Need gothic advice on a dark subject

Onibubba · Post by **Onibubba** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 8:56 am

Just kidding... Actually, I would like some advice about bringing a new cat into the household. I currently have 1 very sweet kittie who is very affectionate, but with me being gone so long during the day, very lonely. I have adopted another cat from the Knox Animal Shelter and will be picking her up on Friday.

I selected her because she had a similar sweet temperment, loved being held, and was a youger female. I had been told that my kitty would be more accepting of a younger female than another male.

I dread the idea of keeping them separated for weeks while they smell each other out as is often suggested. Any other ideas or success stories on introducing a new cat to your current kitty?

vicious_blood · Post by **vicious_blood** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 9:11 am

Aww...I love kitties...I have 2.

Um, I would let them be around each other while you are present...but maybe put them in seperate rooms when you aren't there, or when you are sleeping. And cats get jealous (from what I've seen) so make sure if you pet one, to pet the other, too.

Other than that, I dunno. I think you gotta just give them time.

Nexxus23 · Post by **Nexxus23** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 9:50 am

Two of my cats are extremely territorial, and when introducing them to a new kitty, I tried to make sure they were separated when I was asleep or out of the house, and only letting them be together when I was home and able to monitor them in case there was fighting. Also, it's good to give the new kitty a litter box of her own- sometimes cats are very territorial about their pooping places.

But... I would personally have them separated at first, so they can get used to each other's scent- you'll be preventing fights down the road that way.

The Stormstress · Post by **The Stormstress** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 10:21 am

N all o' my yearz with catz, I'v found that they do best if u r around 2 supervize awhile when they r ntroduced... Just b certain 2 show them equal attention 2 help avoid jealousy. I'v only had 2 separate adult femalez 4 n-e length ov time (both were certain that they were Queen Shiz-nit)... The separate litter box thing iz also a good idea. Honestly, they'll prolly go a round or 2 (mayb just a hissing match or all out brawl), but they'll b'cum more comfortable with 1 another n time & determine their own pecking order.

shadow dancer · Post by **shadow dancer** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 11:17 am

I've "been there and done that" in the last six months. I got another kitten to keep my two year old cat company because of the long hours that I spend at work. The older one spent the first couple of weeks being rather mean, but eventually calmed down. I allowed the cats to be together as long as I was there for the first couple of weeks; I kept them in separate rooms when I was gone. When in the same room, the older one would hiss and swat at the younger one, but that was about it.
Akasha (the older one) tended to get upset initially over Shadow (the kitten) eating out of her food bowl or invading her space, so I kept two different food and water bowls in two different parts of the apartment as well as two different litter boxes. This helped a little.
My biggest problem is that my two cats have completely different personalities. Akasha is the "aloof, princess" kitty while Shadow is the "play and pounce on everything" type. I found that the only toy that I can play with both cats at the same time with is a laser pointer. Otherwise, Shadow pounces all over Akasha trying to get to the toy. With the laser pointer, I can play with one on one side of the room and while it is looking for the red dot that disappeared, I can play with the other on the other side of the room.
After Shadow has grown up for the most part, both cats get along well now. Just make sure to give them both lots of love because cats can tend to be jealous creatures if one is getting pet and the other isn't.
On the plus side, since they've started to get along, Akasha hasn't seemed so lonely when I come home; she has quite a bit of fun running around the apartment with Shadow, so its keeping her more healthy as well.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

Onibubba · Post by **Onibubba** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 11:28 am

Thanks a lot! You guys have been awesome! I will be picking Newkitty up on Thursday ( have not decided on a name yet - want to check out her personality first) and taking her straight to the vet for another check up and rabies shots. Then it is back home to meet Azrael. Azrael is a sweetie who bonded quickly with my parents' lab over thanksgiving - part of the reason I decided that he needed a playmate.

I will pick up a separate litterbox and food/water dish today, and set Newkitty up in the bedroom. I'll let them sniff each other out in the carrier when she first arrives, then keep them to themselves until the weekend when I'll let them at each other for some supervised "fun."

Onibubba · Post by **Onibubba** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:06 pm

Thanks again for all of the help. The cats were getting along splendedly, but there was a bit of a problem. Over the weekend I noticed that Asuka had developed a bit of a sneezing problem. The vet said is was a respiratory infection common among animals in a shelter. She said to keep her separated and treated, but since the cats had already come into contact, that Azrael may pick it up as well :-(

So far, Asuka is still sick, I am treating her, and Azrael has shown no signs of infection yet. They already miss each other and the constant meowing through the door is getting to be a bit of a pain because it is just so sad. But hopefully everything will clear up by the weekend.

vicious_blood · Post by **vicious_blood** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:21 pm

That sucks.

I hope they get better. But I am glad that they seem to be getting along.

Coor · Post by **Coor** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:25 pm

IM alergic to Kitty Litter

Onibubba · Post by **Onibubba** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:30 pm

Kitty litter is the bomb, yo!

Fresh Step clumping with crystals is mana from heaven. It makes treasure hunting so much easier.

vicious_blood · Post by **vicious_blood** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:35 pm

I use Fresh Step, too.

This kinda sounds like we are sniffing kitty litter...

Caustic · Post by **Caustic** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:52 pm

Onibubba wrote:Any other ideas or success stories on introducing a new cat to your current kitty?

Two cloves garlic, sprinkle of lime, and a quick searing. Delicious.

Onibubba · Post by **Onibubba** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:59 pm

Caustic wrote:
Onibubba wrote:Any other ideas or success stories on introducing a new cat to your current kitty?

Two cloves garlic, sprinkle of lime, and a quick searing. Delicious.

Thanks! I'll try that on my next pussy! Mmmmmm...Garlic.

Coor · Post by **Coor** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 2:02 pm

I'm like deady allgeric to Kitty litter. It causes my skin to randomly burst and bleed. It's really gross. :cry:

Lost Traveler · Post by **Lost Traveler** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:02 pm

Coor wrote:I'm like deady allgeric to Kitty litter. It causes my skin to randomly burst and bleed. It's really gross.

Hmmmmm much like one of those sleepers from king!!!!!!! get em, puss puss ;-)

lovechild · Post by **lovechild** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 1:18 pm

i have had my share of cats (currently have 10). We have also adopted several from the knox animal shelter....my last to cats have had quite a tough time getting adjusted to the other cats... One had been living with its owner for 5 years and the lady that owned him (bandit) was pregnant....she was all worried about toxoplasmosis and what not and we decided to adopt the cat into our home. He at first was really shy and wouldnt socialize with the other cats...now he has managed to find his place and is happy. My most recent cat adopted (gypsie) we adopted because of the abuse that her previous owned had submitted her to. At first she would run away and claw at the slightest movement or when we tryed to pet her. She has now been with us for about 4 or 5 months....she is still the same scared little cat that we had brought home....but she knows that she has a great animal loving home. I wish that she hadnt gone through an abusive owner....things like that just piss me off....but i am glad that she was able to find her way to our house...and to find her way into our hearts.

Need gothic advice on a dark subject

Need gothic advice on a dark subject

Re: Need gothic advice on a dark subject

Re: Need gothic advice on a dark subject