Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

A second cat- mad idea?

24 replies

CelticPromise · 11/01/2013 17:44

Hi all. This is the first time I've posted in this topic I think but I have lurked a bit for advice.

We've got a beautiful tortie girl that we got from Cats Protection five years ago. She's about seven now. We have been thinking on and off about getting another cat but not seriously. Until today!

Friend of a friend has been looking after a stray that had kittens. The kittens are all girls and now they are a few months old she is looking for homes for them because they need to be spayed. She is thinking of keeping one but definitely not all, and the local animal rescue told her they were full. We have agreed to go to see them tomorrow. They have been living in her shed but coming in for food and cuddles and she reports they are very friendly. I've had a look at some info about introducing a second cat. Our girl has lived in a pen with other cats before but has been an only cat for a long time.

So we could drive away with a young cat tomorrow... which is very exciting, but I am worried about how our cat will cope. I am not sure how to go about litter training a cat that has lived outside. For full disclosure we also live on a busy road, but CP gave us a cat and she doesn't go near it, I hope she might be a good influence on a new cat...

Is this a daft idea? Any tips from those experienced in introducing new cats? Should we stick with one? Any opinions welcome!

OP posts:
issey6cats · 11/01/2013 19:08

a lot depends on how old exactly the kittens are as the rescue i work at does not reccomend another female in a house where there is already a female cat as cat society is a female hierarchy, and they have had quite a few returned due to resident female not liking another female in thier house,

they usually suggest either a kitten or younger male cat, if these are under 16-20 weeks it may work as the kitten would be a lot smaller than your cat, expect some hissing and batting though as your cat will determine hierarchy as the dominant female, as for litter training these kits have lived outside so if you have a room for the litter tray i would suggest a mix of cat litter and dirt for a start as this will be more like what they are used to, and then decrease the dirt element

i have four cats 2 who are brother and sister, one 5 years old and one 2 years old and on the whole mine get on ok, the odd spat but nothing major, but 3 of mine are boys and the snmallest one is the girl and she bosses the boys around

Original poster
CelticPromise · 12/01/2013 00:23

Thanks Issey for taking the time to respond. I will try to establish exactly how old they are before we make any decisions, and good tip about the litter tray.

OP posts:
VeganCow · 12/01/2013 12:07

I would not consider unless the female kittens are under 16 wks old or they will be too much of a threat. Unless you got a male.

Re. the litter, make sure you have 2 litter trays in 2 different places, cats are obsessed with their toileting and can get stressed if they dont have a choice of a couple of places to toilet in the house, stress leads to urinary spraying/cystitis and further physical problems down the line.

Lastly get a feliway plug-in ansd plug it in as soon as you get the kitten, really helps the new one settle and resident one adjust.

Original poster
CelticPromise · 12/01/2013 15:06

Well we have done it, went out before I read your thread Vegan. We think she's about 18 weeks Confused I hope we haven't made a mistake.

Our cat has upstairs and downstairs litter trays, but usually goes outside. We've got a new tray for the kitten and put it in a different room. We're going to follow the advice from the Blue Cross website about gradual introduction. Our cat is not impressed with the new cat smell but seems settled enough, going about her usual business.

We'll take it very slowly and see how it goes.

OP posts:
VeganCow · 12/01/2013 18:09

18 weeks is fine, i meant therabouts. 3 litter trays are perfect.
I have always done new introductions the same day, otherwise your cat will wonder what the small is. Let them meet, but dont be holding the new kitten, ignore her at first and let them get on with it :)

issey6cats · 12/01/2013 18:15

agree with vegan when ive brought new cat or kitten (biscuit was 10 weeks blue was 7 months when i adopted them) i just plonk them in the middle of the room and they just seem to get on with it, just keep an eye on older girl that she dosent mean business and hurts the smaller one, but from what youve said she dosent seem to bothered. my ginger girl who i lost last year was the alpha female and every time i brought someone new into the house, she did the batting six colours out of and hissing at them, then she would spend a couple of days eating thier food hoping starving them out would work, then she would leave home for two days sulking, but after her shenanigans didnt work (never did) she would then begrudgingly accept intruders and astutely ignore them completely

Original poster
CelticPromise · 12/01/2013 18:38

Thank you for all the great advice. Kitten is very nervous and hasn't come out of the carry case since we brought her home so I don't think we'll be introducing today! It's really good to hear that your resident cats have coped with newcomers though. I'm sure she will throw her weight around a bit at first!

