Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
  • Need advice from folks with multiple cats >
  • Need advice from folks with multiple cats

  • Need advice from folks with multiple cats

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 06-12-2011, 12:55 PM
      #51  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Feb 2010
    Location: Maryland
    Posts: 3,586
    Default

    Originally Posted by cooper
    let her have her space in the basement, but leave the door open. If there are fights, let them have at it, get some feliaway plug ins for temper tantrum easing, they are not cheap. But they do work, my 3 , 2 boys are large and the little girl is small, she hates one male as he bites her to get his way, his previous owner had him declawed, She is the sweetest thing, but all of a sudden she stays up front and the boys stay in my bed, found tooth bite son her. she hisses and bats at him, but when he bites, she runs and keeps to herself. keep a bottle of spray water on hand to disclipine. the plugins are at petsmart or petco
    Yeah, that's the way mine are--the 2 boys are big and she's small. She's so small that my bil used to tease me telling me he was going to report me to the SPCA because I wasn't feeding her! He called her my "Clipart Cat". When she came back I had her spayed but she only got wider--no taller. Now she looks like a football with 4 legs! The only difference is that the boys are actually friendly and laid back (they came from a multi-cat household)--she's the one that doesn't like them! I actually have to watch her around children because she doesn't like to be picked up and will scratch or bite if held longer than 3 seconds...you can do anything to the boys.
    virtualbernie is offline  
    Old 06-12-2011, 01:09 PM
      #52  
    Super Member
     
    mommafank's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Grew up in WV but retired in Between, GA
    Posts: 1,046
    Default

    I would discourage cat fights as the Vet bills for resulting infection can run you big time--------1000.00 for me last time.
    mommafank is offline  
    Old 06-12-2011, 03:31 PM
      #53  
    Lyn
    Senior Member
     
    Lyn's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2008
    Location: New Hampshire
    Posts: 344
    Default

    Originally Posted by Jamiestitcher62
    Lyn, you give some really good advice. So here's one for you. I have a 9 year old very small female princess (tuxedo cat). I got her when my sister died for comfort and I spoiled the crap out of her, I also had a large male cat who was 7 at the time she came along and we just put him down at 16 because of medical issues, anyway, they got along fine, but she was starting to bother him because he was old and she wasn't.

    With the older cat gone, my female is lonely, I think, because she is sleeping in his spots where his smell is. Will she get over it or do I need to run out and get another cat for her and will she accept another cat at this point. Is it ok to be a one cat household or do they really want company?
    First of all thank you for your confidence in me. Second of all I am sorry for your loss. This picture is of my two boys who never knew each other at first but got along famously. The orange one, Diego, died suddenly of a heart attack. The grey brown one, Freckles, had a tough time of it. He would sleep in every place they had been. He even laid at the front door where Diego had collapsed. It was tough. My thoughts are if you are home a lot you can see if after a while your baby can get over it. It took Freckles 3 months. I had other cats that helped him play. If your female is having troubles and you don't mind having another cat, I would look into a12 to 16 week old kitten or really a teenager. The smell of mama is gone from the kitten. It will make your female young again even though at first she will hiss and fuss. I feel cats are better in twos (although I have taken that to the extreme :) ) The best toy you can get for a cat is another cat. Oh yeah, Freckles has bonded with the most crotchety old smelly female I have. She hates him. She snarls and hisses at him but he loves her anyways by rubbing his head on hers.
    Attached Thumbnails attachment-210565.jpe  
    Lyn is offline  
    Old 06-12-2011, 04:01 PM
      #54  
    Senior Member
     
    aliaslaceygreen's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2009
    Location: South Chesterfield, Virginia
    Posts: 725
    Default

    Lot's of great things here....thinking I may send this thread to my husband, because he is OVER this entire experience, and there only STILL three cats in the house because I won't let any of them leave. We took them in, they are family and you know what, I have family members that are just as irritating (although they don't PEE everywhere!!!)
    aliaslaceygreen is offline  
    Old 06-12-2011, 04:32 PM
      #55  
    Super Member
     
    girlsfour's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2010
    Location: Woodbury, MN
    Posts: 1,027
    Default

    [quote=mommafank]Wanted to share a home recipe for removing cat urine smell-----it really works. I have tired several of those you buy and those are just scents that cover up and when gone well there remains the smell.
    http://www.catsofaustralia.com/urinestainremoval.htm

    The 'recipe' to get rid of cat urine just seems to make sense and a lot cheaper than buying the stuff at the store. Don't really want to use it but sort of can't wait to try it!!!

    And yes, I love my three cats!
    girlsfour is offline  
    Old 06-12-2011, 04:42 PM
      #56  
    Senior Member
     
    kathome's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2010
    Location: Central Florida
    Posts: 701
    Default

    Two things I'd try. First is make the 2 boys smell like the girl, and/or vice-versa. That's worked for me in the past, or take all three to the vet's office and let all three "pick up" the smell of the vet's office that is mixed in with many other animals. This seems to make a difference once they are all back home.

    The other thing is to install a temporary screen door on the room that the girl is in. (Use the existing hinges on the door frame) They can see one another, smell one another, but can't fight or get hurt.

