Ok, I brought Misty home yesterday and I put her in her new room. I planned on keeping her segregated from Schmooey for a week at least. It's not going to happen. The first night she cried until I came in. I had to spend the night with her and she wouldn't let me sleep. Apparently she doesn't sleep at all at night.

Today I opened the door and let her kind of wander, Schmoo saw her and they basically eye-balled each other for a long time with low growling sounds from Schmoo. Misty didn't respond but she seems rather timid.

I have to work tomorrow and it breaks my heart to lock her the bedroom for the whole day so she will feel more secure. I'm afraid she will just cry all day and I'm not sure what to do with tonight, should I let her roam, or just give another night of sleep and spend it with her locked in the bedroom? Not sure what to do, but it looks like either way she will be spending a good part of the day in the room by herself.

Schmoo hasn't made any aggressive moves towards her at all, but I also don't want to jones her out either, especially if I am not home.

I hate stress and I know it will blow over in a couple of weeks or so, but I'm stressed right now and tired.

Are they both kitties???
If so I would segregate them while you're at work. It takes awhile to get used to a newcomer and the little one will probably be fine in a room alone (and safer)
My experience :) After awhile they may be great pals!
Also- I think it's very stressful getting a new pet. Take care!

Yes, both are kitties. I will separate then while I am gone, it just breaks my heart that she will cry for me while I'm gone. She doesn't seem to what leave my side and if I get up to do something she wants to be right there.

I wasn't going to make the introductions so fast, but hubby disagreed, since we know that Schmoo is a wuss and this cat is so timid, there wouldn't be any fighting and there hasn't been, just stares and growls by Schmoo. Misty just stares and hunkers down.

When I brought SammiCat home, he spent three days in the extra bath before I let him out with Mia. Miss Mia was 3/4 Siberian and 1/4 wolf, so I didn't want to take any chances. They became the best of friends. I'm sure the cats will, too. A few days in isolation won't hurt the kitten. It'll give her time to get used to the smells and sounds of your household. Tonight make sure she has food, a litter box and a soft bed, then close the door.

With new incoming dogs, I feed the two an extremely yummy food side by side - with supervision, of course. For some reason, eating together cements the fact that the newcomer lives here.

I have never seperated my cats when I have brought a new one home. Of course there was the usual hissing and ignoring of each other, but the resident kitties where just trying to establish their alpha kitty position. It's taken from a couple of days to months for all the cats to accept the new one but they learn to live in harmony!

I would introduce them, let them spend time together. They will make noises at each other for a while, a week or two, but should eventually start settling in to each other's company. Since neither one is aggressive, they should be okay after a little time.

She's actually a 1-1/2 year old rescue. She has a whole bedroom, but the crying at night kept us awake so I went in and spent the night with her. I guess when I have to leave her to go to work tomorrow I won't hear the crying.

Ugggh, I hate drama, yet I am drawn to the drama, LOL.

Hubby's of the mind to let her out and let them go at it, I'm more of a let's let them meet gradually, but the opportunity presented itself this morning and I went with it.

Thanks again all for the tips. I have to take her to the vet. Apparently she had a scratched eye at the beginning of the month and the paperwork said she had antibiotics 2 times a day, yet the paperwork shows she had it once a day for about 6 days. Her eye looks a little funny, with the little white hood visible and she's closing it a little more than the other one.

Well, I have a feeling that when she realizes you aren't home, and she will eventually, she'll go to sleep.
I want to see a pic! :)

see my response before yours, I posted her picture there. Thanks

Do they have their claws? Keep an eye on them.
If not, that's one less worry. They might have hissy-fits but can't scratch.

Maybe if you turn a radio or TV in the rm where she is, on low...This might make her feel she's not alone. I agree if they both or one has claws...I'd be there with them both.
Also what might help is your scent...Put a pillow or blanket or even a piece of clothing you've worn...in the rm so she'll sleep on it...

[quote=irishrose]When I brought SammiCat home, he spent three days in the extra bath before I let him out with Mia. Miss Mia was 3/4 Siberian and 1/4 wolf, so I didn't want to take any chances. (quote)



Miss Mia sounds like an interesting cat.....1/4 wolf????



