About a month ago I brought two new kittens into my home to live with my 3 year old cat (Nermal). I knew there would be an ajustment period and Nermal was very ticked off at first and attacked them, but eventually she got over it and she tolerates them now. I tried to make sure and show her that she wasn't being replaced and that she was the boss. I try to always pet her first when I get home, I feed her first, etc... but... It doesn't seem to have worked. She seems really depressed. She's never been an overly affectionate cat but there has always been certain things that she has liked to do with me(chasing toys, kneeding on me when I lie down, etc.)... and now she doesn't do any of that stuff. She just lies around in whatever room I'm not in. Any ideas on how to show her that she hasn't been shunned from the family?
2007-02-19 15:08:25 · 9 answers · asked by Ilikepie 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Crazy J: I tried that... didn't work. The little bastard just swam right back.
2007-02-19 15:14:38 · update #1
Introducing a new kitty to the family can make a big difference on how the others accept the kitty. You should always put the new kitty in a small room to adjust to the new surroundings and when you introduce them to the other kitty they should be put in a carrier to protect them from attacks. Buy some Feliway and/or Rescue Remedy to help reduce stress and keep them calm.
Allow the other kitty to smell them while they are safe in the carrier for a few minutes each day. Then you can allow the new kitties in the rest of the house while your old kitty is in the room you have been keeping the new kitties to get used to their smell.
After a while of getting to know each others smell then feed them together and play with them together.
It takes a lot of patience and TLC but they will soon adjust and accept each other and possibly become good friends.
2007-02-20 00:13:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For at least one hour each day, confine the new kitties in one room and let Nermal have the rest of the house and the family to herself. Play with her, spend the time with her. Also, it may help if you separate Nermal from the kittens for a few weeks. When the kittens are in one room, Nermal should be in another room. This way, she won;t feel "crowded." She will still know that the kittens are around but if they are not in her face al the time, she may find the situation more tolerable. Don't forget to give her that one hour (or two) of undivided attention where you make her feel like she's the only cat around again.
2007-02-19 16:32:06 · answer #2 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell her a joke...
What does a cat like to eat on a hot day? A mice cream cone.
What do cats use to make coffee? A purrcolator.
What do you call a cat that has swallowed a duck? A duck filled fatty puss.
If lights run on electricity and cars run on gas, what do cats run on? Their paws.
Why is the cat so grouchy? Because he's in a bad mewd.
If there are ten cats on a boat and one jumps off, how many cats are left on the boat? None! They were copy cats.
Is it bad luck if a black cat follows you? That depends on whether you're a man or a mouse.
How does the cat get its own way? With friendly purrsuasion.
What do you call a cat that lives in an igloo? An eskimew.
What has more lives than a cat? A frog because it croaks every night.
What is a cat's favourite subject in school? HISStory.
What do cats like to eat for breakfast? Mice Krispies.
How do cats end a fight? They hiss and make up.
What's happening when you hear "woof... splat... meow... splat?" It's raining cats and dogs.
Why are cats such good singers? Because they're very mewsical.
What do you call newborn kittens who keep getting passed from owner to owner? Chain litter.
What is the cat's favourite magazine? Good Mousekeeping.
2007-02-20 03:51:17 · answer #3 · answered by Grandma of six 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Now. this happened to me before I learned that an acclimation process was in order.....
my older cat was so stressed she deveoped a heart problem, and now needs meds 2 x a day. She was acting lethargic, and not playing, not eating, for a bout month she got very sick.
Please take her to the vet and have them listen for a heart issue.
Please. and the meds my kitty takes cost only about $8.00 a year.
Please.
2007-02-20 08:50:04 · answer #4 · answered by GRISCHAT 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A check up at the vet may help. My cat got like this and he had diabetes, or maybe she plays with the kittens while your at work and she's tired by the time you get home.
2007-02-19 15:19:57 · answer #5 · answered by ladybugjan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well maybe it doesn't coincide with the kittens, take her to the vet, maybe she's sick. otherwise, just start setting up time where the kittens are locked somewhere alone and EVERYONE pays attention to her, don't bother her, just scratch her ears, give her treats, bring out her favorite toys, also, give her stuff thats just hers, don't let the little munchkins play/eat/sleep on her stuff
2007-02-19 15:12:45 · answer #6 · answered by whoops :) 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you dont throw your cat into the river because its depressed you f*cking retard! if you do that you dont deserve to have animals. and if your cat is depressed...id just leave her alone or get her some catnip!!
2007-02-19 16:43:29 · answer #7 · answered by <3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get her a boyfriend cat.
2007-02-19 15:11:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe its just getting older and lazier
also i dont think cats feel "shunned" ever.
2007-02-19 15:18:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