Family addition. On Boxing Evening a bedraggled 18mth old female cat arrived, skinny, desperate, hungry and with nowhere to go.
Our 2 15 yr old senior castrated males were not amused. Cutting a long story short, no ownership found, so adoption and sterilisation followed. Recovery precedes freedom from safe confined calm space. Now due for integration in house. Helpful hints on how to handle would be appreciated.
3 Likes
Jackson Galaxy (he’s on YouTube) has lots of hints about introducing cats to each other.
He strikes me as being very cautious, but there’s no harm in that.
Good luck anyway.
1 Like
A feline Nativity tale (and/or ‘tail’)…
The three wise toms’ll be along soon…
2 Likes
Not a cat person, but that is because I am a dog person, I quite like cats, but I would say with caution and the backup of a soft hand on a shortish lead.
We used to have a one eyed cat wandering through our house in the summertime when doors were open front and back. She cautiously approached both our dogs and first touched noses with Tosca, the English Setter but was rebuffed by a contactless snap. She proceded through the house and caught sight of our Rottweiler, Boss. He was lying down awake and spotted her at the same time. He got up and advanced slowly towards her and she sat down as their eyes locked. I loosely held Boss’ collar, though not holding him back, as he stopped about a metre away from her. She got to her feet and advanced towards him. Very cautiously their noses, with the lightest of touch, met. That done Boss turned and walked back to the kitchen while One-Eye continued through the nearby open door into the garden.
To me it was a magical experience. 
2 Likes
You’ve warmed the cockles of my cold old heart David 
PS That Leonard needs his head examined. Imagine choosing Singapore over Jill Archer’s home baking.
I had five in the house in one go. It was the two females who avoided or spat at each other but never tangled. The males just ignored both of them (3) and kept in their clique but they did all settle down indoors at night and no fighting. I suggest you let nature take it’s course like we did, let them mark their territories indoors and you will probably find they all settle quite quickly. Good idea to put another litter tray elsewhere and the food apart until they all get greedy and try and beat each other to the trough. The dog then arrived as a pup, they would turf him out of their baskets and beds and in the end, he had a very good relationship with all of them and they often cuddled up together in cold weather plus the dog became very protective over all five cats if another one came near from the neighbours.
2 Likes
Not literally I hope? 
1 Like
Not poo-ing etc, cats will usually never defecate or wee where they live so hence the suggestion of a second litter tray, worked for us when we took in abandoned kittens. Unfortunately some will scratch to mark their spot, my poor sofa took the brunt when my son’s cat came home to live with me after he finished uni and moved south, his partner is very allergic to cat fur so she only visited me in the summer when the cats went outside in the garden for most of the day.
You’d better tell me at what point you catch up because I am obviously well ahead of you and don’t want to commit any other spoilers. 
I love the way the writers are so coy about the nature of their relationship, never any mention of sex 
, as if once past 70 or 80 the question never arises. 
Oh wow. Do you think Jill and Leonard are having sex? Hats off to them if they are. I’m only 60 and I’d rather have a nice pâtisserie any day.
2 Likes
A good point to leave it then, thread drift.
Give the new cat somewhere safe, where she can hide out. On top of the wardrobe, under the sofa, a cardboard box… or if you can, let her have her own room for a few days then let her come out when she’s settled down nicely. Most new cats, even if there’s no other cat around, spend a little time getting used to a new home and like to start with a good ‘retreat’.
Our Dudule started on top of the downstairs wardrobe, gradually started coming out, and eventually at two o’clock in the morning a couple of weeks later decided he would come upstairs and sleep on the bed.
1 Like
Cats Protection published a blog about how to prevent cats fighting. They have a help section on their website, here…
1 Like
Hi,
Had many rescue cats in my life. Best way to go is slowly. Have you got a room with a glass door anywhere? You could keep (temporarily) the new one in there to get her and the boys accustomed to seeing each other without any damage through fighting if they meet. Two healthy boys against one little girl is a bit too scary for her to cope with all at once. Cats are very territorial so that could happen. It might take a week or two but by then there shouldn,t be any squabbles.
Very many thanks to all who replied to the issue of the new cat. Things have been somewhat hectic since then but are beginning to slow down a bit now. Feeder training is now in progress and hopefully a routine will allow us to return to the status quo. Fingers crossed.