New kitten....questions & advice (merged)

Drea

An update on this harness

Got it today from Pets At Home (£5.99) and popped it on my cat, he didn't like it much at first but once he was outside it didn't bother him at all. He was a little scared to start with and was meowing with the tail huge but after 2 minutes that was him off around the garden exploring with me trailing behind

So glad I got him it

purplebets

I have 2 12 year old cats We have agreed to take two kittens, I am worried that the two sets of cats won't mix how can I assure that the cats all get on has anyone got any tips

Kimberley

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]You will need to plan for a slow introduction of your new kitten. PLEASE keep your new kittens away from all of your other pets for at least a week. This gives the kitten a chance to be eating well and become confident with you. It also allows your other pets to begin to get used to the smell of the new kitten. Your other pets will sniff around the door of the room housing your new kitten and you will have its scent on your clothes. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Another option is to buy a foldaway carrier which you can use to seperate the kitten from your other pet but still let them interact with each other, you can take it in turns to put the kitten or other pet in the carrier so the kitten can get to know the new environment as well as the other pet. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] DO NOT force the animals together. Do your best to monitor their interactions. If things get too rough, separate the kitten back into its room. Do not leave your new kitten alone with other pets until you are absolutely sure that they will get along. Don't leave a small kitten alone with even the sweetest big dog. Accidents can and will happen. When you leave the house, put the kitten back in its room. [/FONT]

lowis

i found the advice on the following link absolutely brilliant and thorough.

http://www.wvcats.com/integrating_cats.htm

i followed this advice and recently introduced an old 14yo siamese to a 13yo siamese - two old Geezer cats who are stuck in their ways - like old men :rotfl:i kept them totally separate for about 4 days initially and then followed the steps in the article. within two weeks i was happy to leave them alone together.

now, two months since they first met they are now quite happy in each others company and hang out together, eat out of the same bowl and play chase. they are not close or cuddly, but occasionally they will sleep next to each other and have even groomed each other on about 3 occasions.

good luck!

Milford_Cubicle

Make sure your older cats are up to date with their injections if the kittens haven't yet been vaccinated.

Slow introduction, seperate living areas to begin with. Good luck

purplebets

Thanks guys so fantastic advice I will check out that weblink later We have the front room ready to be the new kittens home, the door can be shut too, so we can keep them in there when we are not around. We will follow the suggestions above also.

I am worried my old tom will start marking his territory around the house in the only way cats do it is this likely to happen?

purplebets

I am getting two new kittens what jabs do they require before they can go outside etc Also when can they get spade?

lowis

if your old tom has been 'done' then it is highly unlikely he will suddenly start spraying at his age. i had the same fears as you....introducing a 14yo tom siamese to a 13yo tom siamese...TWO potential sprayers in my mind...but was reassured that it would be unlikely. i'm two months into the adoption and as yet no spraying *fingers crossed*

Milford_Cubicle

Actually, there's a chance the tom will start spraying. My mums cat used to always be allowed in the house, then randomly started spraying absolutely everywhere. There was no apparent trigger and he was neutered some years before it started. They had to redecorate and now he lives in the conservatory. Keep an eye out for 'new' behaviour.

Milford_Cubicle

They'll need to be injected at 9 weeks and 12 weeks. They'll have the standard jabs of 'flu and enteritis (£18ish each time). There's also the option to have a leukaemia jab (another £20ish), but my vet wouldn't give it to my girl until she has a blood test (£20ish) because apparently there are two different jabs, one for cats who are free of leukaemia and one for cats who are carriers.

Spaying, usually advised around 20-26 weeks and of course, don't let them out before they've been 'done'.

My girl is getting done in Jan (she's 13 weeks old now) and I'm having the blood test at the same time, plus a chip while she's under anaesthetic. Then she'll have the relevant leukaemia jab and be let out when she's suitably recovered.