In the past when I had this situation, I just let them handle it with supervision at first. They will soon establish a pecking order and will get along fine.

leave a radio on for her. and they sell some calming scent stuff at the pet stores that plug in. feli something. it was recently mentioned on this forum.

Do you possibly have a large pet carrier that you could put her in in the room with the other kitty maybe that would make the adjustment easier. Just be sure to leave her food and water. I also liked the suggestion to put something with your smell on it in the room for her to snuggle with. Good luck.

Awww, Laura, she's precious!! You're wonderful to rescue her :)
Thanks for the pic!

She's a pretty little kitty. I like her little white paws.

..Put a pillow or blanket or even a piece of clothing you've worn...in the rm so she'll sleep on it...[/quote]
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That's what I was going to suggest. And sometimes with puppies we would put a clock in under the fabric, to mimic a heart beat. Or maybe a radio put on low.
My rescue cat, Frederica, is a double rescue..first home she stayed under the bed for a long time before joining the family.

Could you put her in your bed at night? Mine sleeps with me.

Right now my Schmoo is outside snoozing on the deck and Misty is wandering around, she finally came downstairs and is checking stuff out. I will definitely keep her in her room tonight and tomorrow while at work for awhile.

They both have their claws, but to Schmoo's credit she didn't ask to go out all day and stayed in the general vicinity of where Misty was, just observing and the occasional growl and hiss. I did get the Feliway (which was from another thread where I was asking about Schmoo's depression on losing her older buddy). I really think it helps.

Misty slept with me on my bed this afternoon, while Schmoo laid on the floor. Schmoo is my usual nighttime sleeping buddy, so we'll see how that goes.

I really don't know much about her except that she belonged to a hoarder and hasn't had any lovins', but all she seems to want to do is nudge and headbutt and roll around on the floor. She is scratching at the furniture though, I have 4 sisal posts all over the house, we'll have to break her of that habit fast.

Ditter, Mia was a dog, well, almost, she was a wolfdog. I got her a cat for a companion the last year I worked when I contracted to work an extra hour a day. I've never had a problem with dogs, cats or cats and dogs getting along, but I didn't rush the introductions with dog/cat combinations.

Jamie, it sounds like your two are doing fine.

Well, the second night went much better. I put her in her room at 9:45 and stayed with her until she fell asleep. I didn't hear her at all during the night.

I made sure to get up extra early (5:00 a.m.) and I spent an hour and a half with her playing and loving before I had to go to work. I wanted to break up the monotony of staying that room all night and then again during the day while I was gone. It went well.

Schmoo was on my bed this morning like usual and Misty was playful as ever in her room when I went in. Tonight they both will be free to inspect each other some more.

Thanks for all the info again.

Don't forget water! No worries, they WILL learn to get along eventually

With lots of love and a little benadryl, you can both have a good nights sleep. I use the liquid, and the Vet said 12.5mg per 10 lbs. Hope this is helpful

Perhaps you can borrow a small animal carrier. That way she can stay in it and have a safe view of her new home.

It sounds like things are going well! There may be the occasional 'tiff' but if they're not going at it now, it'll just be a while longer before they're able to be together. You're doing it right, slow intros do work best...Feliway also is a wonder. Rescue Remedy is good for anxiety - and has no alcohol in it. (it's an herbal remedy, this non-alcohol type specifically formulated for pets)

If she is up at night, she should sleep during the day. I know that's what mine do. I left this morning and just came home, when there was no one to greet me at the door - I knew just where they were. Sound asleep in my bed! I told them to get up and they picked up their heads looked at me and yawned. Lazy, lazy fur babies!

they'll adjust. For years my son's 200lb akita (bandit) lived w/us along w/two cats; no problem; the cats were there first. Last year I got a White American Eskimo pup; Bandit was so jealous that when ever the pup was out of her kennel he wouldn't even down stairs. He wasn't aggressive or anything just gave her the jealous eye and avoided her at all cost. It didn't take long that we noticed he'd play w/her as long as no one was looking. Well It's been a yr and a half and they are best pals; the 200lb Bandit even preens the 20lb eskimo. If she starts getting hyper and he senses she's about to get into trouble he'll start calming her down; if she's got to go out and not ones' paying attention he'll make you listen. Animals for the most part adjust as long as they both can see they are still loved.

