Author Topic: New kitten & resident cat - advice please  (Read 25311 times)

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #121 on: May 10, 2014, 13:50:16 PM »
 :Luv:  Looks like he's got a definite grin on his face in that last two piccies.

As Susanne says, Bebe will find this all very unsettling to begin with, but I think it's very unlikely she'd strike with malice - at this stage she's just warning him off.  So long as she has spaces she can retreat to and survey him from, where he cant get to her, she should be able to find herself a vantage point for watching.  He will cry in the pen, because he wants attention, and to be out and about exploring.  You can give him that time, but probably better to do that in one room where Bebe isnt around if she's getting too spooked.

I think you mentioned that your flat is quite small and space at a premium.  If that's the case, it may be good to get a large-ish cage for Bruno so you can pop him in that after rigorous play and cuddle sessions, and he can have a snooze in peace.  Bebe might choose that point to have a bit of a sniff.  Or she may just keep away.  Let her come round in her own time - trying to rush it may just spook her more.

Bet you're thrilled to bits to have him home with you.   :)

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #120 on: May 10, 2014, 13:49:36 PM »
Too much excitement for one day :)

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #119 on: May 10, 2014, 13:25:46 PM »
Bruno..... :)

Offline Susanne (urbantigers)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #118 on: May 10, 2014, 13:22:56 PM »
how exciting  ;D  I think it's perfectly normal for Bebe to hiss and growl.  She's just making sure he knows she's the boss and that he knows boundaries.  I would keep them separate to begin with and prepare for it to take time.   Even though he's a kitten, Bebe will still feel a bit threatened and hissing and growling is her way of communicating and telling him to back off.  When I got Mosi Jaffa hissed at him every time he got too close for about a week (except for when they shared a plate of food!).

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #117 on: May 10, 2014, 13:12:53 PM »
Well he meows constantly in his pen so don't want him being upset. Will she strike him??

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #116 on: May 10, 2014, 13:06:24 PM »
He's hone Aunties - yoohoo he's home!!   :wow:

Bebe will likely be very suspicious of your little bruiser just now.  Might be a good idea to pop him in the playpen, put the carrier down away from him so Bebe can smell that without confronting him directly, and the wait to see what Be be does.  Bruno will be busy taking in everything new whilst she checks him out.

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #115 on: May 10, 2014, 13:01:39 PM »
Well Bruno is home...Bebe isn't overly impressed sadly. She's growling and hissing but she doesn't go for him. Bruno is very confident and seems very unphased. Should we just let them meet and greet each other??.Will Bebe strike at Bruno??

Offline Rachel28988

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #114 on: May 09, 2014, 20:56:46 PM »
Thank you very much - I will start a thread of their own so you can all see how they get on!

Also NikNakNoo - your kittens look beautiful!  :Luv: :Luv2:

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #113 on: May 09, 2014, 20:42:12 PM »
Ah well I use to run my own pet care business so I am very much into the welfare of all animals and I think you can never be too prepared ...but thank you and I really hope things go well :)

Offline MrsPurrfect

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #112 on: May 09, 2014, 20:15:44 PM »
Well he's 7 weeks now....look at him :)

Awwwww how gorgeous is he :blow kiss:

Am getting so excited for you and can't wait to find out how things go.  I honestly have a good feeling about it all. Your existing furball sounds adorable and sweet tempered and you have everything planned and in place.  Can I just say how impressed I am with the way that you have asked questions and really worked hard to get tips on how to make things easy on both Bebe and then new arrival.

Too many people just go into what is a difficult situation to handle and end up with bad results Well done  :)

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #111 on: May 09, 2014, 19:01:20 PM »
NikNakNoo - how exciting!   Will be keeping everything crossed and look forward to reports in due course.  And piccies too of course.  Sending a very gentle ear rub for Bebe so that she doesnt feel left out.   :cat rub:

Rachel - what a lovely little girl you have there  :)  If you read through this thread alone you'll find some hints and tips about introductions which hopefully will be of use, and there are other threads on the forum which will add a few more ideas too.  Give us a shout if you cant find them.   :)  We're always happy to help.

Try not to rush things though - its easy for us to impose our own "wants" on the situation, but given Mojo hasnt had much socialisation with other cats in his relatively short life, he may take a little more time to get used to this interloper on his patch.  Be sure to make as much fuss of him in a gentle and understated way as you do of Lola.  :Luv: 

It would be lovely if you started a thread about Mojo and Lola so we can see how you get on.   ;D


Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #110 on: May 09, 2014, 18:50:35 PM »
....Well.....tomorrow we are collecting sir Bruno :)

Offline Dawn F

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #109 on: May 09, 2014, 13:02:21 PM »
sounds like you are doing all the right things, maybe just a bit fast, you'll be fine I'm sure - cute picture!

Offline Rachel28988

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #108 on: May 09, 2014, 12:46:06 PM »
Hello all! I'm a newbie here and was after some advice!

I've got a 9 month old neutered male, and have just acquired an 11 week little girl.
It was most definitely not love at first sight! And we've given our little girl Lola her own den in the spare room, I've tied the door open a crack so my older boy Mojo can go and have a look.

