Introducing a new cat to another. Advice and hilarious/horror stories

[Fhloston]

Long story short, friend of mine is moving and cannot take her cat. Our cats lived together for a couple of years, and were separated for a year. Of course, they both acted like they never met when reintroduced. Friend's cat had a playmate at his place, our cat has been solo. He actually jumped at our cat when she was hissing at him from a window sill. Imagine those cartoon fights with the dust cloud and hands/feet popping out, and that was the result.

We're keeping ours in our room when we sleep, and him in the living room. Vice versa when we're awake. Read being separated helps. Also read it can take a week or two. ): So tell me, BG, any advice? That, or bad experiences, or funny experiences?

[Celestialstrife]

Usually whenever I get a new cat, I will keep it back in my office with the door cracked so they can sniff each other and what not, if there is a toy or something the new cat uses I will let my other cats sniff that as well. Just usually takes a couple days of that and they seem to do fine. Good luck!

[Brill Weave]

Water bottle etc. Seriously just keep them separated for a day or two so they get used to the scent. Then leave the door open and let the new kitty come and go as he pleases. We left some food and water up in the spare room so it could be a little sanctuary. After about a week he had the run of the house with the other cats.

[Ksandra]

If your friend gave his litter box, too. It's a good idea to have both out in separate areas. Anything to relieve stress (like not having to share), helps for a bit.

Once they get comfy and you see them using each others boxes, you can remove one.

[Surealistic]

ive been living at my parents for about 3 years now, brought my cat with me, their cat fucking despises mine to this day, my cat is like "ok, hey, whats up", theirs is like "FUCK YOU I WILL EAT YOUR FACE"

nothing changes this -.-

[Moss]

watch that "My Cat from Hell" show on APL

[Sqwunk]

Check out some episodes of My Cat From Hell on Animal Planet. He gives some pretty good advice on what cats need when it comes to behavioral things, kinda similar to the dog whisperer but hes a white dude with piercings and tattoos and knows cats.

We introduced 2 cats to 2 cats and it took a little while but they eventually became close, the original 2 we had were still kinda young. A year later or so we got a 5th kitten and she was the only girl now in a house with 4 male cats. Was definitely harder getting her accepted by them but it did happen rather quickly, I can't really remember how long it took as it was about 6 years ago. So all 5 eventually bonded but now that they are all around middle age they have quarrels between certain ones.

I think it's important that initially they each have what is considered their own area that is safe for them.

[Abandon]

....

[Fhloston]

Lol I saw that on Netflix, might check it out. Friend's cat is rough. Wife was switching them between rooms and he gets loose. Charges our cat growling, biting and scratching. She runs up a mattress we have sitting on our bedroom wall and he chases. Had to pull him off... Dunno if this will work.......

[Ksandra]

are they spayed/neutered?

[Fhloston]

Yes and yes. He's very well settled in to his new environment, but I think he's trying to be the dominant cat.

[Galois]

When my wife moved in, she brought a cat with her. I love the cat, don't get me wrong, but he can be a huge dick sometimes. We tried adopting a kitten from a rescue center a few years ago. We separated them, tried to feed them on opposite sides of a door, etc; we followed all the steps the shelter staff gave us.

Our cat basically didn't eat at all. He went on a hunger strike. I was measuring his food three times a day and it never changed. We thought he was sick, so we took him to the vet. When the vet brought some food out (the same kind we buy him), he chowed down like Thanksgiving day and made us look like liars.

So, we take him back home and he stops eating again. This goes on for a few more days, so we decided to take the kitten back. We found out the kitten was adopted the next day, but we still felt bad. After I got back from taking the kitten back, I walk in to find our cat eating like it was his job. I still love him and all, but we are a one cat household as long as he's around to run it.

[Anoat]

When my wife moved in, she brought a cat with her. I love the cat, don't get me wrong, but he can be a huge dick sometimes. We tried adopting a kitten from a rescue center a few years ago. We separated them, tried to feed them on opposite sides of a door, etc; we followed all the steps the shelter staff gave us.

Our cat basically didn't eat at all. He went on a hunger strike. I was measuring his food three times a day and it never changed. We thought he was sick, so we took him to the vet. When the vet brought some food out (the same kind we buy him), he chowed down like Thanksgiving day and made us look like liars.

So, we take him back home and he stops eating again. This goes on for a few more days, so we decided to take the kitten back. We found out the kitten was adopted the next day, but we still felt bad. After I got back from taking the kitten back, I walk in to find our cat eating like it was his job. I still love him and all, but we are a one cat household as long as he's around to run it.

You flinched first. The cat would have eventually eaten. No cat is gonna voluntarily starve itself to death. He just established dominance over both the kitten and you.

This is why cats are awful.

[Galois]

You flinched first. The cat would have eventually eaten. No cat is gonna voluntarily starve itself to death. He just established dominance over both the kitten and you.

This is why cats are awful.

Yeah, to be honest, I'm sure he would have eaten eventually. It was only about 4-5 days of not eating. My wife was very upset, though, so it was probably the best move.

[Melena]

We adopted a third cat recently in hopes that he would play with our younger cat Guinness as she's more of the playful one, whereas Corona is perpetually grumpy and angry. For the first two weeks Guinness only tolerated Jaeger (i swear we are not alcoholics) and would occasionally just walk up to him and smack him on the nose. Well at the two week mark we decided it was time to clip his claws as we were getting torn up every night when he would use us as a freeway. He howled like we were murdering him and Guinness came running to ensure he wasn't hurt, and now they are inseparable. If we knew that was all it was going to take to get them to get along, we would have done it day 2.

[Ksandra]

lol melena, that's similar to my cat, Ivy. She is super skittish, and anytime my daughter even looks at her she runs and hides. However, as soon as my daughter starts to like really have a crying fit, Ivy will run into the room to make sure she's ok hahaha.

[Fhloston]

Update... Out of spite, our cat shit in our bed while the Mrs slept.... Plus, friend's cat won't stfu, so she took him back. Cats are fucking spiteful.............

[chiyio]

Yeah, to be honest, I'm sure he would have eaten eventually. It was only about 4-5 days of not eating. My wife was very upset, though, so it was probably the best move.

Now they BOTH established dominance over you.

[-Zer0-]

Be prepared next time. Bring battle armor.