One More Cat Question

[oursarge]

OK now Little Miss Molly is eating like a little piggy. I'm so happy about that. She's as cute as cute can be. She's been in the sunroom a week and 1/2 and I'd like to let her out. She will still dive under the couch but she comes right out, I think that's a habit. She loves to be held and she loves to play. I'm nuts about this cat, oh yeah she even knows how to type!

Now the problem comes in. I've read all there is to read about introducing cats and so far not much is working. I've tried letting them have a towel that I've rubbed on all of them, feeding in front of the door [The two on the outside won't eat there] letting her get her smell in the other rooms when they aren't around. Tonight I put her in the laundry room with the other "kids" litter boxes and food. Jack the cat went in and sat there watching her while she hissed and he hissed. Bo hisses and growls when she looks at Molly. They started out rubbing on each other then decided they wanted to hiss.

I know that is all normal but I don't know if I should just let Molly out [She can fight her own battles and can hiss like the others] and see if they will eventually work it out or should I keep her in that room and let them keep looking and growling at each other and hope it will eventually stop? I even put her in her crate so they could look at her and it was still hiss and growl.

When I let Bo out when we first got her there was some commotion but then they started playing and loving on each other. I don't know if that will happen here. Any advise? I might give them all Bach Rescue Remedy. I ordered Feliway but that hasn't come yet, I'm thinking maybe I should wait for that and see if that works. I just want them to like each other but I know I can't push it and can't make them get along. I never introduced a cat to more than one cat before. The other times I did it there were no real issues except for once when I did it wrong. The times they were introduced through the door went great but I don't know about this time.

[WashingtonBay]

I'd let them mingle when you're home to break up any fights that are more than just noise.

And don't expect them to adjust quickly and be best buddies. They might, but I wouldn't count on it. With all these kittens this summer, Pippin started just walking around complaining most of the time they were in sight, and he still does it if they get too close. Tweek has only recently really warmed up to the two newest ones, and they've been in this house a month.

[oursarge]

Thanks WB. I've had cats for yrs but it's like it's a new experience with every new cat! I wish I could close off part of the house but we can't find the baby gate so I think that I'll just close the upstairs bedroom door since that's where the 2 hang out during the day and there are too many places for her to hide up there.

I got spoiled with Misty and Jack and Jack and Bo. Jack has been sort of looking for her so that might be OK but Bo seems really mad so I think she'll be grumbling!

One reason I didn't know about another cat was if they'd get along. I hope that eventually they can live here without killing each other. None of them are nasty cats so fingers crossed. Thank you!

[WashingtonBay]

I bet they'll work out some kind of amicable relationship in time :)

[Cat]

At this point, let them mingle with supervision, but keep them seperated when you are not there for a couple more days unless they become best buds.

Keep a set of leather gloves on hand. If they do ball up (doesn't happen often, but sometimes - usually when you don't have gloves) then you will have protection for your hands when you seperate them.

[oursarge]

I don't have leather gloves, will a blanket work????? Bo is declawed [We adopted her that way, we didn't do it to her]. I think I will let them mingle because I'm tired of keeping her in the room. None of the other stuff I tried has worked. I just don't want her going under the bed so I'll keep that door shut. Thank you!

[Cat]

Yup, a blanket works well too. Bet they settle down pretty quickly. Maybe some grumbling, but nothing bad. Usually its all noise and nothing really serious.

[JetLagaside]

Yep I'm with everyone else :) let them mingle when your home, keep up posted.

[cloedoll]

I have had so many cats and we have tried all the techniques, but honestly, jsut let them meet face to face and work things out. If the fight gets bad, you are able to break it up (like WBay mentioned). Again, as WBay mentioned, they aren't going to love each other right away. My two cats took days, the other two still don't get along and they have been living together for nine months. It just depends. Good luck!

[WashingtonBay]

I don't have leather gloves, will a blanket work?????

A spray bottle of water works too. Or just throw something at them. Anything to surprise them and distract them from the fight long enough for someone to retreat.

[Gypsy Rose]

Spray bottles are a cat owner's best friend, lol! Especially in stream setting, lol!

