Hey all,
Looking for bit of advice please I will be getting a new kitten in new year and currently have a 13 yr old cat nutkin . The last time I introduced a new cat was nutkin's mum who passed away due to hit and run 2 month ago,with her mum with my other cat we brought her in slowly and had separate eating areas and slowly got them together .
I have read books on what to do but really looking for real life advice on how you have introduced new cats into home?
This will be the first time nutkin will have a cat from outside her family come in so want to make sure she know she this is ok .
We talked about having kitten before her mum passed away but thought about getting it in new year as sadly people seem to want to return them after they find out they not cute christmas gifts they for life.


Any advise would be fab thanks

There is some useful information here:

http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/introducing/index.php

But it really depends on the temperament of the cats. I got 2 new cats this year, and introductions couldn't have been more different.

The first was a 9 month kitten (Woody) who I introduced to my 13 year old (Shadow). These 2 took a long time to accept each other, and I had to keep them in separate rooms to begin with, then they were introduced in an environment where they could see each other but that was all. Eventually they were able to be in the same room supervised, which resulted in fighting, so we had to go back a stage. It took a good few months before they could be left alone together. Now, almost a year later they get on fine, they will never be best friends but they tolerate each other.

The biggest problem I had with this introduction was the age difference, which may also be a problem for you. Kittens and elderly cats have very different outlooks on life. Woody wanted to play and be stimulated, Shadow just wants a quiet life.

So, to resolve this problem I got a 10 week old kitten (Archie) I expected the same problems as before, so when I got the kitten home I put him in the spare room, but within minutes he was crying to be let out, and Woody was crying to be let in. I tentatively opened the door to introduce them and it was love at first sight. These 2 are inseparable.

Good luck with your new arrival, let us know how you get on.

Here is a photo of the 3 of them, proving it is possible to introduce new cats and for them to accept each other:
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSC_0008.jpg

In your situation I would think about getting two kittens. One kitten will be wanting to play lots, and many or even most 13yo cats aren't really up for the amount of play a kitten wants and needs. Yes, twice the cost for food, cat litter and the vet, but four times or more the pleasure of watching them play, and two kittens are far less trouble than one as they don't pester you to play when it's not convenient. They also keep each other company if eveyone is out at work during the day.

Awww they are all so lovely!

OP - I agree with cats_five that two kittens might be better than one, given nutkin's age.

My two just tolerate each other, and I do sometimes feel a bit guilty that little Flo doesn't really have a playmate due to Gus's more elderly and grumpy nature.

I'm also going to say it would possibly be best if you were to bring 2 new kittens into your home rather than one.
It can be so much easier with 2, as you don't have to worry so much about the little one not getting on with the older cat as it will have a friend to play with.
Whenever we have gotten kittens when a cat has passed away , we always got 2, which was so much better as the older cats never really became friends with the new arrivals , so they would have been lonely on their own I think.
Because your older cat is unlikely to want to play with the new kitten, & I know from our experience sometime s the older cat can be quite hostile towards the new arrival for some time! (or maybe our older cats are just miserable!!)

Like others have said, I would definitely keep the new arrival in a seperate room to begin with, make sure both cats have seperate "safe places" so a room with everything they need- bed / food / litter tray, so they can escape from each other if need be!

Let us know how Nutkin (love the name!) gets on!
But I would seriously consider getting 2, there is
Nothing better in my opinion than watching 2 kittens grow up together, I have 2 sisters who are 2 & a half now & they curl up together every day & it's so sweet! (although they still chase each other like mad during the day & play fight! )

I agree that taking on 2 cats is better, if possible. When I introduced 2 young cats to my resident cat it worked out so much better than when I had introduced him, years earlier, to my late cat. The 2 young cats were already bonded and spent a lot of time with each other, playing, giving my other cat space to observe events - and join in at his own choosing. The 2 new cats also settled in much quicker to their new surroundings than I was expecting, probably because they had each other for comfort and familiarity.

Good luck. I love watching cats play with each other. My 3 get on so well.

My 3 year old wasn't overly impressed with the naughty tortie at first but a few months later they get on great. They play chase and pounce together and happily share the bed/couch. As you can see they're quite relaxed in each others company now.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...rellak/022.jpg

Have taken a photo this morning of my 3 cats chilling out on the bed. The 2 young ones are the tabby and tabby and white. Bernard loves them both.

