Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

cats together

Options
  • 13-07-2006 10:24am
    #1
    fabcat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 215 ✭✭


    I got an absolutely adorable new kitten last night, he is the cutest thing I have ever seen, the only problem is my other cat hates him. Is this normal for the first time? The girl who gave him to me, said that the older cat will get over it in a couple of days and they'll become friends but its horrible to watch her hissing and spitting so much, I tried my best to give her loads of attention so she knew we still loved her but she seemed very upset. Any Advice? :(


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    mjffey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 180 ✭✭mjffey


    Fabcat,

    Nothing to worry about. This is a normal reaction for your older cat. It can take sometimes even months, but they will be fine at the end. It's just a matter of making clear to the new one who's the alpha cat.
    We have 10 cats, our oldest one is 23, or youngest 1 year and they all get on very well.

    Enjoy your pets


  • Options
    #3
    fabcat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 215 ✭✭fabcat


    They're letting me go home from work early to check on them!!1 :D


  • Options
    #4
    Tabitharose
    Registered Users Posts: 940 ✭✭✭Tabitharose


    perfectly normal, check out www.kittenadoption.ie for lots of info :)


  • Options
    #5
    RandomOne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 204 ✭✭RandomOne


    I don't think I've had a single cat who didn't resent, or at least treat with suspicion (hiss first, ask questions later) anything new and alive arriving in the house. Bit of a shame since I've had a constant stream of rescued everythings passing through :D

    My current eldest cat (9) hates all and any other creatures. Always has, and I figure by now he always will. But he learns to tolerate those who share the house on a permanent basis with only the occasional swipe if they don't keep their distance. The next longest resident (7) is much friendlier and although he's not too tolerant of being pounced on by puppies and kittens, doesn't hurt them and generally ends up being firm friends.

    So, IME worst case likely is they learn to live together. Unless you've got a particularly unsociable one like my eldest, they will probably become friends and good company for each other. :)


  • Options
    #6
    FranknFurter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,215 ✭✭✭FranknFurter


    Perfectly normal (Or should that be purrrfectly normal..........ok, Ill get my coat)....

    Believe it or not, we found that giving them seperate litter trays worked wonders, slowly easing them into using one tray by everyday putting a bit from one into the other.
    Seemed to calm them for some reason.
    But it seems to take their minds off eachother for a while.

    Also, I know this sounds harsh and it aint easy, but you do need to completely ignore new kitten for a few days, the more attention you pay it the more pissed off older kittie will be.

    b


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    FlutterinBantam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,575 ✭✭✭✭FlutterinBantam


    Cats are territorial and don't like other cats muscling in or "their" territory..hence the resentment...

    Thats why they do their spraying thing... unless de knacked.. to mark out their territory... While they may tolerate each other in time most cats will resent another unrelated cat appearing on their patch


  • Options
    #8
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    Good information here. We have a 9 month old kitten and am thinking of getting some company for her at some stage.


  • Options
    #9
    Heart_N_Soul
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭Heart_N_Soul


    Hi Guys
    I got a new kittie 2 weeks ago. My first 2 cats Bonnie and Clyde never had babies, I was kinda upset so I rescued a kitten to complete the family!
    Bonnie wasnt the mothering type to say the least, she growls and hisses at the baby (Sam) and runs away from him whenever possible. But when he's asleep she compes over looking all innocent and sniffs around his head!!
    Clyde followed him everywhere at the start, and looked at him as if to say "ugh he's weird, why is he so small" !! he protected the baby whenever bonnie was bullying him too!!!
    Things havent really improved between Bonnie and Sam yet but she tolerates him. I feel sorry for him though cos he is really hyper and bouncy and always tries to play with her and she just gives him a smack instead:D
    Emma


  • Options
    #10
    RandomOne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 204 ✭✭RandomOne


    Heart_N_Soul wrote:
    I feel sorry for him though cos he is really hyper and bouncy and always tries to play with her and she just gives him a smack instead:D
    Emma

    There's enough discussion about parents smacking their kids, but my kitten (4 months now) is my daughter's cat's baby. A total alpha-male in the making and before they were separated, his Mum used to lie on him and bite his head to get him to quit being hyper. Serious parental abuse. :D


  • Options
    #11
    fabcat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 215 ✭✭fabcat


    The older kittie has now surprised the hell out of me, she was really mean to the little kittie for the first while but yesterday, we watched them both lying on the bed. Little kittie had some sleep in her eye and Big kittie went over and licked her clean, then curled round her and they both went to sleep they've been playing with each other ever since, I think big kittie needs to realise that little kittie is a bit small and can't play as roughly as she can, but they seem to be getting along grand....................it is soooooo cute to watch. :p


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    RandomOne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 204 ✭✭RandomOne


    Job done mate. :)

    And don't worry about bigger kittie being over-rough, they back off when little kittie squeals and don't really do them any harm ... mine has been squashed by the dog several times already, and as soon as the dog leaps away, the little swine leaps straight at him again. I swear he only squeals so he can gain the upper paw. (You can see his Mum's point can't you) :D


  • Options
    #13
    FranknFurter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,215 ✭✭✭FranknFurter


    Heart_N_Soul wrote:
    Hi Guys
    I got a new kittie 2 weeks ago. My first 2 cats Bonnie and Clyde never had babies,
    Emma

    Please please PLEASE get your cats & kittens neutered.
    http://www.kittenadoption.ie/neuter.htm
    It really is cruel to cats as a species not to.

    b


  • Options
    #14
    RandomOne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 204 ✭✭RandomOne


    FranknFurter wrote:
    Please please PLEASE get your cats & kittens neutered.
    http://www.kittenadoption.ie/neuter.htm
    It really is cruel to cats as a species not to.

    b


    It is NOT cruel not to neuter. There may be moral reasons why neutering is a good idea, but it's brutally unfair to judge people as cruel if they choose not to.


  • Options
    #15
    Arcadian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 498 ✭✭Arcadian


    As the ad says ''it's nicer to neuter'' ;) I don't see how neutering is a moral issue?


  • Options
    #16
    FranknFurter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,215 ✭✭✭FranknFurter


    RandomOne wrote:
    but it's brutally unfair to judge people as cruel if they choose not to.

    To me, it is a "brutally unfair" act to the cat population *not* to neuter / spay, and I refuse to tippy-toe about things when I have a strong belief.:rolleyes:

    Anyways, thats purely my own opinion, but I can comfortably say that it is also the general consensus of the vast majority of responsible cat owners. (Who are not breeding for showing reasons).

    *shrug* We probably wont agree on it.

    b


Advertisement