    Good luck. Cats are difficult to figure out. I guess that's why we love them so.
    kathome is offline  
    Old 06-12-2011, 06:47 PM
      #57  
    Junior Member
     
    Toni-in-Texas's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Texas and Arkansas
    Posts: 261
    Default

    Our son and daughter-in-law have a cat that was saved from having to go to the shelter. She spent the first year in their house upstairs. She was afraid of the other cats and the dogs. Gradually she would come down for a little while and then back upstairs. She's in there with all the rest now and loves everyone from the chihuahuas to the pit bull mix and the other cats, too. And they all love her, too. Give your baby time and she will come around sooner or later.
    Toni-in-Texas is offline  
    Old 06-12-2011, 09:36 PM
      #58  
    Senior Member
     
    LindaaJR's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: South Central PA
    Posts: 326
    Default

    I have had cats all my life and whenever I added a new one to the group, I did not keep them seprate from each other. I just introduced them, played with them all for a while and left the room. Some cats become good friends some do not and will slap the one they do not like whenever they walk by but usually is not a hurting slap, just one to say "hey you are on my terf and I do not like you". Since you have kept them seperate I am not sure what you should do at this point. Make them spend time with each other for a few minutes in the kitchen? put all food bowls in same room. I have several outdoor cats that I have given them homes because they had to leave their former homes for some reason or other. I would put the new cat in a large cage like a ferret cage for a week so it could get used to other cats and the new home. It has worked out very well. The cats have a couple "cat houses" they can go into and the barn. It is kind of fun to watch them interact with each other and how friendly some are to others and how some are standoffish. Good luck. Take care
    Linda
    LindaaJR is offline  
    Old 06-13-2011, 09:09 AM
      #59  
    Senior Member
     
    Jamiestitcher62's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: Connecticut
    Posts: 727
    Default

    Originally Posted by Lyn
    Originally Posted by Jamiestitcher62
    Lyn, you give some really good advice. So here's one for you. I have a 9 year old very small female princess (tuxedo cat). I got her when my sister died for comfort and I spoiled the crap out of her, I also had a large male cat who was 7 at the time she came along and we just put him down at 16 because of medical issues, anyway, they got along fine, but she was starting to bother him because he was old and she wasn't.

    With the older cat gone, my female is lonely, I think, because she is sleeping in his spots where his smell is. Will she get over it or do I need to run out and get another cat for her and will she accept another cat at this point. Is it ok to be a one cat household or do they really want company?
    First of all thank you for your confidence in me. Second of all I am sorry for your loss. This picture is of my two boys who never knew each other at first but got along famously. The orange one, Diego, died suddenly of a heart attack. The grey brown one, Freckles, had a tough time of it. He would sleep in every place they had been. He even laid at the front door where Diego had collapsed. It was tough. My thoughts are if you are home a lot you can see if after a while your baby can get over it. It took Freckles 3 months. I had other cats that helped him play. If your female is having troubles and you don't mind having another cat, I would look into a12 to 16 week old kitten or really a teenager. The smell of mama is gone from the kitten. It will make your female young again even though at first she will hiss and fuss. I feel cats are better in twos (although I have taken that to the extreme :) ) The best toy you can get for a cat is another cat. Oh yeah, Freckles has bonded with the most crotchety old smelly female I have. She hates him. She snarls and hisses at him but he loves her anyways by rubbing his head on hers.

    Aawwww, your babies are adorable. I have always had two kitties and now just having one seems weird. We work all day and we don't let her out until we get home in the evening, so she only goes outside for about 4 hours a day during the week. I could go for another one, but my husband doesn't want pets at all but is resigned to the fact that he has no say at all. I just wanted to make sure that if I decided on not getting another kitty, that my Schmoo wouldn't be adversely affected by being alone.
    Jamiestitcher62 is offline  
    Old 06-13-2011, 09:15 AM
      #60  
    Senior Member
     
    BARES's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2006
    Location: Where the sun sets.
    Posts: 403
    Default

    Agree with both of these, but would like to add one thing. Take something -- blanket, towel, etc. something each have used on their own, and give the boys towel to her and her towel to the boys. That way they can trade scents. Also helps to put yourself in the mix by petting her then the boys and petting them and then her. This way it trades scents and they know that you are interacting with them.

    Originally Posted by jrhboxers
    Originally Posted by Liz aka Helen
    I've got 9 cats and the only advice that I can say is give her time but you are going to have to let the boys harass her so that she will fight back and state her status. Let the fur fly as they say. She will let them know when she has had enough, believe me....ask me how I know....lol
    Exactly what she ^^^^ said. She has to 'prove' her position in the household. To the boys she is an intruder, to her the boys are intruders - sad to say - they are just going to have to fight it out. If you can, catch each of them and trim their nails. That will help with 'collateral' damage. They will work it out.
    BARES is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    Rosyhf
    Main
    23
    08-04-2015 04:38 PM
    caliquocat
    Pictures
    38
    06-16-2011 03:42 PM
    samroberts01
    Links and Resources
    3
    01-26-2010 01:57 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter