How to introduce a new cat to a home where two older cats live?
Diana asked:
We have two cats- a mother and son. The mother cat must be 13 years old at this stage. The other isn’t too far behind her.
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We have two cats- a mother and son. The mother cat must be 13 years old at this stage. The other isn’t too far behind her.
He had to have a leg removed because of a car accident. He’s huge, and he has a bit of a reputation. You can’t stroke him like normal cats. I think he actually ht inksnks he’s a dog!
So I’m worried about getting any new cats in case our tomcat doesn’t take well to them. I’m sure the other cat would get used company very quickly, though, since she’s very friendly.
Thanks!*
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:29 am
It will depend a lot on if your cats are spade/neutered.
What I would do is put the new cat into a small cage, like a carry on. Let the other two sniff around the cage and do whatever it is they do for a few hours. Then let the new cat out.
Make sure to keep all three together in a room.
You’re really going to have to let them fight it out, on their own. They need to establish who’s dominate and who- isn’t. And that may or may not result in a few fights.
My cousin has three cats and she has to lock them all in a room for a few days, every once in while and let them re-establish the ranks, so to speak.
But honestly it depends on the cats and their nature. She just happens to have three dominate cats. You may have better luck.
September 4th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Just watch them closely at first, introduce them slowly. Maybe keep them seperated at first and only let them interact while you are around. They will get used to eachother in no time!!
September 7th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Introduce them slowle. It might take a few weeks. Have a different space for the new cat. Take some time each day and let them in the same room (supervised by you. Each day give them a little more time to get to know each other. There will be alot of groweling and hissing from the older cat. Never leave them alone togeather until the older cat cat stops being agresseve. The older cat will ocassonilly mount the other thats his way of aserting his dominace. This process will take time and patienance on your part. If after 4 or so weeks and they still don’t get along I’d find another loving home for the new cat.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Keep the new cat in a separate room for a while and only let them face to face when you are present after a week or so of separation. This allows them to check each other out (and get used the each other) through and under the door, and you can see their interaction. It also gives you time to watch the new cat to make sure it is healthy and wont be introducing any diseases to your kitties. Sometimes it can help to introduce them at meal time. Place the dishes so they can see each other but are not near each other. Then slowly move the dishes closer every meal. The cats will let you know how close you can place the dishes.
September 12th, 2009 at 1:35 am
I had two 9-year-old male cats in December when we found a stray male kitten. I put the kitten in my extra bath for a few days with a litter box, toys, bed and food, and played with the kitten several times a day. One of my older cats after the initial shock started sniffing underneath the bathroom door and pushing his paws and toys back and forth with the kitten, and after a few days when I let the kitten out permanently, they were playing with each other and were buddies. The other older cat still does not like the kitten, but tolerates it. Then in June that friendly old cat died and my neighbor brought me another kitten, female this time. On the first day both my December kitten and old cat were extremely unhappy and hid underneath furniture. I put the kitten in the bathroom again with all amenities and this time she lasted only two days because the December kitten wanted to play with her (the old cat refused to play with him at all). Now these two kittens are all best friends, and the older cat tolerates them but rarely plays with them.
My male cats are all neutered, as soon as it could be done safely, and female will be spayed in a few months when my vet says it is safe. I think they are less aggressive and less fighting when they are neutered.
In summary, try putting the cat in a separate room for a few days so they can get familiar with the smell of each other, and try not to treat any one better than another, treat them equally. I think that old cats are afraid of losing their footing or being kicked out so sometimes they act funny when a new cat is introduced. They may be friends with your kitten, or just tolerate it, but this is not something you can easily alter.
And actually, my old cat that was so friendly but died recently was very unhappy about other cats, but took that December kitten as his buddy immediately (actually he spotted the kitten in our back yard and then let the kitten get into our house, which was quite surprising), so maybe your tomcat will not be as harsh on the kitten as you think.