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Rehoming cats
I'm posting here because I need help and the Pets board seems inactive.
My mom passed away a few days ago, and unless someone I really trust steps in, I will be inheriting her two male cats (one senior, one young-ish). I love cats, but I am really worried about introducing them to our current cat. She is about 6, and super sweet but also pretty fierce and possessive of my husband and daughter.
Once the older cat is comfortable, I think he will just find a spot to veg out which will be fine. But I worry about the other cat- this will be his third home- my mom took him in after his other owners could no longer keep him. He's also a bit feisty- I really worry that they are going to clash and it will get ugly. Any tips or advice?
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Posted 4/1/18 12:25 PM  |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11489 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Rehoming cats
Give the cats separate rooms, keeping the two cats together. Keep the two new cats in a room, but make sure they can sniff each other (the resident cat) under the door.
Put food dishes by the door as this encourages positivity. When they can eat together, there is a level of trust.
Put a blanket in the room and a blanket where your resident cat sleeps on. Switch the blankets around. Use socks to pet all cats, and make sure to pet the cheeks as this is where the pheromones are released.
When you introduce them, it won’t be easy, but cats have a way of working things out. I find if someone does something wrong I pat them and hold their head (no I don’t hit them) because that’s what mom cats do. They respond really well to that.
If they fight, throw something to distract all parties. I usually throw a pillow.
You said you have two boys, but what is the other cat?
Good Luck!
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| Posted 4/1/18 4:58 PM |
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Re: Rehoming cats
Those are great tips. Thank you so much.
Our current cat, Tara, is a girl, and the two we're getting are boys.
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| Posted 4/1/18 10:43 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11489 total posts
Name:
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Re: Rehoming cats
No worries! I forgot to add a few things.
Start the feeding with the door closed and food dishes on both sides. I don’t think I was clear about that.
Also get some Feliway to plug in.
You can start opening the door little by little, but I like to change the cats up, so they can sniff around before meeting.
I cannot stress this enough: if they fight, do not try to break it up. I did this a few weeks ago and got a really nasty scratch. I don’t know why I got involved when I know to just throw a pillow.
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| Posted 4/2/18 3:00 AM |
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dctead
It's 5 o'clock somewhere!
Member since 11/10 2139 total posts
Name:
Emily
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Re: Rehoming cats
Posted by klingklang77
No worries! I forgot to add a few things.
Start the feeding with the door closed and food dishes on both sides. I don’t think I was clear about that.
You can start opening the door little by little, but I like to change the cats up, so they can sniff around before meeting.
We fed through the closed door to start, and then opened the door - but with a screen/gate (two high so they couldn't jump) so that they could then see each other while they ate, sniff etc... but still not be in full contact.
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| Posted 4/2/18 2:39 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11489 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Rehoming cats
Posted by dctead
Posted by klingklang77
No worries! I forgot to add a few things.
Start the feeding with the door closed and food dishes on both sides. I don’t think I was clear about that.
You can start opening the door little by little, but I like to change the cats up, so they can sniff around before meeting.
We fed through the closed door to start, and then opened the door - but with a screen/gate (two high so they couldn't jump) so that they could then see each other while they ate, sniff etc... but still not be in full contact.
Ah, good idea!
ETA: the cats need to figure out their hierarchy. This could take a while, and you should be patient. There is a good book called Cat vs. Cat that could be helpful to read.
It took me a few months to get all of this sorted when I introduced a new kitten. Have you asked the vet about getting some Zyklene? It’s a lovely powder you can put on their food and it calms them down.
Message edited 4/3/2018 4:32:50 AM.
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| Posted 4/3/18 4:26 AM |
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WannaBeAMom11
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 7391 total posts
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Name
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Rehoming cats
No other advice but thank you for being a good human and not abandoning them.
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| Posted 4/3/18 9:10 PM |
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Adri
Joy!
Member since 5/05 3116 total posts
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A
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Re: Rehoming cats
Posted by WannaBeAMom11
No other advice but thank you for being a good human and not abandoning them.
I agree! And sorry about your mom  
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| Posted 4/3/18 9:25 PM |
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Re: Rehoming cats
Posted by Adri
Posted by WannaBeAMom11
No other advice but thank you for being a good human and not abandoning them.
I agree! And sorry about your mom
Aw, thank you. To be honest, I had three cats before and said never again, but they are both very sweet and there was just no way I would have not taken them. So far they both seem relaxed, are eating, and using the litter box. We all spend time with them throughout the day. Our own cat knows something is up, she has been avoiding that level of the house so the dry food I left outside their door has been uneaten. I hope to give them the run of the house soon but I'm not going to rush it.
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| Posted 4/3/18 10:49 PM |
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dianadrw
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 2092 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Rehoming cats
I found this video from Jackson Galaxy immensely helpful when we were introducing a new cat to my other two a couple of years ago. Worked great.
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| Posted 4/4/18 9:23 AM |
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Re: Rehoming cats
Posted by dianadrw
I found this video from Jackson Galaxy immensely helpful when we were introducing a new cat to my other two a couple of years ago. Worked great.
Thank you so much- that was really helpful. There were a couple things I didn't know.
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| Posted 4/4/18 3:17 PM |
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