That is my favorite kind of cat. Beautiful. Good luck on the blending family. :)

I have had my younger kitty for 5 yrs. and the older cat still hates him and he loves to chase her. She always runs to where I am for protection. Then too she will take a swat at him if he passes close by. Sometimes they make up and are friendly and sometimes not. Good luck!

It will only take one good argument between those two and the territory will be chosen. I would just let them out to get to know each other. the kitten you already have might just take your place and baby the new kitten. You have to let them get to know each other on their own terms. You protecting the new one is just going to make the older one more jealous as if you like the new kitten better. I have 7 and each time I have put a new one in the house, I just let them all be together and they calm down faster that way. I do not show any favoritism over one cat. good luck, they will be fine.

I'd let her explore under supervision... otherwise keep her in a separate room. She'll be fine by herself especially if she has a little food and water (maybe a box too). I think they're a little like babies, they'll cry for attention but if you don't give it to her, she'll go to sleep or find something to keep herself occupied.

My daughter and I both got kitties from the shelter almost 2 weeks ago. She had another cat around 1 year old and her kitty is around 3+ months. The older cat didn't like the kitty at all. The kitty wanted to play and chase the cat, but the cat didn't want to have anything to do with it. Plus, the cat is very timid around everyone but his "mommy & daddy" and hides when ever I go there.She had to keep the kitty in the bathroom while they were at work.They let them be together when they could watch them. NOW, finally they get along and actually cuddle together. My kitty is very young and thinks I'm his mommy. Sometimes he will cry and follow me, so I pick him up and he cuddles and purrs.He has been peeing on my sons bed with the litter box only a few feet from the bed.He does use his box, just randomly pees on the bed.Anyone have any ideas why he would do that and how to stop it ??? Thanks

Aaww, you got two kitties, God bless ya, one new one is killing me. If the kitty is 3 plus months, it might be marking territory and I would get him to the vet to be fixed. My Smokey was fixed at like 4 1/2 months because he already started spraying. He did it behind the TV in a corner. Where ever they pee, put a bowl of food over it and they won't pee there anymore. It worked for Smokey after a couple of times. Plus there are sprays out there you can spray to deter them, but I'm not sure if they work.

My best guess is he is going into heat early and is marking.

Anybody else got anything?

Hi, thanks for that info. My Schmoo is 9 years old and the new cat is 1 1/2. We let them out together the second day and Schmoo ate the new kitties food. Now we find out that the new kitty has an upper respiratory infection with presented itself on Monday morning after Schmoo had contact with her. Crap, now I'll have two sick cats. So the new kitty goes off to the vet and I find out that the shelter which told me she was Kitty Aids and Leukemia free, never tested her. I freaked because she had been with my Schmoo already. I paid for the text and it was negative thank God.

So $162.00 later after giving the shelter a $100 plus an extra $100 to help out another kitty and bringing them 5-20 lb. bags of dry cat food, I'm a little ticked that they didn't tell me they didn't do the test. They just said that she was clean and didn't have anything communicable.

I told them it would have been nice if they had just told me that I would have paid for the test before I even brought the cat home.

Anyway, she's resting comfortably in her room, quarantened for 7 days with antibiotics. That's fun.

When we got a 6 week old puppy, the old dogs didn't want anything to do with the her. But once the puppy grew older & calmer, they accepted her.

I think there is a can't-stand-that-dag-blasted-youngster reaction among many household pets.
Too much energy - leave me alone.

Is there any way you can put a temporary screen door on the room where she is staying? Can use the same hinges and put the regular door back on when peace is resumed.

I've done this and it works really well to acclimate the new baby and the resident.

How are things working out????