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How long did it take ? |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: wales
Posts: 851
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How long did it take ?
Hey all ,
As you may of seen from my previous post I have recently got a kitten from the RSPCA , before him we had 2cats who were mother and daughter but sadly the mother passed away . Now my cat who was here first seems to be blowing hot and cold with the kitten I know it takes time , but was wondering when introducing a new pet how long did it take for everything to settle down ?
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pembrokeshire.
Posts: 40,686
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My cat has been blowing hot and cold with the kitten for the last seven months !!
One minute they`re grooming each other and the next minute the older cat is spitting and snarling at him - they have a very strange relationship indeed. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1,585
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When we got our kitten three months ago, our current cat wouldn't go near her, and kept running away from the kitten lol! Right now they are getting along, but our older cat doesn't like the kitten washing her or bothering her in anyway. They started playing together about 3 weeks after we got her, and at first we were a little nervous about letting them run around the house play fighting, but it has all calmed down now. They still run riot around the house chasing each other, but they don't mind each other being around, which is good. It will take time for yours to get used to one another, but they will when they feel the time is right.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,122
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A good trick is, before you introduce the new cat, to rub her/him with one of your sweaters/tops/whatever to give them a familiar scent for the current cat.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Oop North, England, UK
Posts: 7,084
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We'd had one cat about 18 months (a rescue at 6 months clearly homeless and hungry - and we later discovered pregnant - it broke our heart but we terminated it) when we rescued a second one (six weeks), found outside screaming under a car in the cold wind in the early hours of the morning.
As a result we had no time to plan or phase the introduction of the second to the first, and it was really difficult, particularly since we could not be there all the time. Three years on they still "spat" with each other, sometimes more seriously than at others, but they are equally willing to play together in the garden and share a room snoozing when they're tired out.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,039
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Quote:
We'd had one cat about 18 months (a rescue at 6 months clearly homeless and hungry - and we later discovered pregnant - it broke our heart but we terminated it) when we rescued a second one (six weeks), found outside screaming under a car in the cold wind in the early hours of the morning.
As a result we had no time to plan or phase the introduction of the second to the first, and it was really difficult, particularly since we could not be there all the time. Three years on they still "spat" with each other, sometimes more seriously than at others, but they are equally willing to play together in the garden and share a room snoozing when they're tired out. ![]() You killed the cat? Or the cats baby? Why? Why not let it live and sell it or give it back to a rescue shelter? |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Herts
Posts: 3,040
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I've been lucky with cat introductions and I think as much depends on the characters of the cats involved than in anything the owners may do to make the transition easier.
I introduced Bernard,then aged 1 to Tabitha, then aged 10 and kept them apart for a few days with Bernard living upstairs and Tabitha downstairs with access to the cat flap. I then made gradual introductions over a few days. Tabitha was a very superior, self important cat (my family labelled her arrogant and full of herself), she was very secure with her own status and she never took much interest in Bernard unless he tried to chase her (he was young and playful), then she'd swipe him - otherwise she pretty much ignored him but they would eat together and sleep in the same room (rarely on the same bed). I think Tabitha would have preferred to have remained my only cat but her temperment was such that she made the best of the situation. Bernard understood that Tabitha was 'top cat' and I always took her side in any cat dispute, even if she was in the wrong. http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...rellak/080.jpg Tabitha is the tabby, in this photo aged about 14. She died at 16. When Tabitha died, I was a little worried about taking on a cat that might make Bernard's life difficult. In the end, I thought it best to get 2 who were already bonded so the chances were that they would leave Bernard alone but still provide much needed cat company for him. I had made plans to keep the cats separate but they all just got on with each other immediately and I never had to put any divisions between them, even when I was out. Cats Protection told me that these particular cats liked other cats and they have been proved so right ![]() http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...rellak/022.jpg The fact that the 2 young cats had each other also made settling into new surroundings much easier for them. Within a few hours it was as if they had lived here for months and I actually allowed them outside after about 3 days - though it took little Lucy a good month or more to master the cat flap. Sometimes, cats living together never really become friends but learn to tolerate each other (like Tabitha tolerated Bernard though I think he really adored her). It's probably a lot more difficult when there's a fairly big age gap. For me, it's really important to reassure the older cat that nothing has changed for them, that they are still loved as much as ever and I make sure their normal routine isn't affected. I also always side with the older resident in any cat disputes. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,179
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Cats are cats - contrary, and very much their own person.
It takes as long as it takes, and they may only get as far as tolerating each other. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 2,403
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Quote:
What?
You killed the cat? Or the cats baby? Why? Why not let it live and sell it or give it back to a rescue shelter? As for rescue shelters, sometimes it's hard to find a shelter to take the kittens in. They have finite resources and at the end of the day, handing over a box of kittens is all well and good, but it causes problems for the shelter. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 82,194
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I'd had Murphey, for about 2 years before I decided to get a new cat and quite honestly I was shocked at his reaction when I first bought Nobby (who has since sadly died) home. I thought being the established cat Murphey, would be the one laying down the law but he was absolutely terrified of Nobby, who was only a year olld so much so Murphey spent the first night hiding under my bed then in the morning when he heard Nobby, he bolted back up the stairs and out my bedroom window.
This only really went on for a few days as we started to feed them together Murphey, once he realised there was no threat started to establish his authority there was still a lot of hissing but after a few months they became good friends. When we bought Milley, home Murphey, was totally different yes there was still a lot of hissing but he excepted her much quicker than he did with Nobby. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pembrokeshire.
Posts: 40,686
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Quote:
I'd had Murphey, for about 2 years before I decided to get a new cat and quite honestly I was shocked at his reaction when I first bought Nobby (who has since sadly died) home. I thought being the established cat Murphey, would be the one laying down the law but he was absolutely terrified of Nobby, who was only a year olld so much so Murphey spent the first night hiding under my bed then in the morning when he heard Nobby, he bolted back up the stairs and out my bedroom window.
This only really went on for a few days as we started to feed them together Murphey, once he realised there was no threat started to establish his authority there was still a lot of hissing but after a few months they became good friends. When we bought Milley, home Murphey, was totally different yes there was still a lot of hissing but he excepted her much quicker than he did with Nobby. |
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 10,943
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Quote:
Hey all ,
As you may of seen from my previous post I have recently got a kitten from the RSPCA , before him we had 2cats who were mother and daughter but sadly the mother passed away . Now my cat who was here first seems to be blowing hot and cold with the kitten I know it takes time , but was wondering when introducing a new pet how long did it take for everything to settle down ? ![]() Also, make sure your established cat only ever has positive experiences when your new cat is around - treats, games, even just your full attention. Remember that cats aren't as social as dogs.
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: wales
Posts: 851
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Quote:
Does each cat have space to get away from the other if they wish? Is there conflict over food / litter trays? Are you giving the newcomer more attention than the established cat? These situations can cause tension, even if they appear to get along sometimes.
Also, make sure your established cat only ever has positive experiences when your new cat is around - treats, games, even just your full attention. Remember that cats aren't as social as dogs. ![]() ![]() I know it takes time and things are improving ![]() I t |
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