It started with a lot of hissing and growling but after a couple days they're batting each other underneath the door and hisses are few and far between. So, I decided to open the door! Little Lola is extremely confident and came immediately charging out causing my boy to run away hissing and growling. So we're now back to the bedroom with the door ajar... Anyone know how/when I can move on and the best way to do it?

My older male was an orphan so has had no interaction with other cats since birth so we knew it would be difficult.

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #107 on: May 09, 2014, 08:31:25 AM »
 :Luv:  Sounds just purrfick.  :evillaugh: 

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #106 on: May 09, 2014, 08:29:22 AM »
Yeah they are. Plus I reckon they will be bomb proof as the house has two other cats, 2 dogs and about 4 grandkids there 24/7 so they will be use to alsorts. Apparently Bruno is the biggest of the lot, loves his food and enjoys talking a fair bit :)

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #105 on: May 09, 2014, 06:53:08 AM »
He puts me in mind of our two - he's absolutely lovely.    They look very well cared for kittens

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #104 on: May 08, 2014, 23:44:00 PM »
Well he's 7 weeks now....look at him :)

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #103 on: May 07, 2014, 12:34:04 PM »



I dont blame you - think we all have tendencies in that direction, but Bruno and Bebe are going to be the star turns in your house in a short while.   ;D

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #102 on: May 07, 2014, 12:08:31 PM »


You put your kittens and puppies in pockets?   :evillaugh: :evillaugh:   Yeah - gonna have to check her handbag for waifs and strays ladies, she sounds like a serial napper of kittentats and puppydogs, and already has the pockets lined up to pop them in....  ;) :rofl:

:) hehe I'd have all the puppies and kittens in the world if I had the money, the time and the space!! But Bruno and Bebe will be all for now and I get a feeling Bruno will be more than enough :)

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #101 on: May 07, 2014, 11:54:20 AM »


You put your kittens and puppies in pockets?   :evillaugh: :evillaugh:   Yeah - gonna have to check her handbag for waifs and strays ladies, she sounds like a serial napper of kittentats and puppydogs, and already has the pockets lined up to pop them in....  ;) :rofl:

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #100 on: May 07, 2014, 10:40:30 AM »
Yeah its brilliant. Put it up the other day, took seconds and once you have the idea putting it back down doesn't take long either. It has little doors you can tie up and a roof you can remove. Got pockets in it too.excellent idea for kittens or puppies.

Offline emmmy_lou

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #99 on: May 07, 2014, 10:30:46 AM »
Love those pics of them all lined up!  :Luv:

When you take bruno for his check I would ask about neutering. Some vets go by weight, some go by age - my vets is 6months, but a lot do it sooner nowadays.

I think the tent is great! you will be able to judge Bebes reaction without being worried about any confrontations.
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Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #98 on: May 07, 2014, 09:51:10 AM »


We set up the spare bedroom as Moray's "den."  That had his litter box and food and water and some toys and a scratching post, all for him.   :sneaky:

However, we did allow him to explore straight away under our supervision. 

Tinks really didnt like it.  He was used to having his big ginger Ross around, and suddenly Ross wasnt there, and then Moray was (we lost Ross to an RTA)

Tinks showed his confusion and unhappiness by scooting off every time he saw Moray, so we began to confine Moray to his room, and give Tinks the run of the house, with only small periods of supervised "contact". 

The thing is, Moray was great - he's a very gentle and intuitive cat, wise beyond his not-quite-a-year-yet, and he knew he had to take things very gently with this new friend and in his new home (treading on eggshells as we all were.)

And Tinks has such a big heart and a generous disposition that it wasnt long before he became curious about the play sounds that emanated from the spare bedroom during Moray's "den" times, and he''d sit outside and listen. 

It wasnt long after that we were able to introduce the joint play sessions and the joint feeding, and in a total of two to three weeks, Moray had managed to work his way into all our hearts and get close enough to Tinks to actiually - touch - him.   :evillaugh:

The only way you'll really be able to tell how it will you for you, Bruno and Bebe is to try it out - your flat is small, so you have to work with what you have, but it should be eminently do-able, so long as you dont try to hurry the process and let the cats set the pace.   :) :hug:   I think the cat play pen will be a useful tool in that regard.

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #97 on: May 07, 2014, 09:16:48 AM »
Did you go through the whole keeping them separated and then introducing smells and then letting them sniff each other before letting them see each other etc? I'm not sure how that is gonna work for us being in quite a small flat. We have the pet tent thing whichll keep Bruno safe while they say hello. Would that be ok?

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #96 on: May 07, 2014, 08:57:39 AM »


Then I would book your kitten check and take him when you're on your way home.   :)

I know how excited yet nervous you'll be feeling.  We were when we brought Moray home.  And by gum we had a tough few days, but looking back now, if I was asked "Were they worth it?" the answer would be a huge and resounding YES!

