Having to take in dds 3 cats for 6 weeks, help

[justlass]

Dd is moving house but can't move in for six weeks, so will be staying with friends and family. In the meantime I'm taking in her cats as there is no other option. I have two cats of my own.

My plan is to put them in the (small) spare room with two or three litter trays, a scratching post, beds and a box and blankets. I'm hoping once they've all got used to the smell of each other through a closed door I can let them out.

Does this sound feasible? Anything I've forgotten that could help?

At least one of her cats has a habit of peeing on anything that's left on the floor, but there won't be any clothes etc on the floor. I am worried he may pee on the carpet or the bed though. However I can strip the bed and wash everything.

I'll leave them alone mainly for the first few days to settle in, apart from obviously feeding them and cleaning the litter tray.

My cats aren't allowed in the bedroom, as they're only a year old and play all night, so I thought whilst they're shut out at night after a few days I might let dds cats out of their room to spend the night in my room if they choose.

There are no other options, dds father won't take them, probably worried they'll pee in his house, and a cattery is out of the question due to vaccinations not being up to date and no time to rectify this. Mine are vaccinated, so not worried about this, plus all are indoor cats.

Grateful for any advice 😊

Anyone?

sounds very difficult, and I cant see a better plan than the one you are putting in place - a solid "stair gate" across the door might help, so you can open the main door without any of them running out and getting into a fight with your cats - sorry, but I think they will be in there for the whole 6 weeks....

lots of feliway.

can you get a waterproof fitted sheet and fit it over the top of the bed in there? And maybe put an old blanket on top of that?

good luck, you are doing a very kind thing

I have 5 indoor cats. It works just fine. Three are 3yrs and 2 are 13yrs. So long as everyone has space and a bed to hide away in, the older ones tolerated and played/still play with the younger ones.

I like your plan of giving them a coupe of days to settle in one room. Maybe swap their blankets over after 2 days, so their smell becomes more common to each group? Then let them mingle under your supervision. Mine seemed to bond over a shared love of dreamies.

it’s a lovely thing you are doing for your dd cats and fingers crossed it goes smoothly.

Thank you for replying. Yes, Feliway is a good idea, I thought about it and then forgot again. I'll look into getting a stair gate, but failing that will close doors in between to stop them meeting accidentally. I was really hoping they could mingle after a while 😬

Very kind of you to do this for your DD; I'm sure it will be really appreciated.

I think your plan is a good one - it's obviously not ideal but more space than they would have in a cattery. And once you see how everyone adjusts you can see about mixing, as you say.

Re bed - I'd strip all of the bedding off and have (probably two) waterproof fitted sheets on there. The terry towelling type ones you get from amazon are good.

If you can get them access to a high space somehow - top of wardrobe/ fit in a narrow floor to ceiling cat tree that might help them feel safe.

Re stress - try Feliway plug ins and also look into Zyklene, which is a natural calming supplement you can sprinkle on food. Hopefully you'll all muddle along.

I personally wouldn't bother with as many litter trays - just be really vigilant about cleaning morning and night instead. I know the rule is number of cats plus one for litter trays but that only really applies if you can put them in different places I think. But no harm if you have the space.

the problem with your mingling plan is you have cats A and B, your daughter has cats C D and E. A has to get on with CD and E, and B has to get on with CD and E, which is 6 relationships, and it has to not disrupt the relationships between A and B, 1 more relationship, or the relationships between CD and E, a further 6 relationship - so 13 relationships in all, and if one goes wrong, then you have a potentially serious cat fight on your hands - the chances of all 13 relationships going smoothly is practically zero, even if 11 or 12 of them do.

I'd get her to pop round frequently to see the cats just so they know they aren't being left.

I had to do this with my eldest cat when we moved, she stayed at a family's house and completely went skitzo and attacked the family member as she thought we had left her. When I went round daily and spent time with her she calmed down.

Yes she'll definitely be doing this 😊

@orangeleavesinautumn I see what you mean. I don't want any fights, so will presume they'll be in separate rooms for the duration.

I've put a waterproof cover under the sheet on the bed now 😊 There's no high places they can climb, as the wardrobes are built in floor to ceiling. It's not a very big room unfortunately. I've put a scratching post in, although I think dd will bring theirs. They're on their way now!

Zylkene is an excellent suggestion.

Best of luck, OP!

I wouldn't even consider trying to integrate them as I think the potential for it to go wrong is pretty huge.

If this was a permanent move it would be different, but as they're only there for six weeks I would just keep them all in the one room - they'll be fine.

Lots of enrichment activities for the cats in one room.

Feeding trays they have to work at, toys with food hidden inside that sort of thing.

cat tv? We had to use this when one of our cats was in feline lockdown.

Cat approved background noise?

Lots of hiding spaces. You say wardrobes are built in, can you create some high spaces for them for a while?

Are resident cats male or female? If boys, you might be able to mix them. In my experience females are more territorial.

Not really possible to create high places as the room is small and there is a bed in there. I could remove the desk and put my cats cat tree in there though. I've only got one TV which is in the lounge, dd hasn't got one. I'll have a think and look for cat food toys.

Thanks for all the suggestions, very helpful! They're here now, the tabby came straight out for food, the female ginger looked at the food with interest and the male is hiding down the side of the bed. I'll leave them to settle in now.

I'll abandon ideas of introducing them to mine and will just have to be careful with doors.

My cats are both neutered males, hers are one neutered male, two females.

I'll abandon ideas of introducing them to mine and will just have to be careful with doors.

I think this is the right idea - it's only for six weeks, and I think it'll be much less stressful to just keep them apart rather than worrying about whether they'll fight or not.

Even if they don’t get along, at least that is a fairly short time period to cope with. I second feliway and separation (with slow introduction if necessary) and additional litter boxes. And lots of patience. 😁

4 years ago, we took in a relative’s 4 (spayed/neutered/indoors) cats when we already had 4 (spayed/neutered/indoors) cats of our own. It could not be helped as he was unable to look after them.

It was initially quite difficult, we even had to completely separate 2 of the males for months as they kept trying to fight. After careful reintroduction they now all get along. 1 of his and 2 of ours have since died, so currently 5, and no hopes of returning them to relative at this point. I envy you so much for only 6 weeks!