How to handle new arrival?

stir_crazy

I don't think its a good idea to keep him with you at all times, its likely your other kitties are jealous, esp if they are used to a lot of attention from you. Cats sometimes also take a bit of time to get used to each other and they also tend to establish a pecking order when there are more than one.

I had a thread a couple of months ago where my cat just wasn't getting on with my new kitten because he was used to having the run of the house and didn't like this little furball who flew from room to room disrupting everything.

ETA: fast forward a couple of months: they get on a lot better, but he still puts the kitten in her place when the hyperness gets too much.

RazWaz

By with me at all times - I just mean in sight. I live in a property that is pretty much the size of a large two bed house, but everything is on one floor and in a straight line. Just one long hallway with every door to every room on the left hand side. I'm deaf so can't hear what is going on in other rooms, and can't see either.

My two always stay in the room with me, and they have been even with the new fella. They are still coming up for cuddles and I'm making a fuss of them when they ask. They know if they want something, they are to jump in my lap and use their special meow, then I'll follow them and they will take me to what they want (food, the toy box, the treats, to the litter (they want me to clean it), even to bed if I stay up late), and they are still asking as normal so they don't seem to be too bothered.

In my bedroom there are two double beds pushed together (OH and I both have back pain so the extra space is needed sometimes). Dante slept with me on the bigger bed, with Morti around my feet, and Dylan on the smaller bed still in arms reach.

It's not all out war like it was when Morti and Dylan were introduced, they are just ignoring him mostly, and he's upset cause he is used to having 6 brothers and sisters to play with. Morti is only 16 weeks, Dylan is 12/13, and Dante is 8 weeks, so the age gap isn't as bad as an adult getting used to a kitten.

He's not even being hyper, he mostly sits around watching them play - almost like he's waiting to be invited.

RazWaz

Dante just used the litter tray for the first time - all by himself. I went out to get some chocolate and found him there I was getting a bit worried as he'd been here 16 hours without going.

He's also eaten two meals, although separate from the others, but he shared the milk bowl with Dylan without too much fighting.

Seems like he's really settling in here and feels comfortable, I just need the other two to start playing with him now

scaredy_cat

pics!!!!! :j:j:j

his_missus

People do say when you're introducing a new cat you should shut him in a room for a while so the cats can get used to the smell of the new cat and vice versa, but to be honest, I've just opened the pet carrier and let them get on with it each time I've had a new cat (4 times to date) Usually, the new cat either hides or goes investigating and the others just have a snif/hiss. The two old ones are used to new cats appearing and don't bat an eyelid these days I've never really had to deal with any fights just a few pawing scraps. They always find their place in the pecking order - in our house the solitary girl is top cat and any boy who does not do as she says gets hissed at! I imagine in time Morti will be the same;)

If you do want some advice this may be useful:

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/1957-2770/introducing-your-cat-to-other-pets.html

Hopefully as they're all young kittens, they'll bond quickly.

Good thing your Landlord has a 3 cat limit. I promised Hubby no more after 3...now we have 5:rotfl:

_Andy_

"a family they know were going to have a kitten put to sleep. They had bread a purebread litter, and all were perfect silver longhairs apart from the runt, a tiny black and white boy. "

scum.

kellyt86

Interesting thread!

Glad your new one is settling in!

I agree - SCUM! Who were going to put this one to sleep!

Well done you for rescuing him!! :T

RazWaz

Thank you so much for the tips Sorry I haven't been back earlier but Dylan has been trying to give me a Heart Attack.

Called them all for dinner a few days ago, and there was no Dylan, and he is always the first one there screaming at me to open the packet faster (seems he's always hungry). I had a wander around the flat shaking his box.

I trained him into coming instantly when he hears me shake the box I keep on my desk by doing it 2-3 times a day and giving him a treat for coming. I live in a set of flats inside an old nunnery and there is a large lobby area with a spiral staircase to reach the upper flats (I'm on the ground floor). Dylan often runs into the lobby when the flat door is open, the training was to get him back inside without chasing him all over the place.

Well I went round the whole flat shaking the box, and nothing. Got a torch and checked under the sofa (he has a nest of toy footballs under there), I checked under all the furniture and nothing. By that time I'm really starting to panic.

The back bedroom is a storage room and the cats are not allowed in there as it's a bit of a mess and very easy to get lost in. Dylan figured out if he head-butted the door he could get in (lock is broken). The only problem is he tries to get out the same way and shuts himself in. Whenever he gets stuck, Morti pulls at the carpet by the door then runs to get me and cries until I go free him.

Well I searched the whole back bedroom over again tearing it apart and no Dylan, I knew then he wasn't in the flat. I went out into the lobby, still no cat. By this time I called in reinforcements and had myself, my mother, my boyfriend and his brother searching. We split up and started doing a spiral search out from my flat to a 2 mile radius and no kitten. I'm in floods of tears and hardly able to think straight. I accidentally left the flat door open, and Morti runs out into the lobby.

My boyfriend goes to chase her down and bring her back in, but she shoots upstairs and stars pawing at the floor outside flat 4, then turned around and ran as fast as she could to me and started crying.

I shot upstairs, knocked on the door and asked them if they had seen a kitten - he had been there the whole time. They said they found him in the lobby and were waiting till the morning to take him to the shelter :eek::eek::eek:

Eventually figured out how it happened. My boyfriend's brother smokes, and because I have asthma he goes outside and he slipped out then, so now everyone knows to lock them in the living room before opening the flat door.

So glad to have him back, and I'm booking an appointment this week to get them micro-chipped because even losing him for a few hours was unbearable.

---

Not content with scaring me like that, Dylan carried on in his heart attack endeavours. Morti ran into my room at 4am and jumped all over me crying until I got up and followed her. She led me into the bathroom, and I find Dylan there, splashing about, stuck in the loo...

He tried to go for a swim but couldn't get back out, water everywhere and a very soggy (but happy) kitten. So now we have to keep the bathroom door shut as well now.

---

And lock up his treats - I wondered why no one was eating their dinner last night, until I wandered back into the living room and found an empty treat box. Dylan figured out if he knocked the box off the shelf then it would open and the three of them devoured the whole thing!

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Well the kittens seem to have bonded over driving me crazy and are now best of friends. So here is an adorable picture of Dylan and Dante sleeping to make up for the long post.



Slideshow of lots of kitten pictures here

Froglet

You are making me exhausted just reading of the terrible trio's adventures :rotfl:

What gorgeous photos,you certainly have some very handsome and lucky cats there.

Froglet

_Andy_ wrote: »

"a family they know were going to have a kitten put to sleep. They had bread a purebread litter, and all were perfect silver longhairs apart from the runt, a tiny black and white boy. "

scum.

Yes it does seem harsh BUT would you rather they had just turned it out to fend for itself or worse ............?

There are so many kittens needing homes that maybe they thought it would not stand a chance ,at least they were considering a humane option.

That is how i got my precious dog many years ago.She too was the runt of the litter and because a home could not be found for her she ended up at the vets awaiting being PTS.

Luckily i knew the assistant there and she said no way was that going to happen,not without a hell of a fight!

Next day she came home with me,totally unprepared and spent her first night in a shoe box.

I cried for days when she finally did have to be PTS at nearly 16.