new kitty....

[PlatyPius 5]

The best way to get two cats together is a bowl of Chardonnay and some Barry White on the stereo. Maybe a couple of candles, too.

I will try that....thank you!!

lol

[TracyTN 237]

I did notice this morning that he was nibbling on her....is this normal cat on cat behaviour??

Thanks

That sort of sounds to me like a grooming ritual. Sounds like a good sign to me.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think in the main they seem to be doing ok. The kitten has been eating from the big cat's dish, and been drinking his water. The big cat really did not seem to bothered. This morning she was laying under one table and he was laying on another one. She was in a foster home with 12 cats, 2 dogs and 3 kids so I think she is pretty well used to being around others.

I just wish he wouldnt chase her under the bed....when she is under they are both pawing at each other, but no hissing, growling or nails.

I did notice this morning that he was nibbling on her....is this normal cat on cat behaviour??

Thanks

Even when they're get used to each other they'll occasionally fight. Mine squabble at least a couple times a week for control of certain strategically placed chairs. The female comes over to where the male is and plomps herself down trying to displace him. It hilarious - the male always looks very offended when she does that.

The best way to get two cats together is a bowl of Chardonnay and some Barry White on the stereo. Maybe a couple of candles, too.

Manilow and Kenny G can work too - though more often than not you'll end up wanting to gnaw out your own intestines.

[Mononoke28 137]

I did a lot of research online before I got a second kitty when my older one was already 1½ years old. I put the new little guy in my bedroom with his own litter box, food and water and shut the door while I was at work. This way both cats could come to the door and sniff each other to get used to one another. I did this for two days and by the third day they were ok in the same room. After one week they were sleeping in the same kitty bed.

Diana

[broma25 2]

I did a lot of research online before I got a second kitty when my older one was already 1½ years old. I put the new little guy in my bedroom with his own litter box, food and water and shut the door while I was at work. This way both cats could come to the door and sniff each other to get used to one another. I did this for two days and by the third day they were ok in the same room. After one week they were sleeping in the same kitty bed.

Diana

She is upstairs in our bedroom with her own litter box, food and water. We let them spend a little time together yesterday and again this morning. She is locked up now as we are at work. He does go to the outside of the door he doesnt sniff but just waits patiently, no hissing or growling either.

I hope mine are snuggling after 1 week!!

The best way to get two cats together is a bowl of Chardonnay and some Barry White on the stereo. Maybe a couple of candles, too.

I will try that....thank you!!

lol

Maybe if I have the chardonnay, I wont be concerned what my kitties are up to....lol

[HAL 9000 96]

Just got an older kitty last Sunday from a friend that couldn't look out for her. A very shy, independent girl called Abby. 2.5 years old. Our Gabriel was extremely curious (10 months old) and wanted to dive right in to playing with her. There was tension. Hissing. Some swatting. So we separated them for a couple of days, same spiel with the litter box and food.

Every time I'd open the door Gabriel would run in to check his new sister out.

Now there is very little hissing... and I think that is more play hissing than anything else. Abby doesn't seem that shy anymore and Gabriel isn't as nosy with her either. Everything seems to be going well.

Now all I have to watch out for are the dingleberries.

[broma25 2]

I guess its a time thing....and I just have to be patient and let them do their thing.

How do I know though when they are meaning to hurt each other??

[HAL 9000 96]

I guess its a time thing....and I just have to be patient and let them do their thing.

How do I know though when they are meaning to hurt each other??

There has to be a lolcat for that.

IF the hissing gets too violent... pay close attention. You know... those hisses that turn into blood-curling grunts and screeches. Much luck if it gets to that... which is doubtful with most cats I think.

[Nasturtium 500]

I guess its a time thing....and I just have to be patient and let them do their thing.

How do I know though when they are meaning to hurt each other??

Like Aubrey said, if they don't hurt each other in the first 5 minutes they will end up being fine-- not always friends, but most of the time, yes. I used to do trap and release for ferals as well as feline rescue for 11 years. Most I ever had in my house was 11 cats, but I knew lots of people who had more that they would adopt out. What you are describing is perfectly normal and the bed chasing.. you said they were pawing at eachother? They are playing. if you have a dust ruffle, that is even more fun for them. Play for newly introduced cats is a weird dance of curiosity, pushing the limits, establishing dominence, fear, and fun.

As far as when to tell if they are actually fighting.. there is no mistaking it. The hissing and all of that is not to the point of anyone getting hurt. It will start with growling which will get progrssively louder and go from there. Cats can spit and scream. If you hear spitting (which is like hissing but it comes with a distinct spitting sound and is very scary and loud-- you won't want to get near them), put on some really heavy gloves OR oven mits, whatever you happen to have, and go for the little one and drag it out of there. It won't be easy either if they are really entangled, but mostly you making a ton of noise will scare them into stopping. I would not actually recommend getting into the middle of two cats who are really fighting. If they have their claws, you can really get torn up like you wouldn't belive.. and believe me their teeth are worse. Your cute babies are actually meant to kill and eat other animals... they have pretty good equipment for tearing skin, severing tendons, and all of that.

As far as them "going all out" in their play.. it's not exactly true. They do tend to play really rough no matter what, and you kind of have to just let them do this to get into their own pattern. It sucks, but they will work things out and you can't facilitate this. But if your kitten screams (you'll notice what i am talking about if you hear it-- it's very loud and blood-curdling), the adult cat will stop (unless it's intending to kill it, which is likely not the case). I would usually end up with at least one new kitten every year to introduce into the adult crew. I remember one time (and only one time out of like 20 cats), the kitten and and adult were playing full-out rough and the kitten suddenly screamed when bitten by the adult. The adult jumped off and ran away. They do recognize which sounds are really pain sounds and they do, in effect, have their own safe words.

This can take weeks and believe me months to get to the really cute cozy you see in other epople's pets So just be patient and let them be, they will work it out Also, they are nocturnal, so it's nice to let them out at night to be together when they are at their best.

[broma25 2]

Thank you so much for that Julianna, that was very useful. Is the stalking by the big cat normal too. I know I am overreacting, and this is one reason I have held off getting another cat.

We have to get these two civil and then introduce a puppy into the mix.....

I told my husband "I am going back to England for 6 months, I will return when the harmony to the household does"....lol

[broma25 2]

Kitties are doing fine, I think they will be friends!!

[Nasturtium 500]

Thank you so much for that Julianna, that was very useful. Is the stalking by the big cat normal too. I know I am overreacting, and this is one reason I have held off getting another cat.

We have to get these two civil and then introduce a puppy into the mix.....

I told my husband "I am going back to England for 6 months, I will return when the harmony to the household does"....lol

Great! Glad to hear that. The stalking is likely totally normal. The bigger cat is curious about the younger one when it's first getting to know it... and they will kind of stalk around to watch the little guy but not have to actually interact with it. It's just part of kitty "getting to know you" behavior.