new cat or kitten advice (merged)

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I always found that the resident cat would be mean and grumpy for a few weeks and then just get on with life.Sometimes they would accept the newcomer other times ignore them.Peace always seemed to return though.They just need time to adjust.

melvis

Last year I moved in with OH and he had a cat (Suki) and I had a cat (Wykkt) and they couldn't stand each other! They were both about 4 years old and they didn't fight, they just avoided each other.

Then we got Barley (8 weeks at the time). Both older cats couldn't stand her but she was persistent with them, following them round etc. then about a week after we brought her home we found Barley suckling on Suki and Suki wash washing Barley etc. Wykkt just hid in high places where the kitten couldn't reach, and unfortunately was killed by a dog before the kitten even had chance to grow big enough to try.

We then adopted a dog by accident :rolleyes: but that's a different story.

Then we moved to our new house (with Suki and Barley in tow). We then got Jager (8 weeks when she came home) and once again both older cats couldn't stand her. Then about a week later we found Jager suckling on Barley and Barley washing Jager etc! And Suki avoiding Jager as much as possible.

These days Suki can't stand either of them going near her but Barley and Jager still curl up together on the sofa to sleep (that's if Jager can detach herself from the dog for long enough - crazy relationship going on there!), but they also fight a lot more now rather than clean each other.

I can't imagine us getting any more cats now (we've had both youngest neutered to ensure no litters!) but I imagine if we did, we'd have the same cycle as before, where one of the cats learns to mother the new one. And from my experience, if they don't like each other they tend to stay apart rather than fight, and none of ours have ever left home and always arrive back at meal times.

melvis

emslondon wrote: »

Ooh, the other thing is to remember he will need specific kitten food. Luckily mine prefer Sainsbury's own brand kitten food to Whiskas!

We attempted to give Jager the Asda kitten food (as we had done with previous kittens) but she refused it and ate the other cats normal food and the dog food instead :rolleyes:

frivolous_fay

We have a pair of kittens, a little over 8 weeks. Both litter trained and generally quite well behaved

Unfortunately they have an obsession with any room kept out of bounds... mainly the bedroom. This wouldn't be a problem if the door catch wasn't faulty and can be pushed open by a determined 8 month old kitten...

Anyway, we've had two liquid accidents. One today, the other last week while we were there and had recklessly let them in. I think it's the same one each time.

I can't really understand why they're so desperate to go back in... but in the absense of a functional door, we're going to have to try to barricade it, or secure it with string.

They're due for their jabs on Wed, so perhaps the vet has some suggestions... but does anyone here have anything to try?

JoeyEmma

Perhaps just accept that they are fun and love to play and everywhere is a challenge for them and leave a litter tray in there so that if they need to go they do it in there not on your duvet.

frivolous_fay

I don't mind the playing, or exploring, but I get the distinct impression he's doing it there on purpose and wouldn't use a tray if it was in there.

Bedroom door is now secured with string!

KentishLady

We have 2 cats (now nearly 15 yrs old!) and had very similar issues with them when they were babies.

Unfortunately ours were only about 6 wks old when we got them and the boy was slow to learn everything from litter tray to drinking water to catflap. As they were so little and it was winter and we didnt have central heating we did used to hitake them to bed with us ( I know!) but didnt really think about the fact that they were so little that they may not get downstairs to the litter trays in time.

To be honest, we just put up with the accidents until they were eventually older and bigger and learnt to get themselves to the litter tray (or outside once they were allowed out).

We had LOTS of accidents until they were big enough to go out. One night I think I changed our sheets about 3 times!

To be honest, you can either a) ban them from the bedroom completely - they will eventually realise that this is your room and is out of bounds (although they will still sneak in when they can! - mine are now banned from upstairs because they suffer from furballs and the boy cat STILL has accidents inside on occasion due to laziness - they will however still try to sneak up especially if my mum comes to stay - they love her!) or b) put a litter tray close at hand so that they are able to get to it in time. Don't forget although cats are clean they are still only little and sometimes don't realise they need the loo until they REALLY need it - if their litter tray is a long way away then you run the risk of an accident.

KL.

Funkyfarmgirl

We've got 5 kittens, who lost thier mother last week They're about 2 months old, and before thier mother died, had no problems at all, bar the fact they're a little mental. Since she's passed away, we're having a problem with the kittens messing in random places - on our bed being the main one. We've tried several litter types, and put them in the box frequently, and clean it out and freshen it often, sometimes they mess in there, sometimes not, and we're running out of ideas, we tried shutting all the doors so they can only stay in one room, but people going in and out of rooms made that difficult.

Any suggestions?

nealallen

When you find/see the offending kitten, take him/her to the mess, point their faces right at it, quite near too and in a firm voice say, NO! Then take the kitten to the tray and place them in the tray. If they go to the loo, give them a lot of praise and fuss

Savvy_Sue

Funkyfarmgirl wrote: »

Any suggestions?

Eternal vigilance on the shutting of doors? Especially the bedroom door, I could NOT be doing with that!