ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS--IT'S NOT WORKING!!!!!

swags1016 Posted: Apr 24, 2004 10:20 PM

ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS--IT'S NOT WORKING!!!!!

We are trying to introduce my cat (female) to 2 other cats (males) and a dog. We tried an introduction for a few minutes and it was a lot of hissing and strange noises that we never heard either cats make before. Has anyone ever done this before? How long do you think it will take before we can trust them to be alone together?

Boop2704 Posted: Apr 24, 2004 10:50 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

Yikes!! I can picture it!! I think if you just leave them be they will eventually get along. I remember each time we brought a new cat into my moms house, they would hiss for a while, then go their seperate ways and claim some territory. Eventually after a few days they were fine.

swags1016 Posted: Apr 24, 2004 11:06 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

Thanks Jaime. We are afraid to leave them alone for a couple of reasons.

1) Mental and Wacko are 26 and 18 pounds each and Xena is only 6 pounds

2) Xena has claws and neither Mental nor Wacko do

3) Sammy (the dog) is old and sickly and we are afraid that she will be too much for him

UGH all this stress for only 2 months. I will feel bad that we will have to leave Xena locked in our bedroom when we are not home. She is used to doing what she wants. I hope once we are there that they come to like each other quickly. But then I worry when we move into our house that she will be depressed not to have a play mate.

Boop2704 Posted: Apr 24, 2004 11:10 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

Aww!! I love the names!! Mental and Wacko Eventually they will get along!! Maybe get her a gal pal kitty!!

Kathy116 Posted: Apr 25, 2004 12:06 AM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

That's tough,

My DH suggested putting the small, 'new' cat in a carrier..put the carrier in the middle of say the living room, (supervise this), which will allow the other cats and dog a chance to smell her. This could be anywhere from 15 min. to a 2 hour process.

The hissing and strange sounds coming from the cats is normal behavior when cats are being introduced to newcomers. It takes a long time for adult cats to get used to each other, if ever.

In terms of the dog adjusting to the new cat, depends on if this is a good and tolerant dog, some are, and some are not. The fact that the dog lives with two cats is a plus.

Good luck

070502 Posted: Apr 25, 2004 11:33 AM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

I always suggest people introduce new animals by holding the new pet in a blanket then removing the blanket from the new pet and allowing the old pet to get used to the new pets smell in the blanket before introuducing the new pet.

btrflygrl Posted: Apr 25, 2004 11:58 AM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

it'll take awhile....have the new cat locked in one room (with a baby gate or something) so that the other animals don't feel their territory is threatened....cats take awhile to get used to new animals.....pet them and ease them while they are looking at the new cat...

marymoon Posted: Apr 25, 2004 03:09 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

I've had that happen. It alsy take a awhile..a few weeks. i think the baby gate thing is a good idea...where they can see each other, but not get near each other, so they get used to the other animal being there..

Kathy116 Posted: Apr 25, 2004 03:19 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

The only prob. with the baby gate is that cats will have NO PROBLEM jumping over them. My cat is 10 years old, and he can still jump onto high kitchen counters.

swags1016 Posted: Apr 25, 2004 07:34 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

We brought a towel over that I normally keep in her carrier and left it at my Mom's. Mental went nuts with it, rolling in it, scratching at it, I guess marking his scent. Next Saturday the fun will begin

Thank you all for you suggestions.

mishandgerard Posted: Apr 25, 2004 11:32 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

Last year we had to put down one of our cats, Candy. Candy was in our other cat's (moocha) life for over 12 years. About 2 months affter her passing we decided to bring a new kitten into our home. Moocha was not happy for a long tim. Lot's of hissing and noises. Now sometimes you will catch them cleaning each other, and sleeping together. yes they do fight at times, but 90% of the time everything is fine.

I am not sure how an oolder cat will do with a dog tough. it may just need time to get used to the new living arrangements.

mishandgerard Posted: Apr 25, 2004 11:33 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

By the way congrats on going into contract!

swags1016 Posted: Apr 26, 2004 06:36 AM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

Thanks Mish!!!!

The dog really doesn't seem to be an issue. He is old and frankly could care less about the cats. All he cares about is going out, his bed on the bay window and this cage in the den (he loves his cage he goes in and even shuts the door himself) Mental and Wacko are the big issues. Xena is a very friendly cat and loves to play and be petted, my Mom's cats are very aloof, but can be aggressive towards other animals.

We are definitely going to do what Kathy's husband suggested while we are home. I didn't want to bring her there again yesterday since she HATES being in her carrier and in the car. We will just make sure that someone is with them whenever they are alone for at least the first week, if not the whole time we are there.

belleboyd Posted: Apr 26, 2004 01:22 PM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS

I had to introduce my cat (KC) to a new cat (Joe) a few years ago. What I did was:

We gave Joe a room for his own, food/water and everything. Shut the door when we were out. After he was used to his 'room', in that he would run straight for it if I brought him out, I would bring in KC for about 15-20 minutes at a time and keep KC in my lap while Joe walked around us. KC made all kinds of weird noises and hissed. I figured KC needed the reassurance and I could stop him if he tried to fight. Joe was young at the time and KC outweighed him by a good few pounds.

After about a week - they stopped hissing at each other and pretty much ignored each other. I guess it took a year before I saw them cleaning each other or interacting at all.

Now, while they are not exactly buddies --they will share food on occasion. And Joe will still run for 'his' room if he gets scared or something.

swags1016 Posted: May 04, 2004 11:14 AM

Re: ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE ADULTS ANIMALS--IT'S NOT WORKING!!!!!

4 days later and we are not making any progress. My mother's cats and dog could care less about Xena, they want to see where all the noises are coming from that is about it. Mental the Big one hisses only when she hisses at him.

Xena on the other hand is NASTY. I never knew my baby could be so nasty. I also never knew that she could growl either. I have tried the carrier, the lap the other room and nothing. She is just sooooo unhappy and mean. I feel so bad for her. I am starting to wonder if stressing her out like this is worth it for just 2 months. I even tried bringing their cat bed into our room so that she would get used to the smell but that didn't bother her. She sniffed it and walked away. I really want to give up and just leave her be, but I feel awful keeping her locked in our bedroom all day, thus locking me in there too because I don't want her to be alone.

UGH this is so frustrating. I didn't expect them to be best friends overnight. I had just hoped that she would be behaving a little better each day and she really isn't. She screams, meows, hisses and cries so often now, I miss my old kitty