McIrish.. Not bump related :)

BAKERMOMHDS · January 2013

Hope you don't mind, but we are adding a furbaby to our family this weekend. I'm pretty sure you added a new kitty to the family within the past 6 months, I was just wondering if you had any tips?

Miss Minnie (in my siggy) is super spoiled, but we found a really sweet rescue kitty (Alice) that needs a home. I think she's a good fit for our family, but i'm clueless when introducing a new pet.

Minnie is 11, she was around other kitties before we rescued her 10+ years ago

Alice is 5, she's at the rescue shelter, in good health and plays well with the other kitties.

I've been googling...which is making me NERVOUS!!!

Mrs.McIrish · January 2013

Yay for adopting a new fur baby!! Mine was easy but they were both young. Grady was 11months old when we got Tulley. He was only 8 weeks old so not intimidating to Grady as he was like 3 lbs!. Plus we'd only had Grady for 6 months some might have remembered his brothers and sisters(he was taken from a hoarders house). I let Grady see Tulley in the cat carrier first. I probably did everything wrong since I didn't separate them since I didn't think Grady would be aggressive. He did hiss at him a few times but Tulley is a gutsy, brave kitten and wasn't afraid at all. After a few hours they were playing.

Then there are my parents cats. They had 9yr old female when they took in a2 yr scared female stray that was living outside in zero degree upstate NY winter. E stray is scared of everything-- they still cannot pick her up and she's been inside since March. She does sit on my dad's lap though. The 9yr old attacks her daily. They had to separate them for months and they still don't get along.

I think it depends on the individual cats unfortunately. Hopefully your older cat will accept her. . Minnie may be jealous so make sure she gets lots of attention. Maybe separate them initially and give them blankets. Then switch the blankets so they can smell one another.. Ask the rescue for some suggestions too.

I hope they come to love one another. Mine groom each other and it is the sweetest thing ever.. GL!!!

Llamamama · January 2013

I hope you don't mind if I add my 2 cents!

I work as a vollunteer for a kitten rescue and have to introduce new kittens to MY cats all the time. I keep the kittens for weeks at a time until they are ready to be adopted. Then I get a new litter. What McIrish did with her kitties was exactly what I was going to suggest.

It's best to leave Alice in the carrier and let Minnie check her out. There may be hissing. Just ignore that. After a while let Alice out. If you have a large house, it might be beneficial to let her out in one room to get comfortable before letting her explore the entire house.

Give them both lots of attention but make sure Minnie feels like she is not losing her family.

Hopefully it will not take long for them to bond. In my house I have a male cat that HATES when I bring new kittens in. He hisses at them, he runs from them, he is a literal scaredy cat. But after a few days he is grooming the babies and putting up with their playful antics as if he was a proud father. Good luck!

BAKERMOMHDS · January 2013

Thank YOU SO MUCH Ladies!! I really appreciate all the good tips .

My husband is freaking out a bit.... we now have : 2 litter boxes, 2 kitty condos, 2 new kitty beds, 2 toy boxes (Alice's has been filled with all new toys)(and a few new ones for Minnie), 2 kitty food dishes... he googled all evening "the best way to introduce new pets". I forsee a complete house renovation to accomodate 2 kitties .

Llamamama · January 2013

It sounds like you are off to a great start! What lucky cats!

McIrish.. Not bump related :)

Re: McIrish.. Not bump related :)

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