also have another cat, probably a female, who has moved into our back yard. Our male, Alex, doesn't seemed bothered by her presence at all, so I'm sure it's not a tomcat. This one is probably NOT neutered, and our female, Dusty, chases her off every chance she gets. This probably hasn't helped with the introductions.
-- posted by RoxianneM
» RoxianneM - Re: many intros
In response to message posted by Caroline:The kittens are okay, and one has reached the 2 pound mark. She'd had an eye infection and some upper respiratory problems, and was on antibiotics. I took her in for a re-check, and she's doing much better. I haven't had the other in to the vet since her first visit, but she's a bit smaller -- runt of the litter.
I used to think that cats from a pet shop would be healthier than the strays we've always taken in, but obviously that's not necessarily the case. Anyway, they're both eating well, playful, getting into trouble ... the usual kitten things.
-- posted by RoxianneM
» RoxianneM - Re: Many intros
An update on our situation with the two kittens. The kittens, Brigit & Sabrina, have settled in well. They even went on vacation to Grandma's with the other cats while the humans in the family went on vacation in Canada. There, since my MIL has other cats, the kittens stayed in the laundry room (a huge room with lots of places to play).When we got home the older female, Dusty, started misbehaving again. She's still spraying -- only now she even sprays my husband! She did do this before, believe it or not, once when she was going into heat (I have a vet who believes you should wait till the last possible minute to spay, but I refuse to do that this time!), and once for no apparent reason.
It's definitely Dan she's possessive with, even though she's more my son's cat. She has scented Dan's clothes, his hobby area, his pant leg ... It's driving us nuts.
And since one of the kittens has an eye infection, they're not even in contact with the other cats. Any suggestions you have for making this easier -- before my husband decides to boot Dusty out for good -- would be most welcome.
-- posted by RoxianneM
» ChristineM1 - hello,
hello,i have a 4 year old male cat who is wonderful. he is very sweet and we have a great bond with him. we just adopted a 3 year old golden retriever who is very sweet and has been around cats. the dog has not chased the cat or anything violent. the cat is very scared of the dog and of course is acting different (which i expected) we read up and introduced them hopefully in the right way--but the cat is verskiddishsh when the dog is awake...and acts normal when the dog is sleeping. is has not been a week yet since we have had the dog. i am hoping our cat will come around????
i feel very guilty now changing the cats routine and environment now. anyone have words of advice?
thank you!
-- posted by ChristineM1
» Denere - Re: Re: Hi Trisha
In response to Re: Hi Trisha posted by RoxianneM:My older female cat is 4 1/2 years old. Two weeks ago we brought a six-week old kitten into the family, and my adorable older cat, Fiesta, seems to absolute hate her. (They are both females.) She hisses at little Fallon, which she never does, and appears as though she might hurt her if I allowed her to get too close. So I have to keep Fallon in the den with the door closed. Sometimes Fiesta appears curious about her, but after awhile, she's hissing at Fallon again. Someone told me two females will never get along. Is this true?
What can I do?
-- posted by Denere
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