November 14, 2005

Ole Meanie

Cat people, I need some help. Bodie is being a absolute beeeyotch about the new kitten. She's even attacking me for smelling like her. I doused her with half a bottle of water some minutes ago for trying to attack me, and even soaking wet she's sitting here stalking the bedroom door where I have Puff locked in.

I've read so many different opinions on the internet about how to introduce two cats. Those of you who've been through it (successfully), what did you do?

I'm so pissed off at Bodie that I dumped the food in her bowl in the trash...oh, and she cares, the fat-ass.

Posted by Tiffany at November 14, 2005 11:41 PM | TrackBack
Comments

On congrats on the new kitty, I tried yesturday by the comments gawd wouldn't let me. Anyway. When cats are getting to know each other it isn't a silent affair. They hiss and pop and screech at each other. They fight and chase. It's just what they do. Let them do that for a while and they will eventully settle down.

My Mom tells of their two cats being locked in a room all night when they were first introdused and she said by the sounds of it they wern't sure that they would still have two cats in the morning - they did and those cats were great friends for ever more.

Tex met Mini Kitty for the first time this summer and they just chased each other around and took turns poping and spitting at each other. They don't play togther, but they aren't at each others throats either. Tex was 20 lbs and Mini was @5 lbs. Be patient. It will be okay.

Posted by: Diana at November 15, 2005 08:33 AM

Had the same problem with my cat when I got him a kitten to play with. He wasn't appreciative.

However, after pummelling her into submission a few times to establish his dominance, they eventually became fast friends.

It's not a pleasant process, but let them work it out.

Posted by: Harvey at November 15, 2005 06:51 PM

I have two cats. One is named Majik and the other is named Ally. Majik is 10, Ally is 5. I've had Ally since she was a kitten, and I'm still waiting for Majik to accept her.

Majik is an exceptionally mean kitty.

My two cats and I moved into my fiancee's house, with her tomcat named Dail. Dail is also 10. We moved in at the end of June and three or four weeks ago Majik got into it with Dail so ferociously that there were little tufts of Dail scattered across the second floor of the house. Lisa just about put me and both of my cats in a box on the street corner with a sign that read "free to good home" over that one.

So now Majik is on Prozac. We'll see what happens. Oh and Ally and Dail don't like each other either.

Posted by: Chad at November 16, 2005 01:48 AM

I got mine a year apart. The chunk was quite put out about having to share the food dish. There were a few brawls, but once a pecking order was established, they got along fine. Give them time.

Posted by: wordweaver at November 16, 2005 04:16 PM

Okay, is this assuming that I don't follow those complicated ASPCA cat introduction guidelines (i.e. "rub cats with a mutual towel to intermix their scents") and just throw them into the proverbial lion's den together?

Posted by: Tiffany at November 16, 2005 07:25 PM

When I adopted our last kitty addition, Betsy, it took 3 long & harrowing weeks for my other two cats to fully accept her. I kept her in a room separated from them for three or four days. During that time, I would bring her out in a carrier and just set her in the room with me. The other two cats could come up and sniff, growl, or hiss, but they couldn't hurt her. I'd leave the door to her room open too so they could investigate in there and get used to her smell. You could even then put Bodie in the room and let new kitty explore the house on her own a little as well.

Once they seem a bit calmer, I would let new kitty out for increasing amounts of time and just watch them closely. They're going to growl and swat at each other, but they have to establish a hierarchy and will work it out, even though it might be harsh to see. If any blood is being shed or it gets really out of control, separate them or try to distract them with a toy, and give them treats & praise if they tolerate each other. If nothing seems to work, then of course the best bet is to talk with your vet.

Cat introduction can be slow. And if I take Betsy out to the vet and bring her back, I have to reintroduce my cats all over again, but that's because my cats are evil.

It sounds so complicated, but that is generally what I have to do to have a fairly peaceful household.

Posted by: Michelle at November 29, 2005 02:23 AM
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