Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sorry, I got cut off, whats the best way for them to meet?


Answers:
http://www.fabcats.org/introducing.html.
http://www.fourpaws.org/pages/adopting_p.
Research has shown that a single hostile encounter between two unfamiliar cats can set the tone for their relationship for a long time to come. So to prevent your new cat from getting off on the wrong foot with your resident cat, plan to introduce them gradually. Generally speaking, it is easier to introduce a kitten to an adult than to introduce two adults. Adults that grew up around other cats usually adjust more easily to a new feline housemate. If you are adopting from CCHS, try to match the personality of your new cat to that of your resident cat. Remember to spend plenty of quality time alone with your resident cat in order to minimize jealousy. At first, do not allow face-to-face contact between the two cats. Instead, follow these steps:

1. Confine the resident cat to a room (door closed) while the new cat explores the rest of the house. Then switch their places. This allows them to become familiar with each other's scent.

2. Keep the cats in separate but adjoining rooms for several days, continuing to switch places every day. You'll need separate litter boxes at this stage, and depending on the cats' preferences, you may want to continue to maintain two litter boxes for them after the introduction is completed.

3. After a few days, crack open the door separating the two cats. Prop it open a couple inches so they can see one another but can't make full contact. Once they tolerate this limited contact, open the door a bit wider. If they start to backslide, go back to step 2.

4. When the two cats seem comfortable with limited exposure, try feeding them on opposite sides of the same room. Then return them to their separate quarters. After a few days of common mealtimes, they may be ready to share the same living space. Remember to let them set their own pace and never force them to be together. Keep them separated when you are not home to supervise until you're certain they can tolerate each toher's presence. It may take 2 or 3 months before they reach this stage.
ok thats better.the best way is to slowly introduce them first of all the older one is going to be a little upset because you brought that little guy in to his territory.you will need a carrier to protect the little one while you arent home/or asleep.just be patient it could take 1 day or 2 weeks it will take patience and love.
I'm guessing a whole lot of people are going to tell you exactly what I've been reading for the past year; put the kitten in its own room for a little while with food and water. Only allow the cats to smell each other under the door, with gradually longer periods in each other's company under your supervision. However, this approach is not practical for everyone. For instance, we live in a two bedroom apartment, and simply didn't HAVE an extra room to put our new cat in for a frickin' week straight.

So we followed what we could; we put the pet carrier with the new cat down on the floor. Once Blaze (our resident cat) was done smelling Lotus threw the cage door, he ran and hid under the bed. We let Lotus out, and let her wander around the apartment. Blaze hid a lot.and when he came out, he was always trying to sniff Lotus' butt..she'd hiss and swipe, but nothing major went down. After about 4 days, they were used to each other..even cleaning each other. We basically just let them work it out on their own terms.

With a small kitten, you're going to need to keep a close eye on your adult cat to make sure he doesn't try to hurt the kitten. If he's a pretty laid back cat, you shouldn't have a whole lot to worry about. Adult cats tend to tolerate kittens a little more than they do other adult cats.

I would suggest keeping them separated while you're sleeping, though. I would confine the kitten to a small room at night..not just for protection from the older cat, but protection from itself. Kittens can (and usually do) get into everything.
Good luck!
Keep the kitten isolated (bathroom). Then let her out when you are home for 1-2 hours. Then put her away again. Keep doing this all day. They will hiss/spit probably, but give it a weeek and they will be buddies. Also, keep kittn locked up at night. This way she can't get stuck behind furniture or appliences.
Don't try to force them on e/o

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