socializing cats--advice?

[ghost of miles]

Hey all cat-loving jazzers and jazz-loving cats, any tips or advice about introducing a cat into a house that already has several? In the past we've gotten through the normal 1-3 week period of adjustment without too many problems, but yesterday we brought home a two-year-old black part-Siamese female (rescued from the south-central Indiana floods earlier in the summer) who loves people but who has a reputation for not getting along with other cats. We're keeping her in the bathroom for now and won't try introducing her into the household for at least another week or two--and then only gradually, in stages. We had one accidental "encounter" this morning when Mabel, an extremely friendly, outgoing cat of ours (who seems to dig jazz too, btw, which is all but a necessity for happy living in our house ) managed to dart through the bathroom door and run right up to the new cat (tentatively named Amelia), eliciting growls and hisses from the newbie. I know that's pretty much par for the course, but our concern is long-term socialization and adaptation, and I wondered what others' experiences here might be. Thanks much in advance--all here were a fantastic source of support and wisdom when Lily went missing for several days a couple of summers ago.

Edited August 12, 2008 by ghost of miles

[papsrus]

Just guessing (so ... take it for what it's worth) but I'd guess feeding them together might help. Seems to work with humans

That, and a little time.

[ghost of miles]

And grinding some "happy pills" into new kitty's dish, perhaps?

When I do bring Amelia out into the house, I'm going to try walking her around on a puppy leash at first. (We also have a really big house, which will help, I think.) Our biggest concern is that temperamentally she may not be suited to live with other cats. She's estimated to be two years old, so her personality has already formed to a large extent. I'm going to check with our county shelter, but I wanted to solicit advice from the wise gents and ladies of the O as well. (So you're saying that buying all of the forthcoming autumn Mosaics is absolutely the ticket to peace and happiness among the kitties? )

Edited August 12, 2008 by ghost of miles

[Rooster_Ties]

Keep the cats in separate parts of the house for a week or so (like you're already doing).

Pick a few hours a day and let the new cat roam around the house, with the cat you already had going in the room where you had the new cat held up. Do that for about a week.

Then turn 'em both loose, with full access to the house.

Have separate feeding areas (each with water too), and assuming your house is big enough -- two separate litter boxes (especially if you have a multi-floor house, one litter box per floor).

Edited August 12, 2008 by Rooster_Ties

[paul secor]

Years ago, my family had a cat and brought a kitten into the house. On the first day the two were together, it looked as if the older cat was going to kill the kitten, so we kept them apart. Took a few days, but then all was copacetic and they had happy lives living in the same house.

Pretty much the same as what Rooster had to say in the post above.

[papsrus]

When I do bring Amelia out into the house, I'm going to try walking her around on a puppy leash at first.

I'd be careful about this. Again, I have no particular expertise in these things, but I do know that when introducing a new dog at a dog park, for example, it is best NOT to restrain them on a leash. They will feel vulnerable and fear kicks in rapidly. It's best to let them mingle and work out the social order of things themselves. (closely monitored, of course).

But, cats are a little different. But my experience with cats and leashes is that they freeze up, thinking that a boa constrictor has got them. But it may work best for you. I'd be interested to know the result.

[robviti]

How do I introduce the new cat to my cat/cats & household?

ANSWER:

Some cats are content sharing a small space while others want to possess and dominate the home. Some cats are naturally more sociable than others. While some cats are particularly playful, others just want a warm, comfortable place to nap and view the outside world. Matching personality traits and individual animals' needs/wants are factors that should be considered when deciding whether or not to foster and whether a given cat can live in peace and comfort in your multicat household. Neutered and spayed cats are *much* less likely to develop territorial issues than whole animals.

Read the full article here

[ghost of miles]

Thanks much, JS--some very useful advice in there.

[Teasing the Korean]

As someone who has done what you're attempting, I can tell you that the most important piece of advice has been left out:

Invest in extra band-aids and triple antibiotic ointment.

[Spontooneous]

One trick in that long post worked really well at my house when a third cat was added: Wash all of them in the same shampoo so they all smell the same.

[J Larsen]

I've heard that rubbing each the new cat and the old cats with the same t-shirt can help. It's a similar idea to washing them with the same shampoo. (I've thankfully never had to wash my cat; he does a good job on his own.)

[Tim McG]

We're trying to socialize our new Auxiliary Emergency Back-up Kitten with our ten year-old Main Cat. Both were strays at one time.

The theory was the older cat would "mother up" to the kitten....however, we have only had some limited success.

I imagine introducing an adult cat to other cats is far more dicey.

Good luck.

[Chuck Nessa]

Let the cats decide. They know more about the situation than we do.

[Tim McG]

Let the cats decide. They know more about the situation than we do.

Truer words were never spoken.

Nice post, Chuck.

[BERIGAN]

Ghost, years ago, we took in a stray male, then a stray female, and by far we had more trouble getting the female to get along with the youngest female. It took months to get them to get along...or as close to along as you can get. We stayed in the room with them they were in. Since they both still had their claws, we couldn't just let them go at it. The tiny cat we had first was the bully, the one that had been outside, was and still is, a chicken.

all the other ideas mentioned are very good....but buy a spray bottle and fill with water....better than trying to get between 2 cats!

[Nate Dorward]

ghost: all I can say is, patience. We got a new cat (a young female stray, from a shelter) a couple years back & it's been a continuously adjusting dynamic in the household as the two (brother+sister) older cats & the new one worked things out. I think we've currently reached a fairly harmonious equilibrium just in the past 3-4 months, with the younger one finally getting accepted by the others as a peer & occasionally worthy of a mutual grooming or cuddling session. -- We simply isolated the new one in the sun room for a week, then gradually introduced more & more contact. Two litterboxes & careful monitoring of the food bowls are musts. There have been plenty of low-level spats but nothing too vicious, fortunately; the older cats are pretty mellow, & the new one has had the rougher edges sanded off her personality over the past year as she finally realized that she had a comfy home & didn't need to be so pushy & defensive.

[ghost of miles]

Thanks much, Nate. So far it's going OK--I've been introducing Amelie (new cat) very, very slowly to our most outgoing cat (Mabel). I think Amelie's becoming less inclined to go into a fighting defensive mode...yesterday she stopped following Mabel around when I told her to...of course, then Mabel reached back and bopped her on the head. Now I'm worried that I'll make Amelie into a pacifist and the other cats will pick on her!

[Quincy]

when i was young, a member of my family would blast any cats that came near our house with raid. or attempt to punt them for distance.

Oh hell, now I see the results of my past actions. I used to do that to Fongs.

[Jazzmoose]

Let the cats decide. They know more about the situation than we do.

True. The first two cats I had as an adult never got along. Rhas al Ghul just never thought animals should be allowed in the house, so Godzilla was never welcome. Still, we managed to live together for fifteen years or so...

[7/4]

when i was young, a member of my family would blast any cats that came near our house with raid. or attempt to punt them for distance.

The are laws to punish people for doing shit like that.

[Jazzmoose]

Baseball bats work as well.

[Aggie87]

Let the cats decide. They know more about the situation than we do.

True. The first two cats I had as an adult never got along. Rhas al Ghul just never thought animals should be allowed in the house, so Godzilla was never welcome. Still, we managed to live together for fifteen years or so...

Did they name themselves or did you have something to do with that?

Maybe they don't like being called "Fluffy" and "Snookums" and cute names like that.

[Jazzmoose]

Hmmm....maybe I should have chosen more peaceful names; never thought of that before.