BS: New Kitten Advice

19 Dec 01 - 04:07 PM (#613230)
Subject: New Kitten Advice
From: Clinton Hammond

o.k... way off topic for Mudcat, but I know there are quite a few cat folks here as well...

Ummm... we got a cat... she's maybe 3... she's cool.. pretty laid back... but we suspect, lonely... When we got her, she showed signs that she my have recently dropped a litter... she was found wandering wild, and brought in... She spent weeks, howling around late at night, perhaps trying to find her kittlns... Well, that was a couple of years ago and she's pretty well adjusted now...

Herself wants a kitten, A full on, mewling, sharp-toothed, fumble footed kitten... While I suspect that Tigana is just gonna revert straight to mother mode, I'm concerned that she might also react badly to the change...

We're gonna hit the humain socitety tonight and ask their advice, but I figured I'd ask the experts here as well...

what say yous?

;-)

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19 Dec 01 - 04:26 PM (#613244)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: katlaughing

Kewl! Have fun reading, Clinton: Here and there's loads of info in this thread, CATS (The Animal Kind), from last May.

Good luck!

kat

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19 Dec 01 - 04:48 PM (#613256)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: lady penelope

Most female cats respond quite well to kittens. The main thing is how territorial she is. The more territorial, the less tolerant she'll be.

We had a farm cat once (feral) and she only spent two days hissing at the new kitten, before deciding to like the idea a lot. She was extremely territorial.

A kitten is going to be far easier to introduce than a full grown cat, way easier.

Good luck!

TTFN M'Lady P.

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19 Dec 01 - 04:53 PM (#613258)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: Wesley S

Our older cat Gypsy reacted with several hisses and paw swipes when we brought Jasmine home from the pound. We had to keep them seperated for a month or two but now they'll even sleep in the same bed. And they usually take turns chasing each other around the house at least once a day. But Jasmine had to gain some weight before she was accepted by Gypsy.

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19 Dec 01 - 07:00 PM (#613315)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: Tig

If you introduce a new kitten make sure the older cat gets plenty of hugs. Expect a load of swearing, hissing and general fuss from the big one for a while. Usually they come to an understanding between themselves reasonably quickly (a week or so). Sometimes this happens a lot quicker than they let their humans know!

DON'T try putting the kitten in the older cats 'space' eg bed, special cushion. It's just asking for trouble. Similarly with feeding. They won't just share plates to start with.

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19 Dec 01 - 07:11 PM (#613324)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: Dave the Gnome

New kittens are fine - far more tender than the fully grown cats. But you need at least three to make a good meal.

And try serving them with a starter of pickled duckling - deeeelicious.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

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19 Dec 01 - 07:12 PM (#613325)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: Irish sergeant

Clinton; Been there still doing it and didn't even get a lousy tee- shirt. OK, now that I'm done being a smat ass let's get down to incidentals. 1) listen to the above it's good advice. 2) If you haven't yet, invest in a water pistol beacuse the little darling will get into all kinds of trouble. 3)Remember that cats are not social creatures. (Lions are the exception) They will need time to acclimate to each other. 4) Get a female. Our latest is male and the two older ones are female. They will acclimate quicker with the same sex. Don't know why but it's so. 5) It's easier if you get a kitten. The older they are the harder it is for them to adjust. 6) Cats own everything or think they do. There will be fights and hissing. We've had our oldest cat nine years and the second oldest five and they still argue about who "Owns" the sleepy hollow chair. Welcome to feline follies. Kindest regards, Neil

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19 Dec 01 - 07:16 PM (#613327)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: Bill D

...and the answer is, you just don't know. Some cats will adjust quickly, some never. Give the older cat some space, and it just may work fine...she may LIKE helping you raise a kitten.

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19 Dec 01 - 09:03 PM (#613385)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: Liz the Squeak

Try looking at the 'new kitty in with old' thread, that I started about a month ago.... that had lost of useful stuff in it, but I can't do blickies... archive or check out my postings should be able to find it... or if Joe Clone is reading.....?? pretty please????

Go with the territory bit. Make sure each has their own space but don't do as happened here, make sure that the exit to the garden (if there is one)or litter tray is in neutral territory!

Morticia has just gone through the same thing, so PM her for some sound advice and probably some moaning as well - Loki is not named so because it sounded nice.....

LTS

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19 Dec 01 - 09:20 PM (#613400)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: Liz the Squeak

I just use ordinary nail clippers to blunt the ends of their claws. They still have enough to hunt and defend with, but it just takes that needle edge off that will rip through leather jackets and big fleeces (found out this evening after climbing a neighbour's wall to get Amber off a garage roof she had no intention of getting off herself.....), but it does need doing fairly frequently.

LTS

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19 Dec 01 - 09:33 PM (#613405)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: catspaw49

So Greg....you'd be talking about dingleberries? More of a problem with a longhair. Or do you have a personal problem with them yourself? You might try a bidet. Just a thought.

Clinton, lots of good threads on this....try not to push anything and it will go a lot easier. Give equal time to the older cat.

Spaw

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19 Dec 01 - 10:19 PM (#613420)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: Bobert

Bobert's advice: Get one as young as you can and a male. This will cut down on a lot of the territorial issues. The hissing will be over in three days if you do this. Peomise.

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20 Dec 01 - 07:36 AM (#613566)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: KitKat

My experience is that it depends on the cat. My older tortie (female) took huge exception when we introduced a (male) kitten. In fact, she swiped a chunk out of his ear. Eventually they settled down into a kind of armed neutrality. Previously, our neutered tom was incredibly p*****d off when I introduced 2 kittens, both female. He sulked ever after (at least until he was run over).

Good luck though, they will sort themselves out in time.

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16 Jan 02 - 12:58 AM (#628826)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: GUEST

.

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16 Jan 02 - 09:52 AM (#628940)
Subject: RE: BS: New Kitten Advice
From: SharonA

If you follow Liz the Squeak's good idea of clipping claws, be sure to cut ONLY THE TIPS OF THE CLAWS. Don't cut into the pink part where the blood vessels are!

Do be sure, in a multiple-cat household, to have multiple litter boxes (ideally, at least one for each)! This is not only a territorial matter but also a practical one (when more than one has to do its "business" at the same time – and when one starts digging in the litter it can trigger another, kinda like running water with humans!).

Actually, having more than one cat is generally encouraged by the professionals (breeders, vets, shelters, etc.) as being healthier for their well-being. Just be sure that neither cat has FIV or some other nasty communicable disease.

Here's the site for Cat Fancy magazine which has, among other stuff, a link called "Resources for New Kitten Owners": Cat Fancy

Good luck, and enjoy!

Sharon

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