Adopting the stray

A stray cat recently took up residence on my back patio. I gave in and fed her. Only to discover she was pregnant.

I made an appointment with the vet to have stray cat spayed/terminated. I took my existing cat to my parents so I could bring the stray in prior to her appointment and not worry about any cross contamination health issues.

Today stray went and had her procedure, was vaccinated, and got a clear bill of health.

The thing is I live in a loft style condo. I have a lower level and an upper level, but no proper doors.

I would like to see if I can introduce my cat and the stray and see if we can live harmoniously.

She and my indoor cat (6 y.o.) would look at each other through the screen and it seemed like they tolerated their respective territories.Right before I took stray to the vet, she started having moments where she was lunging at my cat through the screen door. I just attributed this to her advancing pregnancy and maybe she was feeling extra territorial and hormonal, as she never did that before.

So, what I *plan* on doing is using a baby gate to separate my lower level from my upper level and put one cat in each area and go through the introduction process as I've seen outlined in other posts.

My concern in this: I am letting stray recuperate here while I transition  her into a indoor cat...and my cat is at my parents.

But I'm concerned this arrangement may mess up the introduction.

Technically my cat will be coming home to her home that has a new strange cat already in it.

Will it be okay to just take my cat directly upstairs and begin the process?

Both cats are female.

My cat is kind of sassy but she's not a fighter, she's a "flighter."

When she goes to my parents when I go on vacation she pretty much steers clear of their brood of 3 cats.

Any advice or suggestions would be most appreciated.

I just want to do this the best I can.

Your plan sounds good.  How exactly to do it, Im not sure myself.  But I dont think it is so very touchy.  Adopted strays tends to accept the residents, tends to want to please themselves in.   Just be sure you show it is the resident who is number one.  That is important for both of them.

You could alternatively have the recovalenscency be in any room where you do have doors, for example in the bathroom.  Or a big dog crate.  This would prob make it easier for you and for the roles.

But what you did shall work it too.

Nicely done with the vet errands. Exemplary.

Tx a lot for helping this little sis of ours!

Good luck!

 Welcome to our Forums!

Great job on getting the cat to the vet and taking care of proper medical care.  For introductions a large dog crate would work really well.  Also if you have an small area (even a bathroom), you can buy a cheap screen door at Lowes or Home Depot (wooden ones are $20) and just prop it up against the door.  Keep one cat in the bathroom and the other can be on the other side of the screen. 

Right now I have a stray in a spare bedroom.  I am ready to introduce to resident kitty.  I bought the screen door, but did not want to attach it to the door frame.  I bought some cheap tension rods and place them in front of the screen to keep it from falling over.  Both cats can visit with each other.

You also may want to start with scent swapping first.  Take a blanket that resident kitty sleeps on ( or take a small hand towel and rub it all over resident kitty being sure to get under the chin) and put it under new kitties food bowls.  Do the same with a towel or bedding from new kitty.  Place the towel under resident kitties food.  This allows them to associate good things with the scent of the other cat.  Feeding on opposite sides of the screen is a good idea too.  If there is hissing or growling, you are moving too fast. 

Some introductions are a piece of cake and others take lots of time.  My stray has been up in the spare room since the end of May.  We are taking it very slowly as resident kitty can be quite stubborn!

Good luck.  We are here to help.
 

StefanZ and ShadowsRescue gave you good advice, and props to you getting her in and spayed, as well as giving her a home

My suggestion, being they are both females, is to contain the new 'intruder' cat while allowing your resident cat to be in her home.

ALWAYS reassure her that the newbie is not a threat.

Allow some time before the newcomer can be out and about, which gives her 'momma' hormones and instincts time to fade. (remember her body/mind is not yet "un-pregnant" so she is/was in more of a defensive/protective state)

Then the normal, proper introductions can begin, swapping scents, cracking the door for not more than 5 minutes at a time, etc.

Patience here will be your virtue, 2 females can be MUCH harder to adapt than a male and a female or 2 males.

Thank you all for the replies.

I brought my resident cat, Dot, back home on Monday.

I had to put her upstairs only because she is not a jumper and I've noticed the little newbie, Daisy, is quite energetic. I was afraid she may have climbed over the retaining wall next to the stairs and made her way into the bottom level where Dot was before it was time.

So far the arrangement for separation appears to be working as I've ironed out some kinks over the past few days.

In response to catwoman 707, or if anyone reading this knows, how long will it take for Daisy's hormones to balance out?

Before I took Daisy to be spayed her nipples had pinked and were enlarged. They've slowly been going down over the past two weeks.

She is, by now back to her normal state, no longer hormonal as she was in her prior state.

Just a reminder to be sure and give extra reassurance attention to Dot This goes along way in helping her adapt to the new resident.