Hi there...cats have a more difficult time making friends as they are territorial by nature. It has to be done gradually in order to help them learn that the other kitty is a friend. Anyhow, here's the advice of how to introduce cats/kittens.
"Slowly" and "Patiently" are the operative words
Although sometimes cats will get along swimmingly in just a couple of hours, you should not be surprised to have a battle on your hands if you try to introduce your new cat too quickly. The time you spend on this all-important process will be saved exponentially by not having to break up conflicts every day. Also, the first couple of weeks can set the tone for the relationship for a long time to come, so "getting it right" the first time will save a lot of hassles later on.
The Steps to Take
Set up a comfortable "safe room" for New Cat. Put her food, water, litter box (not near the food), scratching post, toys, and bed or other sleeping mat there.
Expect a great deal of "hissy-spitty" behavior through the closed door from both cats.
This is natural and normal; they are just starting to explore their "pecking order."
Scent is very important for cats. Let each of them smell the other indirectly, by rubbing a towel on one and letting the other smell it. They will soon accept the scent as a normal part of the house.
Once or twice, switch roles. Put New Cat in the normal living quarters, and let your resident cat sniff out the new cat's Safe Room.
After a day or so, let the two cats sniff each other through a baby-gate or through a barely-opened door. Gauge the rate at which they seem to be acclimating to each other.
When you think they're ready, let them mingle under your supervision. Ignore hissing and growling, but you may have to intervene if a physical battle breaks out. Again, take this step slowly, depending on how quickly they get along. If they do seem to tolerate each other, even begrudgingly, praise both of them profusely.
Make their first activities together enjoyable ones so they will learn to associate pleasure with the presence of the other cat. Feeding (with their own separate dishes), playing, and petting. Keep up with the praise.
If things start going badly, separate them again, and then start where you left off. If one cat seems to consistently be the aggressor, give her some "time out," then try again a little bit later.
The introduction can take from two hours to six months, so don't be discouraged if your cats don't seem to get along well at first. Often the case is that they will eventually be "best buddies."
Factors to Consider
1 - If you are thinking of getting a kitten to keep an older cat company, you might want to consider two kittens. They will be able to keep each other company while the older cat learns to love them.
2- If you already have more than one cat, use the "alpha cat" for preliminary introductions. Once he/she accepts the newcomer, the other resident cats will quickly fall in line.
3- Lots of snuggle-time and attention is indicated for all cats concerned during this period. Remember, the prime goal is to get them to associate pleasure with the presence of each other.
If possible, ask a friend to deliver the new cat to your home, in her cage. You can act nonchalant, as if it's no big deal, then later let your resident cat(s) think it's their idea to welcome the newcomer.
2006-11-27 12:13:47
·
answer #1
·
answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7
·
3⤊
0⤋
The behavior you described sounds pretty normal when a new cat is introduced into a household. More than likely, they will become accustomed to each other and the hissing and growling will stop. The cats may surprise you by becoming pals, but it may take awhile.
I don't mean to be unkind, but your question rambles on and on without punctuation, making it hard to read. The "stringy" sentence is just one long paragraph. This makes it difficult to determine what you are saying about his eyes (practly in his head???) and his leg problems.
I'm not going to "cus" in my answer, but I do suggest that when you post a question, you should try harder to spell correctly and punctuate properly.
Best of luck with your kitties. I know you are concerned or you wouldn't be asking for help, and I hope it works out well for you.
2006-11-27 12:38:06
·
answer #2
·
answered by Joyce A 6
·
0⤊
0⤋
Don't put them together for a while. Maybe the new one should be kept in one room for a week or so. That way each can sniff the other under the door but still feel safe. Take a blanket that you old cat has laid on and put it in the room with the new one. After a couple days, switch the blankets.
Another idea you could try is to feed them on the opposite sides of the door. That way they will associate the smell of the other one with eating, which is a pleasant event. It takes time, sometimes a month or more before all the hissing will stop. But they will eventually get along.
