help! difficult new cat introduction

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2001
help! difficult new cat introduction
8
Sat, 12-11-2004 - 7:58pm

This is a long one - but I need help!

6 months ago I moved into a new apartment. Chicken, the "neighborhood" cat came out to greet me right away. It seems she had been left behind years ago by her owner and now lived outside. My upstairs neighbor claimed the cat was hers and took her in occasionally. The neighbor left last month and left poor chicken behind.

Long story short - she's a wonderful cat and we'd like to keep her. The problem is we have a cat already that may not appreciate a sister.(Our dog has met her and they seem fine together). Every book I read says to introduce the cats slowly from separate rooms but that's impossible in our apartment. It's 3 rooms total and the current animals need access to all the rooms for food/water/litter box, etc.

Is there any way to introduce them without the separation? Before winter and the cold comes? I don't want to upset my cat and have litterbox problems and fights but I also don't want poor chicken to be outside much longer.

Thanks,

MHP

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-11-2004
Sat, 12-11-2004 - 9:39pm
Hi!
Well, let me tell you, I live in a 2 bedroom apartment and have 4 cats. I originally moved in with 1. They do say to seperate them in different rooms for awhile, but I know where you come from regarding the "little space".
Well, due to lack of space like you, I ignored all of those "take caution" when introducing a new cat, and I just threw them in together! I know that sounds awful, but really, it wasn't that bad at all. My first two additional additions were easy as pie, I just brought them home and let them fight out any differences. I do believe in the 1 kitty litter box per cat though.
My last cat I had the hardest time yet, I let them all roam freely when I was there, but for the first three days when I went to work, I put food and a seperate kitty litter box in a room seperate then the rest. But it only took three days. So the best thing for me was let them see each other through the day, and when your gone, then keep them in seperate rooms until you know that you won't come home to a war zone :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 7:54am

*WELCOME* to Cats Myhappyplace.

Cat =^..^=
Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 11:13am

Hi MHP.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 11:27am
Your way works fine alot of the time. I do the separate room way, with the door open, all the cats decide how they want to meet. I've never had any major trouble. Like you said, several litter boxes placed in different areas will help. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2001
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 6:55pm

Thanks to everyone for their responses. The carrier way might work well. I think we'll try that. Leaving her in the bathroom might not be great because she's a very vocal kitty and doesn't like to be confined. I think we'll try the carrier, have her in while we're home and outside while we're at work for the first few weeks and see what happens. My wonderful boyfriend already spent his day off (he soo wants to keep her) setting up our shed with a small door and hay to keep her warm, just in case the meetings don't go well.

If anyone wants to see her, she's online :) She's so pretty (I can't believe someone would leave her!) http://www.kellyjefferson.com/meetchicken

She has been vetted and purred through all her shots, etc. The vet commented on what a friendly and good kitty she was. We were actually surprised that we were able to make an appointment and actually go since she's around only when she feels like it! Luckily she's FIV negative so she's no risk to our indoor kitty.

It's gonna be interesting!
Thanks again!
Kelly (MHP)

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2003
Mon, 12-13-2004 - 1:24pm
What a beautiful cat! I think she might need another name. Of course she should be indoors in a nice home.
Feliway is a spray product that can help calm cats when they are under stress. It's kind of like aromatherapy for cats. It works like a cat pheromone; you spray a bit in the air or on a door post. That may help the introductions.
Another place to seek advice is the Think Like A Cat Board with Pam Johnson-Bennett, a feline behaviourist. http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ptthinkcat. Please keep us posted; I feel optimistic that things will work out.
Cynthia
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Mon, 12-13-2004 - 5:51pm
Wow - what a beautiful cat! Such pretty green eyes as well! I don't get how people can just abandoned their pets like that either. I think my cat was abandoned that way as well. So sad.
Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 10:59am

What a beautiful cat Chicken is.


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