(And actually, I guess we had it easy - it just felt like a toughie because we were on something of an emotional rolelr-coaster - never the best time to think about effecting introductions, but some folk just have to grasp the nettle with both hands, and I guess that was us!)  :shify:

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #95 on: May 07, 2014, 08:54:14 AM »
:) well when you have a little bundle of cuteness I think it's only right to show them off hehe. I just thought maybe by taking him straight to the vets I don't have to separate them and then re introduce them by taking him at a later date. I just want to get him registered and health checked and get his flea and worm treated started with us. They have already done that at his home at the moment but want to be prepared here too. Oooooh I just so want them to get along !!!

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #94 on: May 07, 2014, 08:45:36 AM »


Less likely to be an issue with your two being indoor cats anyway, but you're right to consider it.

Most vets will neuter cats at around 6 months, but there's a growing trend among vets to accept that earlier neutering is preferable and can be done at 4 to 5 months.  I know Ross was quite an early developer in terms of pom-poms, whereas Moray was quite small even at 6 months (but was neutered anyway at that age, small or not!)

You could book your kitten check when you first get him, or give him a few days to settle in.  Given that Bebe will have to adjust to him, it might be a good idea to let him have a few days to settle in first without smelling "vettified"  (Or conversely you could argue if you get it out of the way whilst Bebe hasnt yet seen him, by the time they meet face to face, the scent will be faint anyway.)

I always love the kitten check bit though - love the chance to show off me lads, and am quite shameless in my promptings - "So what'd'you think, eh?  Grown, hasn't he since last time...." etc etc.   ;)

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #93 on: May 07, 2014, 08:21:26 AM »
It's just something I read about when researching males cats before getting Bruno and of course it's something I'd rather he didn't do. But we will be getting him neutered, but is that at 6 months or does that depend on the cat? Also I want to take him for a vet check up asap when we collect him, is it best to pick him and take him straight to the vets before bringing him home? Sorry for all the questions :)

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #92 on: May 07, 2014, 08:13:11 AM »
Geneerally you find it's only sexually mature un-neutered males who display this kind of behavour, and it is territorial.  However, a stressed cat can sometimes indulge in spraying, neutered or not. 

When the Padster was alive, he and his brother were intimidated by a cat we used to call "Piddler on the Roof" (long story - lovely cat, just unwanted and unloved, used to seek out the warmth from the chimney stack on our lowset roof).

Pad began spraying inside the house, and even peed in my OH's shoes and work jacket hood.  He was trying to protect his territory, bless him.  He stopped the behaviour when Piddler disappeared (pre-feliway days back in the 80's)

I dont think it should be a problem for you with Bruno and Bebe.  Is there anything in particular making you worry about this being an issue?   :hug:

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #91 on: May 07, 2014, 08:06:21 AM »
Yeah I hope so. We took a cloth and rubbed it over Bruno and brought it back to show Bebe. She sniffed it all over and then curled up on it to snooze. I don't know if she realises it was another cat or she was just doing the usual cat thing and sitting on anything small and flat :) I guess we will wait and see. One question I do have is do all males spray and Mark their territory? This is a concern of mine? Or will Bruno be too young to be doing that and because he will grow up with Bebe he won't feel the need to do it as he matures?

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #90 on: May 07, 2014, 06:59:31 AM »
Yeah it was lovely watching them play yesterday. Just crossing fingers he and Bebe get along!! :)


Well, I reckon you've got a lot of things going in your favour, not least of which you want to make it work, you already have a lot of good ideas - and you have us!  ;D ;)   Ah - that last bit may of course be a mixed blessing!  :evillaugh:

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #89 on: May 06, 2014, 22:24:02 PM »
Yeah it was lovely watching them play yesterday. Just crossing fingers he and Bebe get along!! :)

Offline Lyn (Slugsta)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #88 on: May 06, 2014, 21:58:36 PM »
I bet that is cuteness overload!  :briggin:

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #87 on: May 06, 2014, 21:54:53 PM »
He's a little smasher! How old is he now?

Yes just over 6 weeks. Litter trained and eating solids. Mum cat doesn't really bother with them now. They just hang out together in a group of kitten cuteness :)

Offline Lyn (Slugsta)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #86 on: May 06, 2014, 21:48:17 PM »
He's a little smasher! How old is he now?

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #85 on: May 06, 2014, 20:37:39 PM »
Well the little man is growing quickly. Saw him yesterday and he's a big lad and quite fluffy. Here are some more pics.  :)

Offline NikNakNoo

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #84 on: May 02, 2014, 18:49:33 PM »


I keep sneaking back to have a look at these piccies - they just perfectly sum up some sleepy babies.  The Yawn, the eyes closing, the head drooping and then - fast a'peepies.   :Luv: :evillaugh:

I know :) it's so cute. Love the way they are all snoozing together. Hope eventually Bebe and Bruno can do this.

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #83 on: May 02, 2014, 13:57:41 PM »


I keep sneaking back to have a look at these piccies - they just perfectly sum up some sleepy babies.  The Yawn, the eyes closing, the head drooping and then - fast a'peepies.   :Luv: :evillaugh:

Offline Lyn (Slugsta)

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Re: New kitten & resident cat - advice please
« Reply #82 on: May 02, 2014, 13:55:29 PM »
Oh my!!  :Luv2:

 


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