Introducing cats....tip from cat owners PLEASE!

[southern_redhead]

We have an older cat. He went to stay with my mother while we took a trip. When we got home we ended up with a stray (dumped) kitten and took her in. My mother suggested letting cat A stay with her until cat B proved she could be a good indoor cat which she has. My mom dropped cat A off today and we put them in seperate rooms until we could integrate them. I had planned to start by letting them smell each others bedding, then perhaps letting them go into each others rooms (without the other cat present) and then finally introduce them in our basement rec room (neither cat spends time down there so I figured it would be neutral territory.) I was also going to give them each free time alone to wander the house and get used to the other cats scent on stuff. Anyway, cat B is a crafty little thing and escaped her room a few minutes ago. Cat A was having free time and wandered into the room, he could have cared less. He was sniffing around but didn't seem excited. Cat B (the kitten but the cat who has been staying here the most) was found out and I took her back not knowing cat A was in there. He just looked at her....SHE went nuts. Bowed up, hissed, threw herself at him. When she launched herself at him in full ninja cat attack he finally hissed at her and stuck out his paw but he didn't go after her. I scooped her up, put her into the room across the hall to get him out of her area, then took her back and put her in the room. She hasn't seemed upset but isn't thrilled to be put up. Right now I have him put up too as the kids were eating lunch and I didn't want to chance her escaping, finding him, and having it out while we were otherwise occupied. My ? is this: Am I wrong about how I was going to go about this? That is basically what I read online and I have 2 cat carriers that I could put them in and put them next to each other occasionally so they can meet with limited access. Or alternate one in the carrier and one out eventually. How long should I anticipate this taking? How long should I wait at each step? I am assuming you wait until they are paying attention to each other without trying to kill each other? Then you try the next step, drop back if it doesn't work....any other ideas for making this easy for all of us involved? I have cat treats, they don't get them often. I've never thought of cats as giving two flits about rewards but what if I put them in their carriers near each other and gave them treats...would they associate the treats and happiness with being near the other cat? They each have their own food bowls, litter pans, toys and scratchers......what else should I do?

Oh, I should add that cat A is a fixed male and has had all shots. Cat B isn't fixed because the vet said she was too young but has had shots and has a clean bill of health. The vet wasn't overly concerned about introductions and didn't make much suggestions except making sure they each have their own stuff and a safe place to go. I am wondering if cat B is overreacting because she is so small and feels threatened by cat A's gargantuan size (but maybe I am imagining this?! LOL)

 

[CathrynRose]

I grew up with Siamese cats.

When my mom brought "the new one" home - we just intro'd them. The older cat would swipe at the baby, baby would back off, a few days would pass, another hiss, swipe - and then..... they were fine.

I'm sure things have changed and people have ways of intro-ing them now, but the old school method worked just fine. The adult cat knows it's a baby. They'll be okay.

Good luck! And ummm... pics??

 

[Imzadi]

I couldn't read that one loooong paragraph, but if you did not get the stray tested for feline leukemia and other diseases before you introduce them, then you may be infecting your older cat.

 

[Dax]

I always just put em together and observed...if any problems I would seperate them...but I have never had issues myself, your mileage may vary

 

[kwelch10377]

I got a new roommate move in a few months ago, I had a cat and so did she. We didn't do any introducing, just brought the new cat and and let them figure it out. Do they get into fights and hiss/growl at each other, yes (but it is mostly my over-dramatic cat that does the hissing and the growling), but it has gotten better each day. They haven't hurt each other, only annoyed us. I wouldn't be overly concerned and I wouldn't go out of my way to keep them apart, unless they injure each other. I think keeping them apart may make things worse.

 

[mamacatnv]

They have to be allowed to work it out. They will establish who is boss etc. Expect lots of hissing, growling and swatting - maybe even some wrestling.

I have 3 cats who are all different ages and who have lived together now for 3 years. They still periodically get into it with each other, especially when the youngin is getting too big for her paws, then the old man cat knocks her right back into her place in line.

Then they all curl up together on the couch for a nap.

 

[Cinderella94]

As soon as we brought our second cat home, we just let him wander around while our old car investigated him. They fought for 2 days and then were fine.

 

[southern_redhead]

Ah, well this makes me feel better I thought perhaps I was in a unique position with one hissing at the other....guess not.

Sorry for the looong paragraph I had typed a nice, formatted one but somehow lost it and lost patience with re-typing. I did add in a smaller paragraph at the bottom that both have been vetted and tested but only one is fixed (the female isn't old enough quite yet.)