New Kitten In The House! Help Please!!

[moosmom]

The first thing you need to do is isolate the new kitty in a room with litterbox, food and water. Rub down the new kitty and the existing kitty with a towel and allow them to smell each other's scent. After about a week, stack two babygates in the doorway so they can see and smell each other. Do that for a week or so. Don't let the new kitty out unsupervised.

Time is what they both need. Time to get used to each other. There is going to be hissing and growling. As long as there's no bloodshed, you're okay. Since they're both quite young, I don't think it'll take too long. Have a squirt bottle ready just in case.

Good luck and keep us posted on their progress.

[Freedom]

From my personal experience, transitions can take from 3 days to 3 weeks. So don't worry, things WILL get better.

Meantime, you can do things to ease them both along. Make a fuss of, and talk to, your girl first. So she knows she is still number 1. THEN talk to the new little boy. When you feed them, put food in HER dish first, then in his. Pick HER up, snuggle and talk to her, put her down and THEN pick him up and snuggle and talk to him. the pick her up again, so she gets his scent off of you.

Play time is also a good time to get them together. Feathers on a stick, or something on a string. Playing with toys will help them focus on the toy and on you, not each other.

Initially, I would not leave them alone together while you are out of the house, at work and at school. But as long as you are around, let them roam and wander. He will want to explore his new digs. Just keep the water spray bottle handy. When you see her getting into pounce position, talk to her, approach her, clap your hands, distract her from the attack reassure her she is your girl. And squirt if necessary.

They are young, this own't take long. Let us know how things develop!

[Freedom]

I thought of this overnight. Now that you have 2 cats, you should start clipping their nails. Young cats' nails grow quickly and may need trimming as often as once a week. After about a year of age, every 2 weeks works.

Clipping nails helps with several things: it saves your bedspread and your favorite sweater. It saves on vet bills if they get testy with each other. But mostly, it saves on vet bills even if they are playing. On occasion, a cat will meet its target and hit the other cat in the eye. A scratched cornea will heal, but it is very painful for the cat.

I had this happen once. Naturally this happened at 10 PM on Saturday of a three day weekend (Monday holiday) meaning a quick trip to the emergency vet was required. Expensive. I got 3 medications, one was to numb the eye so she wouldn't feel the pain and could rest. The 2 cats are very good friends, and were playing with a toy when this happened.

Clipping nails is something you can learn to do at home, and build it into your once a week chores. Your vet can teach you how to do it. Everyone develops their own style; I find it easiest seated in a plush chair with the cat wedged in beside me. No cat actually likes having their nails trimmed, thought some struggle a bit more than others. Just keep a treat handy and reward the cat when you finish all 10 toes!