Cat People
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MsAmandaNJ wrote: »Just found out hubs' friend's cat had kittens and we might end up with one. Our fellas are 4 & 5 - is there a "window" for bringing a kitten into the mix? I only have four years of cat experience and I don't know if it'd be the right choice to do it now or wait.
Our boys were about 5 and 3 when we brought two little girls home - we kept the kittens in a separate room for the first few days and let the boys sniff at the door, then after a while they had closely-supervised access to each other for a few minutes at a time. Bandit, our oldest boy, really took to the kittens after a few days of hissing and sulking, and started grooming and mothering them. I think he regrets it now, because Dash is as big as him but still tries to sleep on top of him like she did as a baby!
I think if you take it slowly and don't try to force them to get along, and make sure to give the older ones lots of individual attention, then it shouldn't be too bad. There are bound to be some fights and hissing sessions - between the older ones as well as with the new arrivals - but in a lot of cases it settles quickly and they end up at least tolerating each other if not best friends. The major issue we had is that Smokey reverted to his "pooping on the carpet" ways for a while until he got used to the fact that the girls were staying... he seems to do that whenever he's upset about something, but luckily it didn't last for long!
Oh, and if you're able to take two kittens then at least they'd have each other to play with if the older ones don't take to them, although that's no guarantee of harmony either! Dot and Dash fight as much with each other as with the boys, if not more! But four cats can be too much for some people, so it depends on your circumstances and how much you can put up with...
(Dot went full-on "witches cat" arched back when she met Smokey, and he just sat and looked at her. It was so funny to watch her trying to act all big and scary toward a far bigger cat!)
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My Smokey (passed since last spring, rip baby) and Sancho were raised in a house full of animals, but here in our new home, they were the only two for a while. In 2011, I acquired Luna and Essie, feral kitten sisters, who were weak and sick. For this reason and for security, they lived in our basement for about two weeks. Scared, suspicious, and wild-ish, they hid whenever I came downstairs, but I hit on a silly idea:
I brought my crochet hook and some yarn downstairs and sat on the floor. Started a chain and directed it toward the scaredy-kits. They started to play with it. Every day the chain got longer and they played more. I brought the chain upstairs and played with the older cats. Everyone's scent got all over the yarn. When I opened the basement door and hesitant physical encounters started, the chain was in play, and they were all so happy to play with it, they forgot to hiss at each other. So it was a long, indirect, gentle introduction that took care of a couple problems.
Moral of the story: crafts are good!5 -
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AmusedToaster wrote: »
They cuddle together a lot - I would say they enjoy it, but the truth is more likely that Dash loves it and Bandit just puts up with her because he can't be bothered to move! Sometimes he'll choose to curl up with her but it's usually the other way around!
That expression at the end...! "Mu-uuuum! He hissed at me!"2 -
@cee134 @sunburntgalaxy @Elise4270
Thanks for your responses, they eased my mind. Although, how do you manage to have a closed door with cats around?? I have to tie the cabinets shut, baby lock the bedroom closet and pile stuff in front of the coat closet. We had work done that required the front door be open, so I closed them in the bedroom, they destroyed the carpet there from picking at it. It's a one bedroom apartment, is it terrible to introduce them right away?0 -
MsAmandaNJ wrote: »@cee134 @sunburntgalaxy @Elise4270
Thanks for your responses, they eased my mind. Although, how do you manage to have a closed door with cats around?? I have to tie the cabinets shut, baby lock the bedroom closet and pile stuff in front of the coat closet. We had work done that required the front door be open, so I closed them in the bedroom, they destroyed the carpet there from picking at it. It's a one bedroom apartment, is it terrible to introduce them right away?
Can you try to take them out for walks? Sounds like they need more to do. I don't mind mine getting into stuff. Cars thinks everything needs exploring.
You can introduce them right away, just know they may not be chums right off. If your cats are already having some behavior problems, you might rethink adding another cat right now. Cat don't get over stuff easily and it could cause more problems.
