Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok everyone.. I have just filled out an application to adopt and adorable three year old tortoise shell colored girl from the local spca. I am awaiting a call tonight or tomorrow to let me know if I have been approved. This cat is very friendly and gets along fine with the cats at the shelter. I have a one year old calico Belle, with somewhat of a tude (everyone from the chats know the stories of Belle lol!) A part of me is very nervous that Belle might be somewhat aggressive, and another part of me thinks after a few days she would just love a friend. I think this because I caught her sitting next to a mouse in the basement, communicating with it instead of trying to kill it! This cat baffles me, I have seen her be curious and somewhat friendly with another cat, and I have seen her tear a dog to shreads. I'm hoping that this won't be a problem, I don't know how likely two females are to bond to each other and become friends. What I need from all the multiple cat owners out there, is some advice on how to properly introduce them, and make this addition to the family the best it can be. The cat I am adopting (Shania) has lived in this shelter since May of 05, and she is between 2-3 years old. She had a litter of kittens the day after they brought her in. This cat has not had an easy road or a loving family and I am very excited to give her both!!

Hi There,

Concats! I couldn't imagine that you wouldn't be approved.

I have to warn you, though, that it may take a lot longer than a few days for the 2 cats to get along. Remember, that torties also have TUDE and that the cats will have to establish who will be the top cat in the house. Chances are that the resident cat will be #1, but if the new kitty challenges her they will have to work it out.

I am owned by 2 torties that happen to get along extremely well. They lived together before but I adopted them years apart. One of the cats had been a resident in the cat hospital where I work for a few years. I adopted her not quite 3 months ago and she fit into my feline family right away. I let her mingle with my resident cats right away, but I am home a lot and I know her personality. She got along with all of the cats at the hospital and never showed aggression.

Your new baby should have her own room for at least a couple of weeks. This will give both cats a chance to get used to each other's smells before they actually meet. Don't be alarmed if there is growling and/or hissing through the door. This would be normal.

A shelter kitty is used to being around other cats and that will be to her advantage. I suspect that your calico will not be thrilled with the new arrival so she will need lots and lots of love and extra attention.

If you make the introduction slow and gradual it will be easier on everyone. When you do start letting the new baby out of her room, I wouldn't give her the run of the house. Unless you find that they get along from the start. Even then I would watch them very closely.

I have 10 cats here and have had mostly female cats that have always gotten along. One of my males is not wild about one of the girls, but they have learned to tolerate each other. As time goes on, they are spending more and more time close to each other. It used to be that they would prefer being in different rooms.

Take care, and please keep us updated on how things go. See you in the chats

Regards,
PHKitkat

Concatulashuns! Yup , what Kitkat said..
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PHTessie

Congratulations to you and Shania! I have three calicos who were all adopted as adults. The first two, only a couple of weeks apart, and they required little separation since the second was pretty docile. Added the third a few months later and that took longer and still there are squabbles between the first dominant one and the third one (manx calico) who also wants to rule the roost. Four years later, added a calico/Siamese. It took a month or so of her having her own bedroom complete with litterbox, toys and food/water before we would let them do anything more than sniff under the door or see her in a carrier.
Even then, it was another month or so before we would go off and leave her out with the run of the house with the others. Too many dominant personalities.
So, I definitely agree with all the advice about taking it slow and easy and introducing gradually. I would put towels on the newest one's bed and after she slept on them, move them out into various parts of the house to let the others get familiar with her smell and then would take little pieces from her litter box and put in the others' to get them used to that scent, too.
I suspect they will become firm friends after a bit and you're probably right about the first one enjoying company. Even if they don't do anything like sleep close together, I think it's healthier for them to have another living creature in the house when you're gone.
Really happy to hear of the new adoption! Good luck and happiness.
Katc

A couple other things to try during the two or more week separation (new cat isolated with food/water/litter/toys in her own room) is when you do introduce, you can have the new cat in a cat carrier so they can sniff each other safely first and you can see how they might get along. You can also occasionally close the old cat temporarily in a room and let the new cat have safe run of the house to get used to it from time to time (after the first few days in her own room). The towels is a very good idea. Rub both cats down with different towels and put the new cat's towel in the old cat's room and vice versa. Then they can safely sniff each other's smells. Two weeks or so may seem like a long time gradually introducing them, but once it is over, you will hopefully have harmony...

Bless you for adopting her and giving her a happy home!
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey