Getting another cat

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

A kitten would be a better idea for a young cat. I would take the kitten to the vet before you bring it home first, though, especially if it has been a farm cat up until now. The vet will want to check the kitten out, do a FeLeuk test (feline leukaemia), worm him and de-flea him - all good ideas before you introduce him to your own healthy, flea-free cat. While you don't have the space to do a slow get together - and it shouldn't be too much of a problem at this age, you can introduce the kitten a bit more gradually than 'throwing' them together (:-)). Let the kitten stay inside the carrier inside the house with the door closed for a little (not too long, just for the introductions) and let your other cat sniff the carrier and hopefully, have the kitten sniff your cat through the door. Instead of using cologne - which is alcohol based and may sting - try using vanilla on a cloth and rubbing it on both of the cats so that they each smell the same smell. Another option is to take a cloth and rub it over your cat first, especially around the face and cheek area, then rub it over the new kitten so that your own cat's scent is on the kitten. Cats secrete 'friendly' pheramones through glands on their cheeks - that is why cats rub their faces against you - they are marking you with their scent. You can also do something similiar with a t-shirt that you have worn - rubbing your scent over your cat and then rubbing that t-shirt over the new kitten, giving it both your and your cats smell. If you do have any problems you can also purchase a feliway pheramone diffuser - it plugs in like a room deoderizer but is odourless - and it releases the same positive, soothing pheramones into the air. I suspect your new kitten and your older one will soon be playing together. Do make sure they are both spayed and neutered before they come into heat or season for the first time and you shouldn't have any spraying problems - which is a territorial issue. Good luck!!

Kathryn (owned by 5 cats currently)

Cool beans, thanks a lot for that. I read about the cat in carrier method as well, which will probably be what we'll be trying.

Puck was neutered at 6 months old so spraying hasn't and won't be a problem, or so I was told Hehe.

Do you think it'd be a good idea to use Puck's carrier to transport the new cat in? I'll put in the blanket I use for his vet visits.

Thanks everyone for the tips and the cute pics

[Kathryn41 3,205]

[

Cool beans, thanks a lot for that. I read about the cat in carrier method as well, which will probably be what we'll be trying.

Puck was neutered at 6 months old so spraying hasn't and won't be a problem, or so I was told Hehe.

Do you think it'd be a good idea to use Puck's carrier to transport the new cat in? I'll put in the blanket I use for his vet visits.

Thanks everyone for the tips and the cute pics

Yes, I think using the same carrier would be a good idea. It will have Puck's scent on it to acclimatize the new kitten, plus Puck will be familiar with that carrier. Don't be surprised if Puck even 'adopts' the new kitten. When I introduced a very young barn kitten to my older male, he immediately started to 'mother' the new arrival. She was only 5 weeks old - wouldn't have survived in the barn any longer - all of her littermates had already died - and he seemed to know she was too young to really be on her own. He would wash her and let her snuggle next to him even - would even let her 'nurse' on him though there wasn't any milk. When she was a little bit older he would play with her - gently at first - and gradually increasing in forcefulness as she was able to accommodate it. They became fast friends and playmates all of their lives.

Edited January 3, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Mags 112]

I'm, like, SO in love with that cat. I hate you mags!

She IS rather gorgeous.