[oursarge]

KIDS. I had Jack and Molly in the family room and laundry room. They were OK didn't chase or anything but if one went near the other they'd either both hiss or one would. When Jack started to smack Molly then I threw a few drops of water at him. Molly isn't scared she just wants to explore. I never thought this would be so hard. She enjoyed being in the room she was all over under the furniture rolling all over Noah's bed. I don't care if they ever like each other I just don't want them killing each other. They are back in their neutral corners now. I thought with a kitten it would be easier but I guess not. There is a window between the sunroom and living room and I opened that some hoping maybe they'll see each other and touch through there. Once we remember to close the bedroom door I think I'm just going to let them all go and what happens happens since nothing I've read has helped so far. Even Bach remedy didn't settle them down. OH WELL I never thought it would be this hard, I knew hissing etc was normal but this has gone on for 3 hrs 'til finally I put Molly back in her room, we haven't even added Bo to the mix yet, she's sleeping in the bedroom now. Thanks for your help everyone. I have to bring my squirt bottle in from the garage. I just had a little water in a bottle and it worked to stop the smacking around. Molly just wants to ignore Jack, he is sort of wanting to be friends now but yet she hisses then he does and then he smacks. I don't know if Feliway will work or not but maybe I'll wait 'til I get that 'til I try again.

[WashingtonBay]

You're worrying too much. :) Unless there's serious blood and hair flying, let them hiss and bat at each other. Just holler to break it up if it goes on too long and separate them if you're leaving (for now) and they WILL work it out.

I'd open up as much of the house as you can.... more territory is better than keeping them in tight quarters. If they want to chase each other through the house, or if they want to just go hide someplace, let them. :)

[Cat]

Spray bottles are a cat owner's best friend, lol! Especially in stream setting, lol!

Unless you have a bengal! A couple of mine could care less about being squirt.

And really - it doesn't sound like its going all that bad and only 3 hours of it? I've let cats growl and hiss at each other for 2 weeks before they finally settled in. They are still on new meeting terms, give them time.

[oursarge]

Thanks all, I am going to close the bedroom door then let them go for it or maybe I'll wait 'til tomorrow in case I can't catch her. I have to go out later because we'll be taking care fo the stable our mare is at while they are away. I get to take care of over 60 horses!!!! YES. I can do that but not deal with a few cats! I do worry way too much, worry is my middle name. When we let Jack and Bo together I just let them go and walked away and eventually in not too long a time they became best friends. Molly is so curious she's mostly ignoring them unless they get near her. I just don't want her under the bed because I can't get her then. Hopefully when it's time to leave I'll be able to find her since I don't want to leave them unsupervised. Thank you!

[Gypsy Rose]

Oursarge, if it makes you feel any better, Junior and Sabrina still don't get along! Well, actually, Junior wants to be friends, but if he even gets within five feet of her, she starts growling, lol!

Junior's been here almost 2 years to the day, since he was a little kitten, and Sabrina's 9.

[oursarge]

I was really hoping they'd all be friends but I guess if they can just live in the same house without killing each other I'll be happy! We have a window between our sun room and living room and I have that opened a crack so they can look at each other and stick their hands through but not hurt each other. Jack and Bo love each other so I was hoping that Molly would fit in like a little baby sister, guess they have other ideas. She might fit in, she might not I guess we'll see. I have to stop hovering. When I let Bo go I just let her go and let the hissing etc go on and next thing I knew they were buddies. When the bedroom door upstairs is shut I'll try that. I told my husband to shut it this a.m. and he forgot. The stairs bother my knees so I don't go up and down. I really want a house all on one floor!!!!! Anyway I know today is just the first day. We'll keep trying.

It's funny this weekend we'll be taking care of over 60 horses [one recovering from surgery], plus donkeys, cows, sheep, goats, llamas, pigs, 2 German Shepherds, cats, a conure and more and I don't think twice about it but I'm a nervous wreck with these cats!!!!! Molly is in her room for the night now, the other two are looking at her through the window. We'll try again tomorrow. Thanks so much for the support, it's so nice to have someone to be able to ask. The girl I got her from gave me info but none of that has worked.

[Gypsy Rose]

Good luck, and keep us posted!

[oursarge]

Good luck, and keep us posted!


Thank you, I'll probably have you all crazy by the time this is over. I never thought one little kitty could cause such an uproar!!!!! Last week it was not eating which thankfully has passed, she's eating everything in sight, I have to weigh her to see if she's gained anything.

This week it's "Let's not make friends" She needs to wear the shirt I have that says "Does not play well with others" on one side and "Runs with Scissors" on the other! I really think I'm going to just let them go and either work it our or not. She actually seems to rather be by herself and not be with the other cats, she's perfectly happy snooping around rather than even looking at the others so maybe she'll just do her own thing which will be fine. She's the funniest little buckaroo, I love her. I put her to bed tonight and wished I didn't have to, she was so cuddly. I know she'd love to sleep with me but I don't want her in the bed getting hair on the blankets etc. since I am allergic.

[Gypsy Rose]

Tea tree oil helps keep dust mites and kitty dander to a minimum. 3-4 drops in a quart spray bottle of water- spray a rag and wipe kitties down.

[oursarge]

These are not the best pictures but it's Molly's first big day out. This a.m. I opened the door to her room and just let her roam. She had the best time, she wasn't afraid and was all over. Running up and down the stairs was like her favorite thing. I thought Jack was chasing her but he wasn't she was just running. Jack and Molly would lay in the room together but if one got near the other they'd hiss or growl. Bo was sleeping under the chair and didn't want to participate in "the reindeer games"!

She wasn't real good about coming I needed a toy to get her to come but I think eventually she'll be OK. After a few hrs Jack got bored with it all and went to take a nap in the bathroom closet. I was very happy with the way things went. The Feliway I ordered came today and I'll put it in an outlet but I don't have alot of faith in it. I just thought if it might work I'd try it. Now I have to get Bo involved in the fun.

That's the first Molly ever had the run of a house since at the rescue she was only in 2 rooms ever and we've had her in the sunroom here. She was snooping in everything. She got on Noah's bed and rolled and rolled. She won't lay on her own bed but liked his, all of cats love his bed, they lay on it and he lays next to it or sometimes he'll lay on it with Jack. One funny thing was she was standing there and she's not sure about Noah yet so he walked by and she hissed, he ignored her, got his cookie and walked back and ate it. The look on her face was priceless like "Why isn't that big fuzzy thing afraid of me?"

Here are the lousy pictures, I'm the worst photographer. There are 2 cats in that one picture, Molly is by the couch!

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/ournoah/MollyJack1stdayout015.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/ournoah/MollyJack1stdayout014.jpg

[WashingtonBay]

That looks pretty tranquil there at the moment! :)

[Gypsy Rose]

Awww! She's cute! Reminds me a lot of Junior.

[oursarge]

They actually did pretty good there was growling and hissing but as long as they stayed away from each other there was no hitting. If they got close they'd hit but mostly Molly was interested in looking at things and ignored Jack so Jack just followed her around staring at her, no chasing. I thought they were chasing but it was Molly running up and down the stairs. Bo had zero interest in any of it. She just did her own thing. If it stays like this I'll be thrilled. I'd really be happy if they'd all love each other but if I can't have that I'll be happy with just leaving each other alone.

Molly looks at me with that face and those ear tufts and I just melt. Jack has the tufts too but not as long as hers. Her paws are sort of big too. Her hair is funny because it's sort of long on her stomach but not on her back. I don't think she'll truly be long haired but that's OK I love her no matter.

My late cat Misty was the most beautiful cat, she was a Norwegian Forest Cat. I would love to add another but can't pay $600. or more for a kitten when so many cats need homes. We didn't pay that for Misty she was a left over kitten and the breeder needed to find a home for her so she was pretty cheap. She meant so much to me I miss her every day, I don't think I'd ever find another like her. I'd love to post a picture of her but I can't even look at a picture, I just cry and cry if I stumble across one. I wish I could have her back but I know that can't happen.

[Gypsy Rose]

I think Molly's already steallng part of your heart, though.

Aren't those big ole paws something else? Wait until she gets to be about 16 lbs. or so! The other night, Junior darn near shoved the monitor in my lap, lol- it's lighter than he is!

[oursarge]

Oh yeah, Molly has my heart, she did from the first picture then when I held her and she looked at me with those big eyes. I started out looking for a black cat since I've wanted one since 1996 but when I saw her and met her it was like "No black cat again" because I wasn't letting her go, like I wasn't letting the others go when I met them. Even Misty. When we went to the breeders we went because they had black kittens. Misty came to greet me, a grey kitty [They called her silver] and that was it, she was almost a yr old. I fell in love with her so someone else got their black kittens I guess and I got her, the funniest cat I ever met in my life. The first yr we had her she unwrapped all the Christmas presents. She loved ripping paper. Every piece of mail that went out of this house had teeth marks in it!!!!

It'll be interesting to see how big Molly will get. She was 5 lbs last week but I'm betting she's more now since she started to eat she eats everything in site.

Junior sounds so funny! He loves his computer! Misty had huge paws but she never weighed alot, when she walked you could hear her clomping, it was comical. You can hear Molly clomping too where the other two are pretty quiet.