Introducing a cat to house with cats

martin2345uk

Okay so the whole boring saga is here if anyone wants the background:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77053784#Comment_77053784

...but basically at some point in the near future I will be bringing my cat Derek to live with me and my mum and her 2 cats Poppy and Louis, for an unspecified length of time until I can rent a place...

Derek is a rescue cat, had him since 2013, he's nervous around new people and situations, back in our old home there's this one neighbour's cat that comes and goes and Derek seems to get on with her, I often came home to find them at opposite ends of the sofa resting, or sat on the bed together - so he doesn't attack all cats on sight at least...

Mum's cats... well they're brother and sister, Poppy is small and extremely timid, she doesn't like men so never comes near me, and her brother Louis is big and quite bolshy, they don't really get on that well so tend to stay out of each other's way...

Mum has a cat flap, neither of her cats spend much time outside apart from to do their business.

The house has 3 bedrooms - mum's, mine and the spare (mum's "getting ready" room).
Downstairs is all open plan so the only places that can really be "shut" are the 3 bedrooms.

Any tips on how to introduce Derek into this environment would be really welcome... someone's suggested building a cat pen outside, but we don't have any tools or equipment (or skill) right at the moment..

It's going to be a stressful time for all concerned I am sure, just not sure how to approach it!

Thanks all x

martin2345uk

Well he's here! After an awful 4 hour drive with him crying all the way... he's now under my bed, he's been there since about lunchtime when we got back here. He purrs when I reach under and stroke him, but I'm in no rush here, he can take his time.

Going to let the other cats sniff his cat carrier, to get them a bit used to his scent. No meetings for the first few days.

Finding it all very stressful not gonna lie.

Pollycat

I think you did the right thing.

Knowing how my old departed monster behaved on a 20 minute journey to the cattery I don't envy your 4 hour trip.

I hope he settles in OK.

martin2345uk

First night over with, ugh my lovely bed is covered in cat hair! And god he was annoying at 4am pawing at my face... might have to consider alternative night time arrangements, there’s a smaller spare room that mum uses to do her hair and make up, I could possibly put Derek in there at night with his litter tray...

fire**fly

he must of missed you so much, please let him stay with you for the nights in your room until he gets used to the new surroundings. he must find it so stressful also x

TripleH

We had a similar length trip with our 3. The oldest and youngest would tske turns to cry. The middle one was so upset she was quiet the whole trip (we thought she was fine as is pretty laid back).
When we arrived the oldest one was happy as more of our furniture arrived, once our bed was setup and made she was content. (Might be worth having things with your scent on them around within reach to cuddle?).
The other 2 sat in their toilet for 3 hours (to be fair the furthest they'd been was a 10 min car trip to the vets previous). The next day they were fine. The middle one began exploring, opening cupboards, climbing in and on cupboards.

martin2345uk

Thanks guys. Well he’s still in my bedroom, he seems ok, he’s used his litter tray and he purrs when I stroke him. 

I’m wondering if it’s too soon to allow him a little explore of the house? If the other cats are shut in mums bedroom and the cat flap boarded up? He’s been here since Sunday...

martin2345uk

Well one week since derek arrived and he hasn’t left the bedroom yet apart from a few tentative steps out onto the landing 
But he seems happy, he’s eating and drinking and having cuddles as well as being a right pain in the !!!!!! during the night, overall I’m pretty happy with how he’s doing with all this 

Standbyme_2

It sounds like he has missed you and takes comfort from being near you again.

Scrapaholic

Hope Derek is doing ok . When we looked after our sons cat for a while , we have 3 of our own, he stayed under spare bedroom bed for a month . Had his food and litter in there . He eventually started coming downstairs tho he never actually got on with the other cats.  He was a cat that liked to be an only cat.  There were a few scuffles . He eventually went back to his own home and it was peaceful again! 

martin2345uk

He’s doing good thanks, he does spend most of his type in my room but most evenings now he ventures downstairs for a sniff around. He more or less totally ignores the other two cats. The male cat is very wary of Derek, stares at him whenever he sees him, the occasional low growl, but he he tends to run away if Derek gets too close...

All in all, the taking it very slowly approach seems to be paying off. 

Though he’s still a pain in the !!!!!! in the mornings!!!