Conference misery::feline_v1

2530.0. "how do I bring an adult cat into a cat household?" by HANNAH::OSMAN (see HANNAH::IGLOO$:[OSMAN]ERIC.VT240) Wed May 31 1989 17:40

    
    Hi.  I'm considering introducing an adult male cat into my apartment,
    in which my roommate already has a cat.  I feel the cats will adopt,
    my roommate isn't so sure.  I promised I'd ask the dec feline experts
    what they think.
    
    Here are some details...
    
    Boycat is my large grey tigercat tom, that I want to bring to the
    apartment.
    
    Boycat is several years old, full-clawed, fixed.  He's currently
    living at another house that he's been at for several years.  But
    he's my cat and I miss him !
    
    He lived with his mother for many years, and they were quite accustomed
    to sharing the same food bowl.  (Mama died about a year and a half
    ago).
    
    Boycat is an outdoor cat, coming in to eat and whine, but stays outside
    alot.
    
    Now, in my apartment where I want to bring Boycat, my roommate has
    an adult orange DECLAWED tigercat named Tigger.  Tigger has lived
    there for several years.  Tigger also goes outside alot too.  (please, no
    critique of declawing, or of letting a declawed cat out, I'm against
    both, particularly the former, but the cat was declawed not by me, and
    it was years ago before I could object, if you want to discuss it,
    start or continue in another topic in this conference thanks)
    
    My roommate, who owns Tigger, is concerned about the cats getting
    along.  I suspect they can learn to get along.
    
    I'm actually a bit more concerned about how I teach Boycat that this
    is his new home, so he doesn't run away looking for his old home.
    
    My idea is to put Boycat in my bedroom with water, food, litter, for
    first day.  Then open bedroom door on second day so the two cats
    can meet each other.
    
    It seems like this will let Boycat establish territory in my bedroom.
    On second day, I can feed him in bedroom again, or maybe in kitchen.
    
    By third day or so, definitely in kitchen, perhaps outside too (?)
    My idea about feeding him outside isn't so much so he'll learn to eat
    outside, but more so when he's finally out for the first time, he'll
    know there's food here so he doesn't run away.
    
    I'm not quite sure about the timing of all of this and would appreciate
    others of you sharing if you've introduced adult cats into households
    that already had a single cat.
    
    To summarize my questions:
    
    o	How do you teach an adult cat about a new home ?
    
    o	How do you introduce a new cat to a home that already has a cat ?
    
    Thanks.
    
    /Eric                                                                

    In order to be sure that Boycat learns that your apartment is his
    new home, I would keep him inside until the dust settles between
    him and Tigger.  Otherwise, he may decide the apartment is Tigger's
    territory, and go off looking for another home, or his last home.
    You will know when they have accepted each other by how they relate
    to one another.  
    
    The idea about keeping Boycat in your room for awhile is a good
    one.  You may want to keep him confined for several days before
    letting the two cats mingle.  One thing that has worked for me is
    to not get involved in their squabbles (unless they are seriously
    injuring one another).  In the beginning, they should not be expected
    to share food, water, or litter boxes.  They should each have their
    own.  It would be preferable to keep Boycat's in your room, that
    would help establish it as his territory.
    
    A lot of attention will have to be given to the resident cat in
    the beginning, since he was there first.
    
    You have a very good chance of working this out.  Just don't force
    the two cats on one another, I did that one time, and will never
    make that mistake again.  If they don't like each other, they don't
    like each other.  
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Jo

    The rule of thumb that I've heard for keeping an indoor/outdoor
    cat inside for, in order for them to learn that the new place
    is home, is two weeks.  I would think this is even more true
    when there is the additional stress of adapting to another cat.
    Be sure the cats are adjusted to each other before you let him
    outside, or he may not come back.  Actually, the other cat
    may take off for awhile for teh same reason as well.