Introducing cats- Two older males to a younger male. All fixed- help!?

[SJM]

Hi!
I have two cats, both males, both brothers. They are eight years old, fixed, and declawed and very friendly.

I want to move into my friend's condo in a few months. She already has a cat. He is about two, friendly but is not declawed. He use to live outside when he was a kitten- for a few months. She also has a dog, but he is crated or watched very carefully (he's a nosey guy)

Anyways, what are some ways that when i move in that i can somewhat insure/help all the cats get along? My cats seem pretty easy going. I also once heard that when you get a new cat, you should have a friend or a 'stranger' bring the new cat into the house, so the old cat takes pitty on it. Anyone do this before?

 

[Bob N]

You said: "I also once heard that when you get a new cat, you should have a friend or a 'stranger' bring the new cat into the house, so the old cat takes pitty on it."

WHAT????

I've never heard of that I and doubt very much it will work. Sounds like some urban legend or an old wives' tale - one that needs to be killed.

We've had 26 cats over the past 22 years and have done a lot of introducing of new cats to existing cats with total success.

Here's how we introduce new comers to our gang:

Cats need to be introduced very slowly.

First of all, we do not allow a new cat to have any contact with our other cats until a vet has given the new cat a clean bill of health. This includes tests for such things as FIP and Feline Leukemia.

Cats can be successfully introduced to each other regardless of their ages or sexes.

We have successfully added adult cats to our family containing both young and old cats as well as introducing very young kittens to the other cats.

It has to be done slowly. If you simply put them together, you will fail the vast majority of the time.

The new cat has to be given time to get used to you and the new environment.

The existing cat has to get used to the smell of the new cat.

We introduce cats by keeping the new cat in the back room for up to a month. My office is there as is my wife's sewing table. There is a sofa and bookshelves.

We spend a lot of time with the new cat to get them used to us, the new environment and the new smells.

After they accept us with no problems, we put a screen door on the back room door frame and let everyone see each other for a week or so.

It may take a lot less time than a month to get to this point but we just take it slow and easy.

Once we judge it safe to do so, we let the new cats out into the house and chaperon the first encounters.

We've only ever had one problem introducing cats like this and that problem was resolved in a couple of weeks.

We've had 26 cats over the past 22 years and many of them were adults - 12 and older - when they joined our family.

We've also introduced several kittens, ranging from ages of 7 weeks to 4 or 5 months, to the rest of the crew with no problems.

You have to take it slow.

If you can't put up a screen door, perhaps two baby gates, stacked one on top of the other, will close off the door but still allow the cats to see each other.

If you can't use a screen door or baby gates, try letting the existing cat into the room with the new cat for a few minutes while you chaperon.

If things get bad, take the cat out of the room.

You just have to introduce cats slowly

There are cats who could be thrown together and become pals but they are few and far between.

 

[wolf]

Put the new cat/cats in a room with the closed door. Put food, water and litter box in with them. Let them smell each other throught the door for a couple days. When everyone is adjusted to the scent of everyone else, introduce them one at a time. Don't use a room that has their food or water, no where that they might be territorial. Use a large room so they will have room to stay on opposite ends if they want. Don't force anything. If it goes well, let them stay together for maybe 1/2 hour, then seperate them again. And give a break inbetween introducing the new cats. Introduce the first cat, then give an hour before you introduce the second new cat.

And with the dog, when you are ready to have them loose in the same room, keep the dog on a leash, DO NOT HOLD THE CAT. You'll lose an eye and possibly you're entire arm if they're nervous. Keep control of the dog and watch the cat to make sure it's not too stressed