New Cat "problem"

[Horseaholic]

So I just got a new cat. His name is Gavin my boyfriend and I got him from a shelter. He is SO SWEET. We brought him home and he walked out of the carrier and right up to my cat (Ziggy) a bit submissive but you could tell he just wants to be friends. Ziggy sniffed him and right after started hissing to no end. I understand that cats don't necessarily like a new one coming into their home. (I've had plenty my entire life) but now Ziggy is in the kitchen screaming and hissing and running in circles while Gavin submissively lays under the couch in the living room. (an entirely different room) I figure he's just being a hissy baby but I'm beginning to get worried. :( I'm a bit of a worry bug (Okay a lot of a worry bug) and everyone keeps telling me to just let whatever happens happen but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I don't really want to lock Gavin up when I go to work but I'm worried. When Ziggy sees him he walks away and just keeps turning back and hissing he hasn't gone on the attack once yet but hes really not taking it well. :o

[Sundays Man]

I'm thinking they will get used to each other. It takes time, and before you know it they will be playing together. That is what USUALLY happens. If your 1st cat has some kind of territorial issues it may not work out like that, but they will come to SOME kind of an understanding given time. We have an older cat that we have had for about 14 years. At one time we brought a kitten into the family and he was not too excited at first. After a while they were best buddies even though they would occassionally get into spats. We had the kitten we brought home for about 5 or 6 years and he disappeared one day when we let him go outside for a little while. Since that time, our old cat goes around the house calling for him. He really misses him and that's been a couple of months ago.

[LittleRedMare]

I would separate them while you're gone, for the first little while at least. When I introduce a new cat to my gang I make use of a large dog crate. For the first few days I keep the new cat in the crate (it's large enough for dishes, litter box and bed) and let everyone sniff safely through the bars. Then I gradually increase the amount of time the animals spend loose together. I never leave them unsupervised together until I know they won't fight. It's hard for them when a new cat suddenly appears and has free roam of THEIR territory. Usually they just need some time to adjust.

I don't want to be a downer, but you also prepare a plan in case your older cat refuses to accept the new one. I had that happen once where a senior cat adamantly refused to even tolerate the young cat I brought home. It resulted in a year of carefully confining both cats to different rooms/sections of the house until my oldster sadly passed. Odds are your Ziggy will adjust, but I'd prepare a plan B incase he doesn't. Good luck.

[Horseaholic]

Aw im sorry your cat went missing sundaysman. :(

I don't think that Ziggy has dominance issues (we had a little dog here just the other day and he loved him -Ziggy was bigger than the dog so if he had issues I think he would have taken them out on the dog as well) I'm just so worried that Ziggy won't adjust. We are testing the waters with this cat. (My boyfriend does the plumbing work for the shelter so we are trying Gavin for free) I just really want this to work. and I'm not giving up anytime soon. So I guess just wish me luck.


thanks for the advice you two!

[Cat]

I've introduced tons of cats, however, I never ever put them together when I first get the new one. The new one is always in a seperate room (usually bathroom or bedroom) for about 5 days. This not only makes intros easier as the original cat starts to gro accustom to the smell of the new cat, it also helps prevent disease if the new one has one. Sometimes the stress of a new home brings out URIs and having them in a seperate room helps prevent the original cat from getting it.

After the 5 days I toss them in together and for the next 2 days they are only allowed to be together when I am home (unless they are best buds), and then then after those 2 days they stay together full time even if they aren't 100% ok yet. Using this method I've had no major issues.

[Horseaholic]

:( I've already messed up the first step by letting Gavin out to roam free with Ziggy. It seems like I might be putting Gavin in a room when I go to work.

[Horseaholic]

Do you think I should put them separate at night? I feel so bad leaving Gavin alone in a strange place.

[Cat]

I would seperate them anytime you are not there just to be on the safe side for a couple days. It won't be for too long, and he might like the time by himself so he can relax.

[Horseaholic]

kk...I think I need time alone too so I can relax hahah

[oursarge]

We just got a new kitten last Sunday. She's been in the sunroom since with a french door between her and the other cats. She's pretty scared at times [She's from a feral cat colony], she's friendly but she'll dive under the couch when we first go in the room then she comes out to play. The others can see her and they all hiss at each other.

I don't know if it works or not but supposedly you're supposed to rub towels on each of them then put the towel in with the other to get the smell of each other then introduce them slowly. I just read about putting Vanilla Extract under their chins and near their tails [My cousin used to use baby powder and it always worked for her] so they all smell alike when they meet. I don't know what works. I've only done this three times before. Once I just let the new cat go and they always hated each other, they never got along. When we got Jack he had a cold and was in the laudry room for about a month and when he came out our other cat just took to him right away. When we got Bo she stayed in the sunroom a week then came out and there was some hissing but then they got along fine and still get along, they love each other. With one coming in to meet two I just hope it works. They just hiss and carry on through the door right now. Molly will be in the room at least another week or two until she stops diving under the couch when we go in the room. There are too many hiding places once she gets into the other parts of the house.

Good luck with your new kitty.

[Horseaholic]

I just put Gavin in his room (our spare bedroom) with a nice blanket, a litter box, food and a bed. I hope that all of this works out. I'll go see him before I go to sleep and when I wake up. Once I came out of the room I put Gavin in Ziggy ran to the door like he wanted to go in...he confuses me.

[carla]

I put my kitty in his own room to sleep.. or he'd demolish the whole house while we sleep! (or just keep us awake, lol) He doesn't seem to mind at all. And at Christmas when the tree is up, he spends a good deal of time in his room while we're gone.

I do feel bad sometimes during that time, but it's for his own good. One bout of bloody/decoration vomit last year learned me good!

I agree with others who say they will probably work through this. My old(er) indoor/outdoor cat HATED our kitten when dh brought him home. Older cat is a bit cantankerous, though, so it was to be expected. Now, however, they're much like Sundays Man's cats were.. have their play spats from time to time, but when the little one is out of sight, old man is searching/calling for him.

Sounds like you're doing good so far.. good luck!

[missdixie]

When I got Bailey, Bear was constantly trying to beat him up. It took at least a week for her to tolerate him. I put him in the bathroom when I was at work with double stacked baby gates in the doorway so they could get used to eachother without me having to worry about him getting beat up while I was gone. Hang in there!