New Kitty/Older Kitties

So, new rescue kitty Tom just started to use the other kitties' litterbox when he's in the kitchen (which is right next to his room, where there is also a box just for him) - is that good? Does that mean he's expanding his territory?

I think you're exactly right. Asha started doing this after a while - eventually, she stopped using her own box altogether.

Just keep an eye to make sure your other cats aren't put off by him sharing. If anyone starts going right in front of the box there's a territory battle going on.

Sounds like it. When my kitten was first allowed out with my cat all of the time, she started peeing in his box. He wasn't exactly put off by it, but decided that it was an invitation to start using hers. Now they both use either box with no problems.

Well, then, I'm going to look at this as progress! I have not let them be face to face other than the feeding time in the morning as yet. It's only been a week. Meantime, after taking one of my girls to be shaved, the doc says she needs to lose weight. It's going to be tricky putting her on a diet with 3 other cats in the house.....I mean, Tom is segregated for now, but I was planning on integrating him over the next few weeks using a window screen & blanket/towel. All this is tricky when you live alone - haha! Any tips on weight management totally welcome! Jinny is a big Maine Coon pastel torti - she weighed in at 16 pounds today. I feel like she'd be good at maybe 13 pounds. She is large, so she can wear the weight, but it isn't healthy for her, and if you look up 'average' weight for a female coon it tops out at 15, which puts her one pound over the largest. Thanks for all your support, pplz!  
ps. Here is Tom: 

Oh, and as long as I'm here, has anyone else introduced a new cat to multiple cats that you already had? If so, what did you find helpful, not helpful, successful, etc.?

With weight management, the only way to go is timed meals for everyone - no free feeding. Feed the big girl in a separate room and/or use a slow feeding bowl (bowl with hump/humps in it to increase eating time) to give her brain a chance to register fullness. Work out what her ideal weight is, and feed the amount for a cat that size (as opposed to feeding according to her current weight).

Good luck. It takes time and patience, it it is possible. Lots of interactive play can help with burning up calories too.

She is the one who hides under the bed. We shall see if toys will bring her out. I guess I'll have to block off under there.

It would be good for her to be out in the open more, and interactive play is a fantastic confidence builder. Blocking off under the bed is a great idea. You might find that she becomes more active anyway as her confidence increases.

That's the goal! 

So I switched from using opaque sight blockers to screens with blankets. Apparently, there is much smell exchange, because I'm getting a bit of hissing, mostly from Onyx (it was her brother I lost to kitty cancer in April). Just trying to take things slowly, and hoping Tom will hang in with me

It sounds like things are going well. A little hissing when you first make a change is perfectly normal. So long as it doesn't progress on from that, its not a problem. Asha felt it was almost a point of honour to hiss at Shadow when she saw him for quite some time. It all worked out in the end - as I'm sure it will with your guys.

Letting the cats dictate the pace really is the key to success - its a process that takes as long as it takes. Keep doing what you're doing and you'll get there in the end 

Tom has been pretty easy going about the hissing - he's only charged the screen once (and did not make contact) when Onyx was hissing.

Its good than Tom's being so tolerant. Hopefully Onyx will relax soon, and Tom will gradually be accepted into the group.

now Azzy is starting to chase Jinny back up the stairs at breakfast. I tell ya. One step forward, two steps back! I know the girls won't hurt each other, but sometimes they do bully each other. Maybe Tom can keep them in line LOL

madamenordica said:

 
now Azzy is starting to chase Jinny back up the stairs at breakfast. I tell ya. One step forward, two steps back! I know the girls won't hurt each other, but sometimes they do bully each other. Maybe Tom can keep them in line LOL

Click to expand...

 The joys of a multi cat household! At least it keeps life interesting

indeed

UPDATE: This morning we had a few minutes of all the kitties peacefully eating a few inches away from each other on either side of a window screen with a blanket as a sight blocker. Jinny left when Azzy moved and she thought she was going to be chased back upstairs. Then Azzy left half her wet food and was more interested in annoying Jinny. It seems that Jinny and Azzy are going to enjoy a love/hate relationship while Tom makes his moves on Onyx - he has been chirping like crazy at her for the past 24 hours and she met his chirps with growls and hisses, but no hackles or puffed tail or charges. I feel like they are going to end up best buds and playmates, but it's just a gut feeling. I gave the extra food to Onyx, since she seems to be the one who has been missing food (lost 2 pounds as Jinny gained 4!). Azzy has actually come up from 8 lbs to 10 pounds, so she isn't missing any - I wonder if she had been eating some of Bastien's food as he declined before I noticed? I do miss my boy, but I don't love Tom any less - he reminds me of Bastien so much sometimes I almost slip and call him Bats. Tom is letting me kiss him goodnight or goodbye now. Such a sweetie!

So today I have moved Onyx and Azzy into the half of the downstairs that Tom is usually in. Jinny is in her safe spot upstairs in my room and Tom is in the living room/bathroom/stairs with me. He is continuously drawn to the screen wanting to be with the other kitties. breakin' my heart...haha...poor Tom.

Those pics are great - so nice to see things going well   

You may well be right about Onyx and Tom - I find my gut instincts are usually right with my guys. You might want to consider introducing Onxy by himself first (particularly when you get controlled meet phase). A face to face meeting with the most receptive resident first can be far less intimidating, and would give Tom an ally when meeting the girls (who sound slightly more argumentative to me  ).

I bet Tom's enjoying investigation a different part of the house.   that things continue to go so smoothly !

Onyx quickly remembered how to get to the top of the kitchen cabinets and was able to look down on tom....LOL. I think Tom was a bit overwhelmed having close to full run of the house. He's in his room for a bit calming down. He did a bit of ankle attack, but lightly and as soon as I started to make any noise he backed right off, knowing it wasn't the best choice