New cat coming on Friday !
Discussion
We had two cats, had them since they were 6 (about 7-8 years ago) and unfortunately had to have one put down about a month ago 
The surviving boy is bored - he shouts a lot and needs someone to play with, and I miss having another cat around.
So this Friday our new little girl is coming - she's an RSPCA rescue who's 7 months old
Little tortoiseshell with black splodges. Very sweet and inquisitive, but not too strong minded so hopefully our boy can assert himself !
Any tips on introducing them to each other? Our plan was to put her in our kitchen/dining room which has a door to separate it from the rest of the house. Let her settle in for a few days then start to slowly introduce them when we are home, for short periods of time.
Also, never had a young cat - at 7 months old how much more growing would she be expected to do, and just how playful is a 7 month old !!!!!!
The surviving boy is bored - he shouts a lot and needs someone to play with, and I miss having another cat around.
So this Friday our new little girl is coming - she's an RSPCA rescue who's 7 months old
Little tortoiseshell with black splodges. Very sweet and inquisitive, but not too strong minded so hopefully our boy can assert himself !Any tips on introducing them to each other? Our plan was to put her in our kitchen/dining room which has a door to separate it from the rest of the house. Let her settle in for a few days then start to slowly introduce them when we are home, for short periods of time.
Also, never had a young cat - at 7 months old how much more growing would she be expected to do, and just how playful is a 7 month old !!!!!!
dreamer75 said:
Our plan was to put her in our kitchen/dining room which has a door to separate it from the rest of the house. Let her settle in for a few days then start to slowly introduce them when we are home, for short periods of time.
This is what we did with ours. Keep the new one in one room for a few days then take her out and put the existing one in so he can smell the new addition. Do this a few times then let them have a bit of eye to eye contact. slow and steady and they will be fine but be prepared for the odd bit of hissing. 
Your existing cat will be a little *issed off to say the least! a intruder in his house!!
Grab your self a feliway plug in and get that going, it will help to calm him.
If you find yours spraying then it's his way of saying this is my house sling your hook, hopefully they will tolerate each other.
Grab your self a feliway plug in and get that going, it will help to calm him.
If you find yours spraying then it's his way of saying this is my house sling your hook, hopefully they will tolerate each other.
Fingers crossed! The idea behind a young girl, was that our boy could assert himself (rather than an adult cat who might stand up to him more). She seems quite benign in the cattery, when other neighbouring cats have hissed at her - she's just ignored them and carried on exploring.
Bought a load of new kitty stuff for her today (which doesn't smell of existing cat just yet). We do have a Feliway plugin which we used when we moved house, but I didn't find it did much. Either that or our boy was so chilled that he wasn't stressed in the first place!
But I'll look at getting a replacement bottle for it, as it's run out.
Cross your fingers- he's never sprayed in the house before (only pee'd incorrectly when the other cat died, and when he's been ill). It would be nice to avoid that! Mostly I'm hoping he likes her so he has someone to play with.
Bought a load of new kitty stuff for her today (which doesn't smell of existing cat just yet). We do have a Feliway plugin which we used when we moved house, but I didn't find it did much. Either that or our boy was so chilled that he wasn't stressed in the first place!
But I'll look at getting a replacement bottle for it, as it's run out.
Cross your fingers- he's never sprayed in the house before (only pee'd incorrectly when the other cat died, and when he's been ill). It would be nice to avoid that! Mostly I'm hoping he likes her so he has someone to play with.
Picked her up yesterday and so far so good! Was ready for days of separation aand gradual introductions, but they were both scratching at the door (opposite sides) within an hour of her getting here. So we let the old cat in.
Both wary of each other, semi-fluffed up tail from him, she was very friendly. One or two hisses then he settled down to ignore her (although obviously very aware of her and where she was), and she carried on exploring.
We separated them again but will do that a few more times before letting her out into the house, then separate them at night and when we're out, and then hopefully they'll be OK. Looking good so far !
She's used to being with other cats and he's used to having one around, so maybe that helped. Lucky so far!
I'll sort some photos out as she is gorgeous, but she won't stay still long enough at the moment!
Both wary of each other, semi-fluffed up tail from him, she was very friendly. One or two hisses then he settled down to ignore her (although obviously very aware of her and where she was), and she carried on exploring.
We separated them again but will do that a few more times before letting her out into the house, then separate them at night and when we're out, and then hopefully they'll be OK. Looking good so far !
She's used to being with other cats and he's used to having one around, so maybe that helped. Lucky so far!
I'll sort some photos out as she is gorgeous, but she won't stay still long enough at the moment!
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