Hey thanks for replies we have considered 2 kittens as I know some don't like being parted , my boyfriend keeps hinting at 2 even though he thinks it all play with kitten fun lol

Nutkin has become playful recently where before she would only play with her mum , I know kittens will have more energy so think it will be shock lol

All the cats pics awwwww

x x happy new year all x x

Aww I think you should give in & just get 2

Please let us know how it goes & post pics of u can!
Do you know if your going to get a boy or girl ?
I would suggest from my experience that you get a boy (or 2 boys), just as we found an older female cat is more likely to be aggressive to female kittens rather than males.
Whether this was just our cats or a general rule, I'm not sure , but it worked for us.
X

I think 2 is diff a option , I only suggested one not to over run the house lol
heres a pic of nutkin trying to choose what to watch lol not bad for 13 yr old lol
http://yfrog.com/user/NutkinTheCat/photos

Aww she s cutie!
I'd definitely say get 2, I know if we hadnt our past kittens would have been lonely as the older cats didn't get on with them or want to play! They ll be a handful but completely worth it!!
I don't know where your planning on getting a kitten but do consider getting a kitten from Cats Protection League, they're usually over run with kittens that need lovely new homes

I am going to look in local rspca centre as I sponsor a cat kennal in my mum name , if none there will try cats protection . I know we will have to suit each other and the same for nutkin

I tried the RSPCA & I wasn't allowed to rehome a kitten due to working full time!! - I can't understand if it was a dog .
I phoned the Cats protection league & they said they get so many people who have been turned down for ridiculous reasons by the RSPCA, it's almost like they don't want to rehome them!
I took a weeks holiday when I got my 2 girls & they settled in just fine & when I was working they kept each other company!

I got a dog from there in the home visit sooty who was nutkin mum was all sweet rubbing into the lady purring , the lady said well I can see animals are loved here . Of course they were but sooty was a diva a loved being centre stage lol
That's weird why they turned you down me and my bf work full time but I work shifts which could help as sometime start later or home earlier etc

I agree with getting 2 kittens. As you will see from my experience further up the page, getting 1 kitten didn't work, getting a 2nd did.

I was really annoyed about it because the kittens would
Only have been left 3 days a week on their own most of the time as my ex had every weekend off & I had 2 days during the week off!
The lady at cats protection league said they don't mind if people work full time but if getting a kitten they do say you should get 2 so they can keep each other company.

Yeah can see what ya mean I think with only having 1 same thing may happen. That link is fab too thanks have forwarded it to show bf

It's crazy with the adoption process I just hope they not funny with us ,I don't see any reason why like I said I work shifts so really cat's would be alone 3-4 hrs, I always make sure enough food , vets bills paid and enough to keep Nutkin amused and even make sure she has "safe" zones as sometimes she goes completely shy and decides to hide (at this moment she is in my wardrobe) .
I can see me wanting to bring all the cats home as want to keep them all , I always said if I win lotto I will open cats home lol

I'm sure you'll be fine since you already have a cat, where as I had just moved out of my family home in to my first house with my boyfriend at the time (a house is not a home until it has a cat in my opinion!!

They'll most likely come to do a "home visit" - cats protection league did this & they just wanted to check that I lived on a quiet road, the cats would have outdoor access , but since Ive been brought up with cats since birth they seemed very happy that I would know exactly how to look after them etc .
RSPCA I do think are more "strict" with their rehoming of cats / kittens though from the sounds of it.
Good luck! But if they turn you down, try cats protection league!

I'd love to be able to take more cats in, butmy 2 girls don't get on with other cats! My housemate is a RsPCA & CPL volunteer & she recently rehomed an elderly deaf cat & my 2 hate her!
It's only been about a month so hopefully they ll get used to her soon! She s not bothered, but they hiss & growl whenever she goes near them!

I hope all goes well with introducing a new kitten to your home, OP

Our neighbours took in a cat a few months ago. He or she just turned up on their doorstep. The cat attempted to move in with the people next door but as they had just taken in 2 of Winnie's kittens they didn't want to risk it.

This cat is absolutely beautiful. He or she is white with ginger, brown and black markings. The neighbours took the cat to the vet, they managed to find a chip but were unable to locate the original owner(s) so this cat now belongs to our neighbours.

The cat has just showed up in our garden. The cat is VERY vocal and affectionate. Quite cheeky too. We had our door open because it's quite warm today. Next thing we knew, this cat was eating from Bungle's food bowl! Of course we put the cat outside immediately.

That said, my Dad would absolutely adore the cat. He or she is the best bits of Winnie and the best bits of Bungle combined.

Thanks think we found our kittens they in RSPCA centre going back tomorrow to talk about seeing if they right for us

Ha ha love that story love how cats can just turn up and get love

We have found a little one year-old cat too! Very very shy and nervous so will be hard work but she is such a darling. We get out home visit tomorrow! Good luck to you!

The cat turned up again yesterday. We are trying not to encourage him (Dad thinks it's a tom cat).

He's very vocal. He reminds me of Winnie

We were too late they got booked yesterday however been told the centre is booked for next 3 months with the amount of cats coming in so will keep trying
Congrats on the new addition , some cats are shy yet when they know they are home suddenly have so much confidence

aww no!
Was that RSPCA? Try your local Cats Protection League, they are always inundated with kittens looking for loving homes