You ever watch Jackson Galaxy's cat show? My cat from hell. He's has a web site too. It might help you figure out what's best right now.1 -
Ha! Yeah, the one is an explorer, often gets himself stuck in the couch or dresser if I leave it open.MsAmandaNJ wrote: »@cee134 @sunburntgalaxy @Elise4270
Thanks for your responses, they eased my mind. Although, how do you manage to have a closed door with cats around?? I have to tie the cabinets shut, baby lock the bedroom closet and pile stuff in front of the coat closet. We had work done that required the front door be open, so I closed them in the bedroom, they destroyed the carpet there from picking at it. It's a one bedroom apartment, is it terrible to introduce them right away?
Can you try to take them out for walks? Sounds like they need more to do. I don't mind mine getting into stuff. Cars thinks everything needs exploring.
You can introduce them right away, just know they may not be chums right off. If your cats are already having some behavior problems, you might rethink adding another cat right now. Cat don't get over stuff easily and it could cause more problems.
You ever watch Jackson Galaxy's cat show? My cat from hell. He's has a web site too. It might help you figure out what's best right now.
Their behavior seems cat-like to me, they only got destructive when closed in like that, which I understand. They play and chase often, still pretty active and enjoy being on the balcony, but not so much actually being outside on grass.
I've seen a couple of episodes of his show, those cats terrify me, but I love how he connects with them. I'll take a look at the website, thank you :-) I know hubs is itchy for kitten time, but financially, I don't think it's the right time - vet bills, food, litter.
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My little one will climb in the dresser drawers, way back in there. The oldest one will still sleep in a hole he made under/in the box springs. I'm not saying to not get another cat, just crazy how fickle cats get. They may love the added company. Good luck with them!MsAmandaNJ wrote: »
Ha! Yeah, the one is an explorer, often gets himself stuck in the couch or dresser if I leave it open.MsAmandaNJ wrote: »@cee134 @sunburntgalaxy @Elise4270
Thanks for your responses, they eased my mind. Although, how do you manage to have a closed door with cats around?? I have to tie the cabinets shut, baby lock the bedroom closet and pile stuff in front of the coat closet. We had work done that required the front door be open, so I closed them in the bedroom, they destroyed the carpet there from picking at it. It's a one bedroom apartment, is it terrible to introduce them right away?
Can you try to take them out for walks? Sounds like they need more to do. I don't mind mine getting into stuff. Cars thinks everything needs exploring.
You can introduce them right away, just know they may not be chums right off. If your cats are already having some behavior problems, you might rethink adding another cat right now. Cat don't get over stuff easily and it could cause more problems.
You ever watch Jackson Galaxy's cat show? My cat from hell. He's has a web site too. It might help you figure out what's best right now.
Their behavior seems cat-like to me, they only got destructive when closed in like that, which I understand. They play and chase often, still pretty active and enjoy being on the balcony, but not so much actually being outside on grass.
I've seen a couple of episodes of his show, those cats terrify me, but I love how he connects with them. I'll take a look at the website, thank you :-) I know hubs is itchy for kitten time, but financially, I don't think it's the right time - vet bills, food, litter.0 -
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MsAmandaNJ wrote: »@cee134 @sunburntgalaxy @Elise4270
Thanks for your responses, they eased my mind. Although, how do you manage to have a closed door with cats around?? I have to tie the cabinets shut, baby lock the bedroom closet and pile stuff in front of the coat closet. We had work done that required the front door be open, so I closed them in the bedroom, they destroyed the carpet there from picking at it. It's a one bedroom apartment, is it terrible to introduce them right away?
When the kittens were little and separated I made sure there were a lot of toys, food and a good sized litter box in there so that helped, plus they were babies so they slept a LOT. Virgil was so tiny we had to set up barriers to be sure he wouldn't fall (on the stairs mainly - he was so small he couldn't even climb up them at first). Usually it is only for a few days, unless you get them super young like we did on 2 of them, then you might want to just to be sure they are safe (when one is less than a pound and one is 25 you worry a bit about accidental smooshing). Now with our oldest she has her own room when no one is here and she usually likes it but every once in a while she tries to open it, and she tries to open the bedroom door to go in *she doesn't realize she is doing it wrong - she could just lean on it and it would open). A lot of toys helps to keep them busy most of the time - at least for me that is the case,
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