New kitten & older cats problem
Discussion
She needs someone to play with.Please accept that they are likely to never be friends, more that the older ones will learn to tolerate the younger one. Just be very careful, keep a look out for signs of stress in them (cystitis/ overgrooming/ hiding/ nervousness -when there previously wasn't, spraying)
I never had this issue so much as the 3rd and fourth cats we rescued were older, one 10 the next one 14 months, so the boundless energies of a kitten was avoided (still had issues but different ones!)
I never had this issue so much as the 3rd and fourth cats we rescued were older, one 10 the next one 14 months, so the boundless energies of a kitten was avoided (still had issues but different ones!)
The older ones only tolerate each other anyway, so I'd be happy with that 
When I say locked away, I don't mean that she has nothing: Either me or the other half is in with her playing for company. The only time we're not there is during the night and for a few hours during the day between when working patterns (only a few hours). She has plenty of toys and places to jump and climb, it's a good size room
Geldof might not play much, but Zelda certainly likes to play a lot of the time. He'll still play with Da Bird until he's panting for breath, even now. That's why it's even more galling that those two don't seem to get on just yet, as deep down I know he's as keen to play as she is.
When I say locked away, I don't mean that she has nothing: Either me or the other half is in with her playing for company. The only time we're not there is during the night and for a few hours during the day between when working patterns (only a few hours). She has plenty of toys and places to jump and climb, it's a good size room
Geldof might not play much, but Zelda certainly likes to play a lot of the time. He'll still play with Da Bird until he's panting for breath, even now. That's why it's even more galling that those two don't seem to get on just yet, as deep down I know he's as keen to play as she is.
Update with some progress:
They were playing together for about 20 mins before Zelda turned his back for one second and Lexi decided that it would make the perfect place to jump onto, but there's definitely progress here!
Sadly things have been a bit awkward with Geldof, as she was diagnosed with cancer on her saliva gland which was removed on Monday. She's in the collar of shame atm, and understandably very quiet so we've made sure to keep her and Lexi away from each other until she's healed a bit more. It was massively touch and go as to whether Geldof would survive, and the room got very dusty when I took her down to the vets for the op and even more dusty when I got the news that she was going to be okay. Very, very dusty.
They were playing together for about 20 mins before Zelda turned his back for one second and Lexi decided that it would make the perfect place to jump onto, but there's definitely progress here!
Sadly things have been a bit awkward with Geldof, as she was diagnosed with cancer on her saliva gland which was removed on Monday. She's in the collar of shame atm, and understandably very quiet so we've made sure to keep her and Lexi away from each other until she's healed a bit more. It was massively touch and go as to whether Geldof would survive, and the room got very dusty when I took her down to the vets for the op and even more dusty when I got the news that she was going to be okay. Very, very dusty.
They are sending it off, yes. They also did a quick x-ray of the chest area too but it didn't look like the cancer had spread, so we're crossing fingers for now.
I think she might be in the collar for a while as she's already desperate to scratch the wound, even while it must be so painful still, so I'll look into those Buster collars now, thanks
I think she might be in the collar for a while as she's already desperate to scratch the wound, even while it must be so painful still, so I'll look into those Buster collars now, thanks
I've been reading this with interest as we are in a similar position. We now seem to have 5 cats. The first 3 are all happy enough together.
The middle set are 5 and now are both very happy with the new arrivals. The eldest is 14 and less happy. He's ok and he only hisses at the kittens when he can be bothered now. They just ignore him but I noticed they do avoid small spaces with him.
He'll be fine and there has been noticeable progress over the last couple of weeks. Its good its summer as he can get out and away so that by the winter they'll be one big happy furry family.
Kittens are very cuddly which is great.
The middle set are 5 and now are both very happy with the new arrivals. The eldest is 14 and less happy. He's ok and he only hisses at the kittens when he can be bothered now. They just ignore him but I noticed they do avoid small spaces with him.
He'll be fine and there has been noticeable progress over the last couple of weeks. Its good its summer as he can get out and away so that by the winter they'll be one big happy furry family.
Kittens are very cuddly which is great.
Your kitten is the spitting image of our eldest!
They are into everything but generally fairly well behaved. We have a 1 yr old too (person not cat!) and the 3 of them play together quite well. He throws the balls out of the ball pool and they chase them. Keeps them all amused for hours and me busy for hours after wards collecting lots of little plastic balls!
They are into everything but generally fairly well behaved. We have a 1 yr old too (person not cat!) and the 3 of them play together quite well. He throws the balls out of the ball pool and they chase them. Keeps them all amused for hours and me busy for hours after wards collecting lots of little plastic balls!
Moar updates!
Geldof's tumour sadly is a malignant one, so she's starting her course of chemo tomorrow. I know it's more palliative than anything, but I figure it's worth a go if it gives us more time together. I'm actually okay with it, as I thought I'd never see her again after the last op so every day I get now is a bonus and I will treat it as such. She's fine in herself too, which is nice to see.
As far as the kitten/cat integration goes, I think we're doing well! We left Lexi out all night again Saturday night, and once again it was horrendous with her chasing the other two all night and waking me and SWMBO up, but we persevered. Lexi was then very dozy all day Sunday, and last night she left Geldof alone to sleep in her bed and Zelda to sleep on whatever windowsill he wanted. No hissing, no chasing, it was all fine.
Just now we had all three of them downstairs, all in the same room, doing their own thing but no chasing at all. Zel was watching other cats out of the back door window, Gel was munching on her food and Lexi flitted between jumping in and out of a box and going to sit next to the other two. Sure, there was a bit of hissing at times, but Zel stood his ground and Lexi left him alone. It was so lovely to have all three of them chilling out with us
Hopefully we've turned a corner now, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Geldof's tumour sadly is a malignant one, so she's starting her course of chemo tomorrow. I know it's more palliative than anything, but I figure it's worth a go if it gives us more time together. I'm actually okay with it, as I thought I'd never see her again after the last op so every day I get now is a bonus and I will treat it as such. She's fine in herself too, which is nice to see.
As far as the kitten/cat integration goes, I think we're doing well! We left Lexi out all night again Saturday night, and once again it was horrendous with her chasing the other two all night and waking me and SWMBO up, but we persevered. Lexi was then very dozy all day Sunday, and last night she left Geldof alone to sleep in her bed and Zelda to sleep on whatever windowsill he wanted. No hissing, no chasing, it was all fine.
Just now we had all three of them downstairs, all in the same room, doing their own thing but no chasing at all. Zel was watching other cats out of the back door window, Gel was munching on her food and Lexi flitted between jumping in and out of a box and going to sit next to the other two. Sure, there was a bit of hissing at times, but Zel stood his ground and Lexi left him alone. It was so lovely to have all three of them chilling out with us
Hopefully we've turned a corner now, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Ekona said:
Me too.
As she's down to just the one salivary gland now, will that make eating more difficult for her even without the tumour?
The body is good at compensating when it needs so I don't think it should be a huge issue for her, maybe just ensure she has a moist diet but that would be all.As she's down to just the one salivary gland now, will that make eating more difficult for her even without the tumour?
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