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 12/01/2013 18:45

Celtic how exciting. I don't think that Sparkling cat would tolerate another cat in the house as it was part of the reason she ended up at the rescue. Sad

Original poster
CelticPromise · 12/01/2013 19:31

Isn't it Sparkling!Smile

CelticCat came from a rescue too, and has no friends among the local cats because she is the boss. But she has lived in a pen with others and had no problems, and we know she's very adaptable. So fingers crossed!

Poor kitten is terrified though. I feel awful for taking her from her family.

OP posts:
VeganCow · 12/01/2013 19:33

She will be fine, a friends kittens hid for 3 days behind the sofa-you should see them now!

Sparklingbrook · 12/01/2013 19:35

I'm sure it won't be long before she ventures out. It's all very new and everything smells different plus no Mum. Just takes time.

Original poster
CelticPromise · 12/01/2013 20:10

I hope so. My sister adopted a pair of boys a couple of years back and one stayed under the couch when anyone was in the room for two whole weeks. So I'm prepared to give her time! She's got everything she needs in one room, hopefully she'll explore when the house is quiet tonight.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 12/01/2013 20:14

My friend already had 3 cats and introduced a kitten. The 3 existing cats retreated upstairs in a sulk for about a week leaving the kitten downstairs getting all the fuss. Grin Now, they all get on great.

Original poster
CelticPromise · 12/01/2013 23:01

Ah that's good to know.

New kitten has come out! Only as far as the cat bed next to the carry case but it's a start. It might be weeks before she comes downstairs.Smile

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 12/01/2013 23:10

Awww, what's the plan for bedtime?

Original poster
CelticPromise · 12/01/2013 23:38

Well we just went in to say goodnight to her and she was nowhere to be seen... We found her hiding at the back of a shelf (she's in the bathroom, which sounds mean but it really is big and separate to the loo) and she's let me stroke her and purred Smile She's going to stay in there for the night.

And I've stroked CelticCat with the scent on me and she didn't seem to mind. So far so good!

OP posts:
VeganCow · 12/01/2013 23:49

When I got one of my cats at 8 weeks old, I put him in the bathroom for a few weeks at night. He had a litter tray, bowl of water and a snuggly bed with a blanket, teddy and ticking clock under the blanket. He was locked in atbedtime and I knew he was safe.

Original poster
CelticPromise · 12/01/2013 23:53

That's what I thought Vegan, she has everything she needs in there and she's safe from any bullying. She's obviously been exploring, hopefully she'll eat something overnight.

OP posts:
VeganCow · 13/01/2013 00:38

Prepare for some crying at night
at first but ignore her, she will soon settle :)

Original poster
CelticPromise · 13/01/2013 08:45

You're not wrong Vegan, she's cried on and off all night. This has provoked a reaction from resident cat who has paced around near the bathroom door and occasionally hissed and growled. See how we go today...

OP posts:
Original poster
CelticPromise · 13/01/2013 19:29

Update- new cat has ventured out from under the cabinet, played with toys, eaten, used the litter and come up to DH and me for strokes and purrs. Smile

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 13/01/2013 19:31

That's brilliant Celtic very rapid progress. Grin

VeganCow · 13/01/2013 20:49

ah its looking good, so soon as well!

Original poster
CelticPromise · 13/01/2013 21:46

CelticCat is sulking. We're giving her plenty of fuss and keeping kitten out of her way for now!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread