Meet my new kitties!

[Staywithmemyblood]

We picked up 2 young cats from our local rescue centre today. Aren’t they beautiful! 😻 😻

Previously we’ve only owned one cat at a time so I could do with some advice/reassurance with this pair.

They came from a household of 16 cats and apparently had been cuddled up together when they were rescued. The youngest one is 5 months and the oldest is 9 months (may be the mother of the young one??).

For the first few hours after they came home they were naturally very nervous and hid behind the couch cuddled up together. The youngest one (fluffy tortie and white) was the first to come out to explore and start interacting with us. The older one was more reticent but did come out eventually. However, she soon started hissing and growling at the little one and at one point ran across the room and swiped her. I think she was jealous cos the wee one was on the windowsill and she’d previously been up there and seemed to love looking out at her new garden. She is also v dominant when it comes to their food- she’ll wolf down her own then growl at the other one til it lets her muscle in and finish hers. Idk, anyway - is this all normal settling in and cat behaviour

The tortie and white is 5 months and although it looked like she’d been using the litter tray in the rescue centre, at home she has pooped in her bed and peed on my DD’s bed. I would welcome any tips to get her using her litter tray asap 🙏

Oops! Accidentally pressed post!

Hopefully they’ll have a peaceful night and I think I’ll try feeding them separately tomorrow to make sure the wee one gets her fair share.

Here’s their pics….

Firstly congratulations.

Secondly....HELLO.... you know know the rules abut cat pics.

Thirdly quite normal for them to poo and pee on things in a new home. All of mine did it everytime we moved house. I woke up to soaking wet feet one time to find my cat Shadow has pee'd right through my duvet to show me his disgust at the new house .

I'd confine them to a smaller space and gradulayy let them roam free once they start using the litter tray properly.

You must have posted pics as I was posting comments - very cute

Aww they are both gorgeous 😍. I love tortie's. They'll have you wrapped round their paws in no time.

Try using a soft small grain litter, non clumping till you’ve checked neither of them are litter eaters. You need three trays for three kittens.

They are lovely. I’d feed separately too, one of my cats was an awful food gannet, always intimidating his sister.

They are very beautiful. But it sounds like the little one is intimidated by the bigger cat.

I would get them separate litter trays and make sure to feed them apart. I've noticed cats who've had poor starts in life will eat everything they can - it makes sense if in the past they could never be sure of their next meals.

I hope things settle down for you soon.

They’re beautiful! Congratulations! Have you thought of using feliway to help the older one settle, might help!

Awww. My tortie and white looks just like yours OP! She is a food gannet too, and yes I agree with CatChant about cats with poor starts, we think she had a terrible time to begin with and when she was rescued by CP (with six kittens!) she was skittish as hell and all skin and bone and would eat anything going. She's now rather more... elliptical... despite the floof and it's a constant battle to keep her under 5kg. But she's as content and good natured as they come (we think she's about 10 now) and a complete lap cat (with labrador tendencies).

Good luck with yours!

Two torties, goodness OP, you’re in for a very busy couple of decades.

They really know what they wan’t out of life & how to manoeuvre their humans to maximum effect to get it :)

Very beautiful fur babies, enjoy 😉

I would keep them contained to one room until they are using the litter trays and yes, at least 2 trays about the home, ideally three.

Agree to feeding them separately too

They a gorgeous 😻 Our cats, brother and sister, came as a 'bonded pair' from a rescue aged 4. I think at the rescue when they'd been terrified (both shy cats, left in new place, barking rescue dogs v near by etc) they'd spent a lot of time both hiding/sleeping together in an igloo type bed. Turns out they aren't really as fond of each other as we were led to believe! They rarely hangout together now!

I would definitely stat with confining them to one room to help them settle (as close as possible to where you want litter tray to end up). Separate resources, food, beds , litter trays should help to reduce the conflict.

Excellent advice about separate trays and separate food bowls in separate places.

Oh - and torties! You'll have your hands full.

Agree with everyone else. Feed separately and they shouldn’t be having full run of the house yet. Keep them confined until they’re consistently using the tray

When I got mine I think sometimes the couldn't remember where the litter tray was so couldn't find it in time. This is where multiple trays help.

I have a tortie and she is the easiest cat I've ever had so don't panic. They're not all terrible.

Agree with all the other advice on here and give it time.

Their not terrible their just little forces of nature with big personalities.

So I hear. Naughty tortie is what people usually say. I didn't mean terrible in the sense of awful really.

People always say I'll be busy or have my hands full when I mention I have a tortie, same as on here but nope. My tortie is quiet (silent in fact) and mild mannered. My last cat was entirely black and a total diva.

Ive got two dirty torts as i fondly call them and my girls are good as gold. Id love a house full but 2 indoor girls is enough for me....because DH says no more...

Thank you all for your comments and good advice 😊

We’ve kept them in the living room today and things have gone quite smoothly 😅

They do each have their own food and water bowls, litter trays and beds, but are ‘sharing’ everything atm (raiding!) 😬

The little one used the litter tray at teatime too, so hopefully this will become more consistent 🤞🏼

Good call re feliway too. We used this when settling our previous cat so I’ll pick some up tomorrow.

Here’s a couple more obligatory photos too 😍😍

They are adorable and I'm glad to hear that things are calmer with them, OP.

@AltitudeCheck I think this may be the case with these two as well - trauma bonded, but keen to establish their own routines.

PS - I knew there was something about torties! I have had one before, years ago, but she was atypical - a real lap cat. These two are gonna be trouble I think 🙈