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

Original poster

4 cats - am I doing the right thing?

43 replies

catandgirlmum · 14/06/2023 15:14

I currently have 2 female cats (7 years old) both are very homely, don't leave the garden, aren't aggressive to neighbourhood cats and quite timid. I have agreed to adopting 2 kittens (boy and girl) the boy kitten is extremely nervous so will need a lot of attention to bring him out of his shell. We live in a 5 bedroom house so have the room and also have money to look after them all. But there's apart of me now that's started to worry I am doing the right thing! Is 4 cats too many? And will my 2 cats hate the new dynamic? I know that's hard to know yet, any experiences welcome! I also have 2 children (2 and 5 years old both girls and not bothered about our 2 cats so don't harass them or anything like I know some kids do).

OP posts:
VanillaImpulse · 22/06/2023 00:07

I'm in the same situation, I have two boys 18 months and just got 2 female kittens. Currently separated and doing lots of scent swapping. Was thinking of introduction after 7 days but maybe that's too soon?

Costacoffeeplease · 22/06/2023 11:05

When we have introduced new kittens to the older ones I bring them in in a large dog crate, big enough for beds, food, litter tray etc and let them all have a good sniff of each other. There will be hissing and maybe some spitting or crying, but after a few days they generally settle down, then I let the kittens out just when I’m there until I’m happy that they’ve been accepted.

Once they’re all together either throwing treats around, or playing with a fishing rod toy is a good way to get them interacting without realising they’re doing it

Icepinkeskimo · 22/06/2023 11:29

I was in a similar situation 3 older cats (one an ex feral) and then into my life came two kittens.
The turnaround has been life changing as the ex feral opened his heart up to the kittens and turned into daddy cat! They literally melted his heart, so yes I have a pack now. The kittens have bought nothing but joy, yes I do get annoyed at the 5am herd of buffalo impressions from time to time. A few months ago sadly Lenny my “wild one” passed away, he is missed immensely, however the last couple of years, I know the kittens changed him into a happy loving boy, who changed his life for the better.

Original poster
catandgirlmum · 23/06/2023 22:40

Icepinkeskimo · 22/06/2023 11:29

I was in a similar situation 3 older cats (one an ex feral) and then into my life came two kittens.
The turnaround has been life changing as the ex feral opened his heart up to the kittens and turned into daddy cat! They literally melted his heart, so yes I have a pack now. The kittens have bought nothing but joy, yes I do get annoyed at the 5am herd of buffalo impressions from time to time. A few months ago sadly Lenny my “wild one” passed away, he is missed immensely, however the last couple of years, I know the kittens changed him into a happy loving boy, who changed his life for the better.

Aww that's a really lovely story! I can only hope my girls take to these two as well!!

The girl kitten is very bold now and has darted out of the door when I open it a few times, she came face to face with my cat this afternoon which was not planned and I could tell kitten was going to jump at her (in a friendly way I assume) and so I grabbed her and my cat hissed which made kitten back off and then I put her back in the room. I know I'm going to have to do proper introductions sooner or later because the kittens are desperate to explore but I'm so nervous 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
catandgirlmum · 23/06/2023 22:41

Costacoffeeplease · 22/06/2023 11:05

When we have introduced new kittens to the older ones I bring them in in a large dog crate, big enough for beds, food, litter tray etc and let them all have a good sniff of each other. There will be hissing and maybe some spitting or crying, but after a few days they generally settle down, then I let the kittens out just when I’m there until I’m happy that they’ve been accepted.

Once they’re all together either throwing treats around, or playing with a fishing rod toy is a good way to get them interacting without realising they’re doing it

Good idea!! Thanks for the tips Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
catandgirlmum · 23/06/2023 22:43

VanillaImpulse · 22/06/2023 00:07

I'm in the same situation, I have two boys 18 months and just got 2 female kittens. Currently separated and doing lots of scent swapping. Was thinking of introduction after 7 days but maybe that's too soon?

