Question for those with Cats

[IliketoPuck]

My Fiancee and I currently have an orange tabby, and he's about a year and a half.

One of her co-workers found a litter of kittens abandoned at his apartment complex, and we are thinking about taking one of the little ones in.

Any suggestions for integrating the new kitten as easily as possible with our current cat?

[jeremywilhelm]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

My Fiancee and I currently have an orange tabby, and he's about a year and a half.

One of her co-workers found a litter of kittens abandoned at his apartment complex, and we are thinking about taking one of the little ones in.

Any suggestions for integrating the new kitten as easily as possible with our current cat?

You gotta let them just figure it out. Do not try to force them together. The young one will be inquisitive and probably get batted around a little. But it has to learn its lessons. If you punish the older one for doing this, you will make the cat resentful and it might never grow accustomed to the kitten.

[jeremywilhelm]

Is it two males? Two females? A mix?

[DuffMan]

My wife put the new one in a spare bedroom with a litter box and food and water, for a few days. I guess they both knew the other one was there, so when the door opened it was no surprise.

I would've just let them figure it out, right away.

[Resolute 14]

They'll figure it out.

My mom had two male tabbies that were about four years old when she picked up a third kitten - a female stray. One accepted the kitten right away, the other took a bit but came around. Now they are all buddies.

Like any child with a new brother or sister though, expect the existing cat to be jealous of having to share your attention. Just make sure the older cat isn't forgotten while you play with the new kitten.

[Vex]

Depends on the personality of your first cat really. Our first cat was a rescued alley cat who could be very aggressive to unfamiliar animals. When we brought the new kitten home, our first cat ("Mittens"... what a fierce sounding name) was so enraged at the presence of the kitten, that she made the little one crap herself. Literally.

The best solution was to lock the kitten in a bedroom and let them paw at each other under the door. After a few hours they'd be fine. This cycle would repeat whenever one of them went to the vet. A few hours with a door between and they'd be best friends again.


Someone at work just went through the same thing, but their first cat was very easy going. They just brought the kitten in and they adopted each other right away.

(Both females in each situation)

[Poison]

I also agree with letting them hash it out, when my then-at-the-time-gf moved in with me she brought her older cat and we tried putting up borders seperating them where each got half the house.

Mine was somewhat older as well and every day when we came home from work theyd find new ways to get at each other, so ya dont make it more trouble than it is, the first few days youll hear the hisses and happiness but eventually the novelty of beating on the little one will wear off.

[IliketoPuck]

Theo is a male, and he can be a bit rambunctious. Not sure if the addition will be male or female yet. Does it matter alot if its the same gender or not?

[redforever]

You have to be careful of the sex of the kitten and the sex of your orange tabby.

If your tabby is a male, and the kitten you take in is a male, don't be surprised to suddenly see your usually docile loving orange tabby trying to do in that little kitten.

[IliketoPuck]

He is aggressive enough already. Should we opt for a female cat then?

[JiriHrdina]

A big concern will be if either cat (particularly the male) decide to start spraying to make their territory. It can ruin your carpet quite quickly and turn your place into "that house that smells like pee".

Not fun.

[missdpuck]

Feliway helps. Both the spray and the plug-in.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by Poison

but eventually the novelty of beating on the little one will wear off.

The adult cat wailing the crap out of the kitten may not be the best way to deal with it.

I like the segregation idea.

[FlamesAddiction]

I'm pretty sure you are supposed to throw the kitten onto the adult cat, and if the adult cat tries to hide under a piece of furniture, you are supposed to shake the furniture and scream like a maniac.

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by Pinner

The adult cat wailing the crap out of the kitten may not be the best way to deal with it.

I like the segregation idea.

I agree. Sometimes the wailing never stops. So much of this depends on their individual personalities. I had a female cat who was the alpha, always beating the crap out of the male.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

A big concern will be if either cat (particularly the male) decide to start spraying to make their territory. It can ruin your carpet quite quickly and turn your place into "that house that smells like pee".

Not fun.

Smells way worse than pee.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

He is aggressive enough already. Should we opt for a female cat then?

I would and if frisky orange tabby is not neutered, better that be done right away.

[HOOT]

My dude (Maine Coon) has been introduced to 4 cats (2 males, 2 females) with different roommates and/or girlfriends having cats of their own and it just takes some time. Expect for them to attack each other because that's just how they sort things out. One thing I have found that worked very well is bathing the one cat who lives in the home right now and with the same water left in the tub wash the other cat. They go strictly on smell so sometimes they can confuse them a bit on it being a stranger.

When you are not home to keep an eye on things I would recommend setting up a zone for the little one in the bathroom with water/food/litter. When you get home close all the doors so the cats can't be hiding in other rooms but are kinda forced to be in the same area. Just slowly introduce them to each other, don't force it but now and then just try and get them close enough to sniff, not swipe, and eventually they will be best buddies.

If you have a choice I would go with a female.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

My Fiancee and I currently have an orange tabby,

Any suggestions for integrating the new kitten as easily as possible with our current cat?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by HOOT

My dude (Maine Coon) has been introduced to 4 cats (2 males, 2 females) with different roommates and/or girlfriends having cats of their own and it just takes some time

You and your cat are quite the bachelors, I tip my hat to you!