2 new cats. HELP

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damian0407
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Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2017 6:28 pm

2 new cats. HELP

Post by damian0407 »

Hello all! I had 2 cats, one 3 (male) year old and one 4 (male) year old. The 4 year old was a bit of a grumpy thing, didn't like to cuddle with the 3 year old but they got along just fine. The 4 year old died and left the 3 year old alone in my and my mom's care. Half a year later we adopted an 11 year old cat (female) and a 3 year old (male). They told us they were both used to dogs and other cats, so we happily brought them home. The 11 year old is scared of our dog (border collie x labrador), shes large but very calm and sweet and likes cats. The newly adopted 3 year old cat turned out to have AIDS because he was a stray cat (they didn't tell us this) so we had to return him.

The 11 year old is in my room (attic) the whole day, and only goes one floor down (second floor) to eat and go to the litter. Otherwise she only lays on my bed, when i'm home and sitting behind my desk she always jumps up my lap and just lays on me. Her previous owner had to put her up for adoption because she loved going outside and her new neighbors didn't like it if she would go into their yard, so it's breaking my heart that she's so scared of going downstairs and going outside. We try to feed her downstairs, so she will get used to being downstairs (we first carried her downstairs against her will, but after that she could be seduces with food and would walk downstairs on her own for the food). It helped for a while and she sometimes came downstairs, but one time my grandparents came and my dog goes wild when they come inside (because my grandpa always walks my dog so she goes crazy) but the 11 year old was downstairs and got very very scared. Since then she doesn't want to go downstairs anymore.
The 3 year old cat I already had and the 11 year old cat also still don't get along, and the 11 year old has been with us for about 3 months now. The 3 year old will stay outside the WHOLE day, and sometimes won't even come home to eat his dinner, while before we adopted the 11 year old he would just sleep in the living room the whole day.

Since a week we also adopted a kitten, he's very curious and likes exploring the house. He often goes up to the attic where the 11 year old is but the 11 year old will growl and meow in a strange way and chase the kitten away. My 3 year old cat is also very scared of the kitten and will growl, staying outside longer periods of time too.

I don't know what to do, sorry for such a long message. I hope someone can help...
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Lilith
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Re: 2 new cats. HELP

Post by Lilith »

Hi Damian and welcome :)

If the older cat prefers to stay upstairs, then I'd let her - cats do change their habits, and I feel the only thing to do is what THEY want to do. Mine are the same - downstairs cat stayed downstairs for months and upstairs cat, upstairs, with youngest cat going everywhere (my garden's enclosed; they don't roam.) Now downstairs cat has decided to live upstairs and upstairs cat, you guessed it, downstairs ... These two are almost the same age, grew up together, and good friends.

Your three year old cat is clearly cross at the moment about the kitten but the cold weather might change his mind for him, perhaps? And a few special meals and titbits to tempt him indoors? I'd make a fuss of him, butter him up a bit.

It's early days with the kitten of course, and a new arrival always shakes up the household routine. Don't be dismayed by a bit of swearing and growling from the residents; they will compalin at first, if only to make sure Kitten knows they're boss. Dog sounds lovely; you may well end up finding kitten sleeping with the dog ... :D

I do hope everything settles down for you and the gang; I feel time is the remedy here, along with a bit of supervision. Do try not to worry; they'll get there. Hopefully other members will be along with more advice, but hope this helps for now, all the very best and do please update :)

ps - edit, you may find this link helpful - https://www.catchat.org/index.php/new-cat-introductions
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