Legacy cat
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2022 5:56 pm
Hi,
My father died last week.
He left behind a beautiful black adult female cat of about 8 years old, and I swore to my dad that i would take care of her should anything happen to him.
I've brought her to my house (3-bed semi); she's been set up upstairs with wet food, dry food, water, scratching post and litter tray, as well as comfy beds and window sills to look out of.
She has settled in ok over the last 5 days and seems quite content, if anything she wants to explore further.
Here's the problem: i already have 2 happy cats in my household, who are used to coming and going as they please, they have no restrictions.
I realise the new girl has lost her human, and been ripped from her territory where she lived a happy, solitary life. So i'm going easy on her and giving her space and time.
At some point though, she has to integrate with my 2 happy cats; currently they are being kept downstairs so they can still come and go using the cat flap.
There have already been a couple of accidental introductions where one cat has bolted through the lounge door as i've opened it, and come face to face with the other.
My 2 resident cats seem ok with the new cat, they're a little sketchy obviously but not aggressive. I suspect they would approach her and figure things out, they are sweet cats.
However the new cat is growling at them (more of a whining sound), and then returns to her base upstairs.
I know it's early days, but I'm worried that the new cat has lived alone for so long with her own space, and that she'll be stressed living with 2 other cats.
I will never put her into a rescue centre, but i'm starting to wonder if i should find another home for her where she will be the only cat. I would rather not do that though as I promised my dad, i would rather try to integrate her into my house first.
Any thoughts or advice please?
My father died last week.
He left behind a beautiful black adult female cat of about 8 years old, and I swore to my dad that i would take care of her should anything happen to him.
I've brought her to my house (3-bed semi); she's been set up upstairs with wet food, dry food, water, scratching post and litter tray, as well as comfy beds and window sills to look out of.
She has settled in ok over the last 5 days and seems quite content, if anything she wants to explore further.
Here's the problem: i already have 2 happy cats in my household, who are used to coming and going as they please, they have no restrictions.
I realise the new girl has lost her human, and been ripped from her territory where she lived a happy, solitary life. So i'm going easy on her and giving her space and time.
At some point though, she has to integrate with my 2 happy cats; currently they are being kept downstairs so they can still come and go using the cat flap.
There have already been a couple of accidental introductions where one cat has bolted through the lounge door as i've opened it, and come face to face with the other.
My 2 resident cats seem ok with the new cat, they're a little sketchy obviously but not aggressive. I suspect they would approach her and figure things out, they are sweet cats.
However the new cat is growling at them (more of a whining sound), and then returns to her base upstairs.
I know it's early days, but I'm worried that the new cat has lived alone for so long with her own space, and that she'll be stressed living with 2 other cats.
I will never put her into a rescue centre, but i'm starting to wonder if i should find another home for her where she will be the only cat. I would rather not do that though as I promised my dad, i would rather try to integrate her into my house first.
Any thoughts or advice please?