Keep in mind that your old cat may be mourning the loss of her friend that is gone.
2006-11-27 12:09:15
·
answer #3
·
answered by kiki 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
Cats are very territorial and often it has to due with their gender.
Male cats will often get along with females, however in my experience the male will often pick a favorite and can become very aggressive towards others.
Females will often only get along litter mates, with the exception of some males.
It would have been best for you to keep the new cat in a seculuded area, like a cat kennel or empty bed room with the door closed for a while. This way, the other cat could have sniffed around and figured out what was going on. However, now, the old cat feels like its territory has been invaded. It is natural for it to be angry and scared.
You should take the new cat away for now and leave it where it can relax away from the other. Comfort your old cat.
Try to slowly integrate their live styles together. But there's no assurity they will get along. Some cats just prefer to be alone.
2006-11-27 12:08:38
·
answer #4
·
answered by ljn331 4
·
2⤊
0⤋
We have the same problem. Got a new kitten a year ago and my older cat is still hissing and growling. Yes, at me too. I wouldn't get rid of the new cat. They'll either get along or they won't. It depends on how stubborn your older cat is. And you know how stubborn cats can be. It may not get better for a while but your other cat's just p.....off.
2006-11-27 12:06:28
·
answer #5
·
answered by goldielocks123 4
·
1⤊
0⤋
Unless cats are from the same litter you need to introduce them to each other slowly. We started out with two cats from the same litter....Dusty & Midnight. Then, a little later we got Fredie. We kept Fredie in one room and Dusty and Midnight in an ajacent room....they could smell echother through the door but they couldn't get at each other. I put a litter pan in each room. After about three days of this I switched the cats to the other room. I put Dusty and Midnight in the room where Fredie had been and put Fredie in the room where Dusty and Midnight had been. They got to sniff all over the room and sniff the cat litter and get used to the smell of one another. After a few days of this we finally brought them together but only under constant supervision. If we couldn't watch them they were back in their rooms. Then, eventually, it got so that they were friends.
2006-11-27 15:04:04
·
answer #6
·
answered by tas211 6
·
0⤊
0⤋
Cats are in many cases very self sufficient. So, purely because your lady follows you everywhere you bypass (my male does this), it does no longer advise that she will't discover something else to occupy her time--like slumbering. both one among them will adapt on your new time table--they received't like it at the start, yet they're going to adapt. PLEASE do no longer do what one answerer stated to do: call and go away messages on your answering device---and, i will allow you to recognize why: because your cats CAN take the receiver off the hook of the phone (mine does, he does all of it the time), and the line will be tied up all day. at the same time as they the thanks to do this (and it in straight forward words takes once), this now will change right into a toy--by way of dial tone stated through the "busy" signal earlier it is going useless--very amusing! do not worry about them--they're going to be effective. Your lady might want to get a touch better depending on your male at the same time as you're at artwork, yet they're going to be effective. sturdy success with the kitties and the hot job.
2016-10-07 21:30:25
·
answer #7
·
answered by ? 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
Your new kitty is scared. Growling at first is normal. Just go about your business and let him be till he gets used to where he is. Don't try to drag him out of hiding. He will see it as agression and it will make matters worse. I hope this helps and good luck with your kitty.
2006-11-27 12:06:11
·
answer #8
·
answered by ♥Pretty♥ ♥Kitty♥ 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
Just be patient. Let them get to know each other at their own pace, don't force the new cat on the old one or vice versa. If that doesn't work, your cat might be sick and you need to take him to the vet.
2006-11-27 12:06:23
·
answer #9
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
Your cat is probably not liking the new friend. I would suggest possibly letting them get to know each other before you adopt or maybe try to adopt a different cat. Bring your cat with so you will know if he approves or not. You don't want to make your old kitty feel left out and unimportant.
2006-11-27 12:07:18
·
answer #10
·
answered by chrisnterri520 3
·
0⤊
4⤋