Adding a cat to the household
Edit By:How To Pet
Q:I guess it's been awhile since I actually started a thread... anyway, just thought I'd update the pet situation. Any comments welcome as I'm not sure how well this is going to go! I have 2 cats - Micki and Annie - and 1 dog - Guinness. Guinness gets along well with Annie but the 2 cats have never gotten along. Micki is 12 and Annie is more like 4, they have completely different purrsonalities, so that's probably why. I did a nice slow introduction when Annie was adopted but it didn't seem to matter much. Annie basically took over the house and Micki hates her. Annie is friendly to other cats, but so far the other cats she's gotten along with are males. Micki also gets along with male cats (some of them - mostly the ones who leave her alone). The two cats have very different eating styles too, so they have to be fed in separate rooms.
Now, my boyfriend would like to bring over his cat... (he may be moving in in a few months). He spends a lot of time at my place, but has a cat of his own who needs her thyroid medicine 2x a day. I am totally willing to try this out, but am not sure how this will go. I am afraid Annie will be mean to his cat, who is an older female like Micki. My place isn't very large, though my current plan is to set up the newcomer in her own room for awhile, and do a slow intro to the other pets. She has never been around other animals... wish me luck w/ this and will update over the weekend, which is when she's probably coming over!
Now, my boyfriend would like to bring over his cat... (he may be moving in in a few months). He spends a lot of time at my place, but has a cat of his own who needs her thyroid medicine 2x a day. I am totally willing to try this out, but am not sure how this will go. I am afraid Annie will be mean to his cat, who is an older female like Micki. My place isn't very large, though my current plan is to set up the newcomer in her own room for awhile, and do a slow intro to the other pets. She has never been around other animals... wish me luck w/ this and will update over the weekend, which is when she's probably coming over!
A:You might want to try a Feliway diffuser (or 2) for a while as the cats get to know each other. It could help make everyone feel more a bit more at ease. If possible, put one in the new kitty's room and then another one somewhere that the other 2 hang out.
Good luck, I hope it all goes smoothly.
Good luck, I hope it all goes smoothly.
A:oh, great idea! I actually have one of those, but since it wasn't working for Annie and Micki, I put it away. Maybe it is worth another shot...
A:So things seem to be going ok with the new cat. We have her blocked off in her own room with a tall gate so they can all see each other. Unfortunately it is the gate I use to keep my dog in the kitchen during the day... I am now using a shorter baby gate, but expect him to go over it today. Hopefully he won't remember he knows how to do that!
The first night was a bit rough, Cleo (new girl cat) was meowing a lot and trying to get out of the room. At one point she must have pinched her paw or something, in the crack of the door and let out some screams. I thought one of the other cats had gotten in there but no, she had done something to herself as there was blood on the floor. However, we found no apparent injury and she seems fine now, several days later. We've been letting her out at night while we are both there to supervise and they all seem ok. My dog of course wants to chase her, but he will learn (he listens really well and can be called away from her no problem). Once she gets used to him and learns not to run away, they should be fine. Meanwhile, they'll all be closely supervised. Other than that, the 2 resident cats have been ok, of course some growling at the gate, but that is to be expected. Last night I swear Annie was inviting Cleo to play - she was rolling around in front of her (several feet, not too close!). I think they will all be ok together eventually...
oh, almost forgot, I couldn't find my Feliway diffuser thing, but did find at the pet store a similar product in spray form. We sprayed it all over the house periodically and it really seemed to help. I can't recall the name off-hand but can add it later when I'm at home. We also gave them all catnip (well, except the dog!).
The first night was a bit rough, Cleo (new girl cat) was meowing a lot and trying to get out of the room. At one point she must have pinched her paw or something, in the crack of the door and let out some screams. I thought one of the other cats had gotten in there but no, she had done something to herself as there was blood on the floor. However, we found no apparent injury and she seems fine now, several days later. We've been letting her out at night while we are both there to supervise and they all seem ok. My dog of course wants to chase her, but he will learn (he listens really well and can be called away from her no problem). Once she gets used to him and learns not to run away, they should be fine. Meanwhile, they'll all be closely supervised. Other than that, the 2 resident cats have been ok, of course some growling at the gate, but that is to be expected. Last night I swear Annie was inviting Cleo to play - she was rolling around in front of her (several feet, not too close!). I think they will all be ok together eventually...
oh, almost forgot, I couldn't find my Feliway diffuser thing, but did find at the pet store a similar product in spray form. We sprayed it all over the house periodically and it really seemed to help. I can't recall the name off-hand but can add it later when I'm at home. We also gave them all catnip (well, except the dog!).