new cat

I have a 3 yr old male cat and all he does is sit and look out the window watching the other cats outside. I am debating on getting him a companion. The situation is my neighbor had 3 kittens that was outside for last year and on occasions I would let them in my house and visit with my cat, he would play with them for a bit than hold them by the neck until I would pick them up and place them outside. Now they have been surrendered to our local cat sanctuary, and my cat seems to be looking for them, I am thinking about adopting one of them. would I still have to do the intruduction process or is it not a good idea getting one. I figured it may be easier seince they know each other. Is it normal for a cat to bit at the neck of a newbee?

First male cats are neutered; females are spayed. And yes, the neck hold is a dominate thing - shows the cat who is boss. Neutered males are more accepting of new cats/kittens. Sounds like your boy would like a companion cat.

I'd recommend adopting a younger male and have him neutered before you bring him home. Read some of the threads on cat introductions. You can't just bring one in and expect everything to go ok. Takes a period of time and separation and slow introductions.

OPPS... the other cat I am thinking about getting is like 1yr old. and he is also fixed. like I said the cats have been around each other in the past, so will it take as long to get used to each other?

Depends on the cats, I put Farley and Ana right in with Demetri and they all got along right from the start with no hissing or anything. Others need to be separated for a few weeks (or longer).

Since your cat seems to take to newcomers in a short while, its reasonable to expect a few weeks and they should be fine.

You can help things by:

1. Trimming all nails
2. Sprinkle both with cornstarch baby powder and rub it in
3. Put a dab of vanilla extract on their chins and base of the tail.

Basically put the new cat in a room with litter pan, food/water and let him adjust to things for a few days. Then switch places - resident cat in the newcomer's room and vice versa. If all seems well, then allow supervised face to face meetings. Expect some hissing and growling at first.

If the new kitty is a year old and not a baby, it might take a bit longer to establish who is the dominate cat

It's very unlikely that your cat will 'remember' the other cats from before. Too much time has passed (even a week can be too much with cats, especially when they've been in different places that have different smells). Don't count on their having known each other to decide on what cat to choose, but instead try to pick one with a similar personality - that usually works better for male friends.

I think it is great that you want to adopt one of these cats that had to be surrendered. I'm not sure if your cat will actually remember them, but he might. I'd suggest following the idea above about the vanilla and the cornstartch babypowder, as I have heard other people use this technique and it worked well for them.

I have had cats all my life, usually rescuing adults from the local SPCA, but we've even adopted a kitten from time to time.

I think your kitty would like a companion. Sasha, a female I have owned for about 10 years by now, shows very close to those same symptoms if a companion of hers gets lost. She would sit staring out the window for hours, and would mope around the house and yard. She would also at times get very clingy, you would pick her up and pet her for a time, but when you went to put her down she would positively scream, and hang on for dear life.

It does not matter too much what age the cat is at, though I would suggest that unless it is a very calm youngster, or a very energetic older cat, to try to keep their ages within about 3 years of each other. It seems to cut down a little bit on any problems, be it right away or in the far future.

Also, I would say keep the two cats separate for the first few days at least. Make sure they each have their own separate room, with their own facilities, so there is no fighting. Then, after your newcomer has had a chance to settle in, introduce it (supervised) to the older cat, for a short period of time. If things get heated, separate them quicker, but make sure each have had a chance to see the other, and to smell them.Then call it a day and separate them again. After that, every day(unless the cats are especially shaken up by the encounter, then it may take longer for them to settle and relax) have a short, supervised meeting between the cats. Eventually, you wont have to supervise as closely, and be able to leave them together for longer and longer periods of time.

This way may take a longer time that you would like, but in the end the cats will at the very least be able to stand the sight of each other. After they are comfortable around each other, you can move both living quarters together. Remember that this is an especially stressing time for both cats, and give both lots of love and friendship, and make sure they are both healthy and are not losing weight or having troubles going to the bathroom.

ok so I brought the cat home and on their first encounter everything was fine for awhile than they started chacing each other and rolling around, I am new to this. How do I tell if they are playing or fighting? The resident cat has had some rear knee cap problems so I dont really think it is a good idea for them to get to rough. When they get that way I seperate them is that what I should do? ANy input would be apprisiated.. Thank You

Originally Posted by suzi312

How do I tell if they are playing or fighting? The resident cat has had some rear knee cap problems so I dont really think it is a good idea for them to get to rough. When they get that way I seperate them is that what I should do? ANy input would be apprisiated.. Thank You

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It can be hard to tell, because cats "play" is really just a rehearsal for hunting or defending their territory. Swats on the head, rolling around, etc, can be a bit of both, actually. If the fur starts flying and teeth are bared, you may want to separate them for a bit, and give each one some separate reassurance (in the form of good luuvins, or perhaps some treatsies). Otherwise, it may be best to let them two of them work it out, unless you see someone in obvious distress.

Keep yourself calm, and it may help them to learn to get along.

I could show you videos of our two, and you would swear they were killing each other. But it is started by either one, and neither will quit. And they do get along quite well. It's just that Sterling is "rambunctious," and wants to run around.

If they're not drawing blood, and you don't hear that telltale "scream" of truly fighting cats, I would just watch them and see how it shakes out. They DO have to establish dominance.