NVR...Introducing two cats. Can you give advice?
Hello. I see there are a lot of cat owners here and I was hoping you could give me some advice. I'm moving in with my boyfriend in October and we both have a cat. My cat is a former stray that I took in and although she has taken to being a house cat with no problem, she is very territorial. She is very friendly and affectionate but doesn't seem to like other cats near her property. My boyfriend's cat is very docile and has no problem with other cats or dogs. My problem is I'm afraid that my cat will repeatedly beat up his cat. My cat has her claws and is not afraid to use them. His cat is declawed and hairless (one of those Sphinx cats). I'm so afraid my cat will just tear the thin flesh of his cat. I've been trying to prepare my cat by bring home toys and beds of the other cat so she can get used to the smell. I am also considering putting those Soft Paws nail caps on her for the first month as a protection for the other cat. Has anyone ever tried those? I plan on setting up one of the bedrooms with her stuff in it so that she has a safe and familiar place to go if she needs a "time out." Can anyone else offer some suggestions? My future mother-in-law wants me to consider having her declawed and I DO NOT want to. I'm sorry this is so long but I wanted to give you all some background info to work with. THANKS SO MUCH!
I am really glad to hear that you will not declaw her!! That is the last thing you would ever want to do!
It actually sounds like you have a good plan so far! Getting the two used to each others sent is key and the saft paw coverings are a great idea! The only other thing Icould suggest it one of those plug in's that releases a sent that calms animals--I haven't used one yet but I understand they work really well--I cant think what their name is but i know it has come up before--I'll try to find out and Edit the post if I do!
Good luck!
The only other thing Icould suggest it one of those plug in's that releases a sent that calms animals--I haven't used one yet but I understand they work really well--I cant think what their name is but i know it has come up before--I'll try to find out and Edit the post if I do!
I've read about one called Feliway - apparently, particularly effective in preventing male cats spray-marking in the house, but also good for reducing cats' stress levels. http://www.catfaeries.com/feliway.html
Don't get the cat declawed. When I gave my parents one of my cats, they already had a cat. (She's a lil bee-atch, too.) At first, the female HATED the male (my sweetie), but they got used to each other over time. The cats get along well most of the time now, but they chase each other and play. Just give it time. They'll work it out. (The declawed kitty is probably tougher than you think. He/she will be fine.)
If you feel really worried about the claws, talk to a vet who does those Soft Paws claw covers and ask if they think it would protect your hairless cat in the eventuality of a fight. I know they only "last" for about 12 weeks or so but that might be long enough for them to get used to each other's presence and make--well if not peace, an armed truce.
if you're moving the cat to the other cats territory then she might not be that bad, have you thought of taking her around for an introduction.........maybe just leave her in the carrier so they can sniff each other without the claws!
I use to rescue cats and at one time had 16 , I never had a problem with introducing a new one and I think attitude is really important, if you think they're going to scrap and get tense about it then they probably will fight. If you're relaxed and calm this will help enormously.
Good luck with this new stage of your life , i wish you all the best for the future :)
I've read about one called Feliway - apparently, particularly effective in preventing male cats spray-marking in the house, but also good for reducing cats' stress levels. http://www.catfaeries.com/feliway.html
I used Feliway for about 2 months. I had two territorial males, one of whom was "marking his territory" on a daily basis (sadly, my 17 year old kitty died 2 weeks ago from a brain lesion :'(). The carpet marking stopped immediately and while it didn't seem to have much of an effect on the feisty behavior of my younger cat (2 yrs. old), it did seem to mellow my older cat more. He stopped whapping the younger one on the head with his paw and just kind of ignored him. It is expensive and I can't totally vouch for it, but it did help some. At least, it helped my carpet.
Poor Storm!! :'( :'( :'( :'(
Sorry to hear you lost your beloved furry.
((( Storm)))
When I adopted another cat a few years ago I kept the newly adopted cat in a bathroom for several days before I let them actually meet each other. I did this because the new cat had fleas, worms and other diseases that I didn't want her sharing with my other cat but I have to say this made all the difference in the world. I think they both got used to each others scent by smelling each other thru the door. And when I let her out of the bathroom they didn't even hiss at each other. It was bizarre, NO controversies at all. Like they had known each other all along. You might try this, if not in a bathroom maybe just in a bedroom or somehting for a while.
Ahh Storm, I am so sorry for your loss.
biodancer, I don't have any advice for you (we are a 1 cat family) but let us know how things go, please. Hopefully they will have a good sniff & that will be it.
:)
Poor Storm!! :'( :'( :'( :'(
Sorry to hear you lost your beloved furry.
((( Storm)))
Ahh Storm, I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you. It has been very hard, I've had him since he was a wee tiny fur ball. I pulled him out of a dumpster behind a Mexican Restaurant back in 1990. He was my special old man. :'(
Oh no! ((((((Storm)))))))
Thank you all so much for all the advice and encouragement! :-* I'm probably more worried than I should be. I've heard of that Feliway before but didn't know anyone who had success with it. The other problem I'm concerned with is that they currently have two different eating schedules. My cat is used to having food out all day for her to pick on when she wants too. His cats is a "special needs" cat. She can only eat a certain type of food and she gets fed a little bit three times a day. I won't be able to leave my cat's food out for her because if the other cat eats it she could get sick (digestive problems :P). I'm going to have to get my cat used to eating on the same schedule as his (she's going to hate me for it I'm sure). I'm going to slowly put her on this schedule about a month before I move so that everything (the move, the soft paws, the new cat, and the new eating schedule) is not heaped on her all at once. I think that would be too stressful for her.
Thanks again everyone, and I'll keep you posted!
if your cats aren't already indoor-cats, keep them indoors until they both calm down considerably; one of my cats ran away twice because of a new cat (everyone's indoors now).
Soft paws are great, and cats don't mind it as much as you may think (I work at a cat hospital). We even get "fractious" cats who are fine with them (but still hate you. hehe...).
I'm bumping this topic because I need some more advice.
I moved into my boyfriends house last week. At first the cat situation was the complete opposite of what I expected. It was his cat that hissed and growled and it was my cat that ran and hid. However, it was all noise and no actual fighting.
I made my cat a "safe room" with her food and litter and bed to make the transition easier. She spends most of her time upstairs and doesn't really like to come downstairs where the other cat spends most of the day. Still, as long as they were not fighting I was fine with that.
Now that it's been a little over a week, my cat has established the second floor as her territory. When the other cat comes upstairs my cat will attack her.
The worst of it is at night because both cats want to sleep with us but will not tolerate each other. I'm so overtired from getting up every night for a week to break up cat fights.
Advice? I'd like to nip this in the bud before it gets any worse. I'm thinking of moving my cat's food downstairs to give her less of a "hold" on the second floor.
Help! I'm so tired!!! :(
That sounds like a good idea. She has transferred her agression from the "interloper" to the territory she sees as "hers." Time to remind her that she doesn't own the world...not that she'll ever believe that.