How are you scent swapping? Have the boys realised they are there yet? For some reason I feel like male cats will be more accepting of kittens than females, also probably better that they are still quite young themselves. I'm really nervous about how the whole situation is going to go with mine because I'm so desperate for it to work!

OP posts:
VanillaImpulse · 23/06/2023 23:09

I'm taking the blankets the kittens sleep on and putting them in the middle of the room where the boys are. They have a sniff but don't seem to react much now as think they are getting used to it. They definitely know they are around as the kittens are quite noisy running up and down the stairs and have been miaowing at the door.
There was an accidental meeting when one of the boys went on the roof and came to the upstairs window and saw one of the kittens. He seemed unfazed but the kitten was scared with a tail like Bert Raccoon!
Next phase is some sort of netting to put on the door so they can see each other and smell but not touch

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/06/2023 23:11

We have 4. Our original boy was extremely pissed off initially. Two and a half years on, they all sleep together in a pile.

VanillaImpulse · 05/07/2023 22:36

@catandgirlmum how are the kittens settling in? Are they getting on ok with the older cats?

Florissante · 06/07/2023 07:21

I, too, would like to know.

Original poster
catandgirlmum · 08/07/2023 19:47

@VanillaImpulse @Icepinkeskimo
Thanks for asking Smile kittens are both doing really well and the little boy is improving by the day, he now comes to me for a fuss and purrs which is lovely. My two older cats have met them but only a couple of times for a minute or two, they hiss and growl and then run away Blush the kittens are now wanting to be out of their room more so I let them when my cats are outside or shut them downstairs whilst they explore upstairs but obviously I can't keep this up forever! I just feel guilty on my older girls and don't want to upset them too much.

OP posts:
Original poster
catandgirlmum · 08/07/2023 19:48

@Florissante sorry I tagged the wrong person in the previous post BlushSmile

OP posts:
VanillaImpulse · 09/07/2023 01:11

Thanks for the update @catandgirlmum. My older boy is not too keen on the kittens and usually leaves if we let them roam the house. So we let him have time when they can't get near him so he can have some peace and sleep in his basket. Otherwise I think he'd never be here!
My other boy has taken to the kittens really well and is quite protective of them which is so cute. One of them sneaked into my kitchen drawer when I didn't notice and he was the one who alerted me to the miaowing and where it was coming from!

Original poster
catandgirlmum · 09/07/2023 07:01

VanillaImpulse · 09/07/2023 01:11

Thanks for the update @catandgirlmum. My older boy is not too keen on the kittens and usually leaves if we let them roam the house. So we let him have time when they can't get near him so he can have some peace and sleep in his basket. Otherwise I think he'd never be here!
My other boy has taken to the kittens really well and is quite protective of them which is so cute. One of them sneaked into my kitchen drawer when I didn't notice and he was the one who alerted me to the miaowing and where it was coming from!

Aww that is so sweet! I don't think my two girls will ever get to that level with them unfortunately. But maybe I just need to give it more time! How long have you had your kittens for?

OP posts:
Florissante · 09/07/2023 07:27

Thanks for the updates, @catandgirlmum and @VanillaImpulse . Fingers crossed that peace will soon reign over both your households.

reallyworriedjobhunter · 09/07/2023 08:05

Your older girls might surprise you. I had a very imperious old girl who would always mother any new arrivals. She would wash them and teach them the ropes. She loved having babies around.

I only have one cat at the moment. I would love a few more but vet fees are terrifying where I live - London.

VanillaImpulse · 09/07/2023 14:04

@catandgirlmum we've had ours for 3 weeks. Kept them separated for a week while bringing blankets and beds into each others spaces so they could get used to their scents. DP made up a door frame with net on it so they could then see and smell but not touch in the second week. Third week we introduced them with playing and treats. I just hope my other boy comes around as he always goes out if the kittens are around. We do still let them have their space so kittens upstairs and boys downstairs a lot of the time.
The kittens haven't worked out how to use the cat flap yet but once that happens they will have to be separated a lot more I think!

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