ARmy Rumour SErvice

Heres me and Ceefer my cat. Got him as a proper flea bag, cost me a fortune to get rid of them in the house and on him but well worth the cost. Hes a very on his own terms moggy and isnt a lap cat but loves a good scrap. Looking at bringing a female kitten into the family (Ceefer has been neutered) Ceefer is 2 years old, does anyone have any advice on introducing a new member into his territory? Any advice would be very much appreciated

Bicster -

Good luck with the new kitten. Over the last 35 years I have had 7 cats, usually two at once and once for a few years 3 at once. Now have two. The most problem I have ever had was a couple of days of growling at each other and a few instances of first cat slapping second cat for control of the food dish. Never had a fight over the water dish. Usually in a short time they spend time curled up with each other and washing each others face. I would suggest two food dishes a few feet apart.

The two I have now grew up to age ~2 with my son, not litter mates but kittens together. He gave them to me when he moved to California. The two are inseparable and as I type this are curled up in one big ball of fur on the couch.

Two cats can be easier than one. Once we had one that would get bored and go on top of a dresser and toss everting to the floor. It stopped when we got another cat and had they could play with each other. My two start every day with a "play fight" wrestling with each other as I get dressed but no claws or teeth used.

Only problem I ever had with multiple cats was with sandbox sharing. My two are inside only cats due to coyote problems in the neighborhood. (New England coyotes are bigger than western ones due to crossbreeding with wolves). At one time I had two cats and the older one would not share a sandbox and pee in wrong places. Two boxes in separate rooms solved the problem quickly. I still use 2 now as I had the two boxes anyway and the boxes need to be cleaned less often if shared.

Good luck with the new kitten. After a couple of days all should be calm. Post piccies of the kitten when he/she arrives.

Also, looking at post count, welcome to Arrse.

Bic - you'll just have to let them sort themselves out,and they will.Once the pecking order is established everything will be fine.

Thank You so much for the advice there, I was getting a bit worried incase it was going to turn into a one sided slaughter. Its nice to think that Ceefer will have a pal that he can knock around with as he is a house cat really and I dont want him getting bored. Will post pics up of them both when the kitten arrives, looking forward to watching those two having a good old play fight.

Cheers for the welcome too

Originally Posted by Bicster

Thank You so much for the advice there, I was getting a bit worried incase it was going to turn into a one sided slaughter. Its nice to think that Ceefer will have a pal that he can knock around with as he is a house cat really and I dont want him getting bored. Will post pics up of them both when the kitten arrives, looking forward to watching those two having a good old play fight.

B

Cheers for the welcome too

Bicster,I posted a link a page or 2 back,taken from the Purrs website,give that a read.
Good luck.

I have 2 cats (from kittens) a year apart in age. Blanco ( the elder & alpha bitch), hisses at CC a lot (especially if they are cooped up) and sometimes gives him a few clawless slaps if he is mega annoying, but the hirarchy(sp?) was sorted very quickly and with little pain (all of it his, as Blanco nipped his ears once or twice for emphasis).

"If ignorance is bliss, why are so many people pissed off?"
Sent from my HTC Desire S...the only desire I've ever got

Originally Posted by Bicster

Thank You so much for the advice there, I was getting a bit worried incase it was going to turn into a one sided slaughter. Its nice to think that Ceefer will have a pal that he can knock around with as he is a house cat really and I dont want him getting bored. Will post pics up of them both when the kitten arrives, looking forward to watching those two having a good old play fight.

Cheers for the welcome too

Hi Bics.

Like others have said......

Personally from my observations of this very thing over the years, I think that most animals recognise frail and helpless young of their own species and tend to act accordingly. It takes a pretty nasty, or maladjusted cat to purposely harm a kitten, even though it's a stranger. The kitten will be naturally attracted to the adult and will want to play and the adult is usually curious and fairly tolerant of the youngster. Introduce them gradually and remove the kitten when it is becoming too much of a pest to the older one and just let nature take it's course.

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Kittens get tired quickly too, which can be a good thing.

He is a couple of weeks from a year old now, bigger than the female, but still respects her.

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