Introducing a new cat to the house--any advice?

[Crowdance]

I'm seriously wanting to add a third kitty to the mix. My family's flipped out because they think it will lead to kitty anxiety and chaos. Any of the legion of cat-loving DUers out there have stories or advice to share? I need to have some persuasive arguments at hand.

[grasswire]

1. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't

When our fourth cat came, our third cat despised him and tried to kill him every chance he got. We had to keep them separated for more than a year. It spontaneously resolved, for some reason we cannot determine. But it was a horrible pain in the butt for more than a year. These were two neutered males, btw. The "killer" is the world's sweetest cat otherwise.

[grasswire]

2. also....

...be prepared for the possibility of pee-ing to mark territory. Someone I know is having a horrible time with her first cat after introducing two younger ones. Peeing on laundry, peeing on the wall, etc.

[7th_Sephiroth]

8. when we got our second (shiva)

our first was herman, a real badass, so i kept shiva in a crate for a few weeks slowly introduceing her, the second week her (a kitten) stomped Mr. Badass herman into the ground

Our Third (odin) showed up on our doorstep starved, because he was sick we kept him in a cage in the common area for a few months he fit right in

[Gingersnap]

3. depends on the personalities involved

and how many cats you already have (and space). I have two older (over 12 yearold) cats and I recently introduced two young cats (1 year and 7 months) and the older cats have been pretty mellow about it. I introduced the one year old first, and she is very controlling and even beats up on the older cats. When I got the seven month old male, she adapted to him quickly, but we now have "marking" issues. Someone (I suspect the one yearold) is peeing on clothes and rugs. If you have a very spoiled female who likes to run the show, I wouldn't suggest getting another cat.

We've had to add an extra litterbox, but did you know "the experts" say that you have to have one litterbox more than the number of cats you have? So in theory we would need 5 litterboxes! That's a little much, but if my rugs continue to be litterboxes, I may have to cave in to their demands.

If you do decide to add another, make sure to separate that cat in a room of its own initially and go very slowly in introducing them. I would also recommend getting a cat that is at least a year old, that way you can be more certain about the personality. Many rescue groups that "foster" cats are able to tell you quite a bit about a cat's personality (more than you learn from observing them in a cage at a shelter) and one of the rescue groups we adopted from was willing to "exchange" the cat if personality conflicts persisted.

Good luck.

[SheilaT]

4. Sufficient number of litter boxes is absolutely crucial.

And if any one of the cats is territorial about litter boxes, you need to put them in various places around the house and make sure another cat can't be ambushed using it.

Always introduce a new cat slowly by putting it in a separate room with closed door and giving them at least a couple of weeks to become aware of each other and start adjusting to each other's smells.

I've read that cats in the same household pretty much smell alike to each other, but a new one doesn't and that's an important source of problems. Also, if one cat is away, say at the vet's for a while, it will come back smelling different and there may be a new adjustment period.

[pansypoo53219]

5. if you don't already have it, i'd get a kitten.

but i would wait til you were down to one and then get spares. a pair of spares. i will never again get cats from different litters. from now on it is gonna be girl/boy from same litter.
i missed the fights and the kitty ball of my childhood. 2 kittens is always better than 1.

[jobycom]

6. We just got two male kittens to go with our two grown female cats

We just threw them in, let them work it out. One of our grown cats is quite neurotic and very jealous, so we did have to chase her away from the kittens at times. And we went out of our way to shower the older cats with affection and not let them see us fawning over the kittens for a while. We gave them separate litter boxes and food areas, too.

It's worked fine. A lot of growling, especially from Minnie, our neurotic one (She's twenty pounds, we misnamed her!). She still growls. But they worked out the territories by themselves. We just interfered when it got to claws, which never got serious, and tried not to act too differently, so that the cats didn't feel too upset about the changes. Another thing I did was pet the kittens and the older cats at the same time, which got them used to being close.

It can't go perfectly smoothly, because it is a big change. But I think the less you worry about it, the easier it will go. Like bringing home a second child, you just have to make sure that the older ones don't see the younger one as a threat for affection. But play it by ear, let them work out their own hierarchy (which may turn out differently than you expect), and watch for fights. Make the new cat adjust more than the older ones, if you can. Don't move the older cats' box or food, for instance. And don't scold the older ones if you can help it, coax them through it. When Minnie would growl, I would pet her and tell her it was okay, and she would usually calm down.

I know, I'm rambling. Sorry.

[patdem]

7. Excellent advice...make the new kittens adjust to the older cats

that is such excellent advise since kittens have a much better way of adjusting...and like you say...the hiarchy thing may come down differently than expected...some agressive kitten can dominate a passive full grown cat. I still have fighters from a year ago, but nothing that gets out of hand. I always charge the newer cat, and reassure the older cat, unless the older cat is looking for a confrontation, but I am always much more gentle.

(Not that I am harsh with any of my cats..it's like I say STOP...and no matter how many cats are in the room (Four live with me) each knows who I am talking to)Then if they do not stop...I say..."Don't make me get up"...then they look at me like I am bluffing...then I put one foot toward their direction...that does it...they stop their bad behavior.

I LOVE cats!

[Crowdance]

9. Excellent advice from all!

I didn't think you were rambling, jobycom. I appreciated every word.

[ajacobson]

10. For more cat tips

go to www.mihumane.org, click on the Behavior Tips button at the top, then click on Cat Behavior Topics link.