Re-introduction to litter mate

We adopted a kitty, June, several weeks ago.   It has been slow going getting her to settle in as she is very quiet and gentle, but very cautious and skittish.  She has now settled in and seems quite content, although we are now clicker training her as she still won't let us pat or groom her.

Before adoption had been living with a family of cats at the plant nursery which my brother sub-lets. Although the mother of the clan is feral, he has socialised and raised all her kittens with twice daily feedings and the whole clan has now been de-sexed and have been progressively been re-homed.   The nursery isn't a safe place for cats as it isn't far from a very busy main road and there are people coming and going from the nursery constantly.  Sadly one of June's litter mates was run over by a car a few weeks ago, and so naturally my brother is very keen to get them re-housed quickly.

There is one particularly friendly litter mate of June's whom my brother is very fond of but can't adopt because his currently male cat is very territorial.  Naturally he is very keen to get him rehoused quickly.  I would sincerely love to adopt him as well, but I'm worried the effect this will have on June.

My question is - will the cats get along immediately being litter mates - or should they be re-introduced to each other gradually as if they were strangers?    Is this even a good idea?

@Mungbeans...good on you, and your brother, for helping out this family of cats.

I think it's a great idea to adopt another kitten/cat.

But I do think that you may have to 're-introduce' the cats gradually, like you mentioned, ...especially if a few weeks have gone by.

Sometimes, cats will surprise you, and the 'cautious and skittish' ones will be fine around other cats, but get tentative around people, but sometimes they need a bit more time, to re-associate and lessen their natural fear of new cats, situations, places, etc.

Even if June has not forgotten her littermates' scent, she may still be a little weary, and may even try to establish dominance over the new friendly kitten.

This would all be normal cat behaviour, so taking it slow, would be wise.

Of, course, they could surprise you, and both cats could set a faster pace with the introductions, but I'm kind of the type to err on the side of caution, anyhow.

Here is a great Article from this Site about cat introductions:

  [article="32680"]How To Successfully Introduce Cats The Ultimate Guide​[/article]  

As well as some more Articles, which may be helpful:

http://www.thecatsite.com/atype/43/Cat_Behavior

It's so amazing that you are 'clicker training' June.

I'd love to hear how that progresses, and the kind of food she likes with the clicker.

All the best to you, June, and the new cat...if you choose that route.      

(ps. oh, I do realize that I called the 'old littermate' ...'new cat' ...but only because June may initially feel like he is.

June may make me eat my words, though, and the 'new cat' will be viewed as her old littermate.

It will be an adventure, for sure. Take a lot of photos, too.)

Thanks for the advice and the links.   I'll read them once I'm finished work.

The clicker training is slow going.   She is so shy that we are still at the 'charge the clicker' stage.  She seems to be taking the click as a reproach, even when accompanied by a treat and encouragement. 

Interesting...maybe because she is so young and shy, and she is still getting used to the whole place, then the 'clicker' is too strange of a sound.

Usually, they do tell you to use treats, food they like, to reinforce positive actions, so maybe she just needs to be a little older, and have more of an attention span, versus young kitten where everything is new.

I think there is another member here, that did clicker train their cat, but I don't remember the age they started.

If I come across their thread, then I'll post it, too.

Is June shy and "jumpy" and easily startled, or is she just 'shy and cautious'?...like she wants to explore, but takes her own time to do it.

Also, was June one of the smaller cats in the litter?

(oh, you did say you were working, ...so maybe better answer and post...while not at work. ) 

June is now 11 months old, but quite small.   She looks a lot younger than she is.  Her mother was quite a small cat as well.

She is "shy and jumpy".   She does explore but it takes her a while - she has to make sure it is safe first.   This is why it has taken quite a while for her to settle in.   She does get there eventually.

The reason I asked about the "shy and jumpy" is because my smallest cat Reed, was the most timid, shy, and actually very fearful of people, and seemed to be the smallest of the litter of five, that we found outside, between our shed and the neighbour's yard. Reed seemed to be behind one week in exploring, playing and venturing out, and he even drinks water a little differently, putting his paw in the water first, but after he turned about 3 months, his fear of people subsided,...and he basically learned by watching his siblings. He is now almost 12 months old.

He was always closer to his 2 sister siblings, since they seemed more gentler in their play, but he still managed to rough-house with the 2 other brothers.

So I think that your June, may actually benefit from having a sibling/friendly littermate around.

June may take her cues from how he acts, and also feel more confident and comfortable.

I did not realize that she is 11 months, but since you mentioned that she has been at your place for a few weeks, then just give her more time...and you'll see that she gets more relaxed and settled.

I think one of the articles mentions getting down to her floor level, and reading out loud, to get her more used to your voice and presence.

Also playing with ping pong balls, or long, wide, string-type fabrics/belts/sashes....helped my cats feel at home.

Using food, as a positive way to end any good interaction is also good.

In my clicker training this morning I ditch the loud clicker I bought over the weekend and went back to the pen with the click top.  She responded well to this morning's training.  The loud click clearly put her off, so I now train with the pen in my left hand with the treats between my fingers ready to drop, and the target in my right hand.  It is a bit cumbersome, but she did the required action five times with only one attempt at swiping the target, so all in all a good session.

Some weeks ago I placed a cardboard box high up in the corner of my office, on top of some other plastic boxes.  It is facing towards the corner so private.  She hasn't in the past paid it much attention to it, but in the last two days instead of retreating to her hidey hole in the pantry has taken her day time sleep in this box.  I think this means she wants to be with the family now, just so long as she has a safe hidey hole she can retreat to.  Baby steps

Mungbeans said:

 
In my clicker training this morning I ditch the loud clicker I bought over the weekend and went back to the pen with the click top.  She responded well to this morning's training.  The loud click clearly put her off, so I now train with the pen in my left hand with the treats between my fingers ready to drop, and the target in my right hand.  It is a bit cumbersome, but she did the required action five times with only one attempt at swiping the target, so all in all a good session.

...

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Aww, June sounds like a very smart and sweet cat. Before joining the Site, I didn't even know that cats responded to clicker training, I thought it was only dogs.

I guess it's just because my cats didn't even seem to come when called unless a can opener was being used in the kitchen, and mealtimes were being served.

June sounds less and less shy, if you're able to manage a session or two of 'pen clicker training'.

I didn't find the thread I was looking for, but @Columbine gave some great advice, in this thread, about living with shy cats, and if you scroll down, there is even mention of doing clicker training.

I just browse and look for interesting articles.

(actually doing a 'search' on the top of the page, brings up a lot of threads, ...I had no idea about the extra kinds of things people train their cats to do. hoops and obstacle courses. fascinating.)

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/304328/training-your-kitten-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/308417/clicker-training

 Some weeks ago I placed a cardboard box high up in the corner of my office, on top of some other plastic boxes.  It is facing towards the corner so private.  She hasn't in the past paid it much attention to it, but in the last two days instead of retreating to her hidey hole in the pantry has taken her day time sleep in this box.  I think this means she wants to be with the family now, just so long as she has a safe hidey hole she can retreat to.  Baby steps

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That is fantastic.   We end up buying fancy cat beds, and soft plush blankets, and other cat sleeping beds...and it always turns out that our cats love the plain old cardboard boxes, more.

Yes, it does sound like June wants to be around the family more. She knows its her forever family, so she feels more comfortable keeping an eye on things from higher up.

You may have to install some high cat shelves, or give her other higher places to retreat to. Some cats love under couches, under tables and floors, and others are 'high dwellers'.

(I personally would have thought the 'pantry' would have the best spot...erm...closer to food and all...but over time, I think June will find all the best spots of the house.)

Very nice that she spends time in the office.  

Thanks for those links. Reading them now.

So I'm working away in my office today, and this happened:

That is kind of Adorable.

(Unless I am looking at the photo wrong...and June is stealing all your office supplies, re-filing your papers, or thinking of opening and closing the window shades. )

Looks like her 'new spot' is going to be beside the window, now.

Have you given anymore thought into adopting her old littermate?

Or are you waiting for her to settle in some more.

It is a bit complicated at the moment as we may be moving in a couple of months.  Things are kind of up in the air at the moment, and I don't want to introduce too many stressers at once for June, as she seems to be settling in so well, and getting friendlier by the day.

Mungbeans said:

 
It is a bit complicated at the moment as we may be moving in a couple of months.  Things are kind of up in the air at the moment, and I don't want to introduce too many stressers at once for June, as she seems to be settling in so well, and getting friendlier by the day.

Click to expand...

Sounds good.

I hope the former littermates all find good homes.

Yes, you'll probably find that June, will become more friendly and comfortable as each day passes.

She already has shared your office desk.

So she just needs time to feel relaxed, and comfortable.

And find all the 'excellent spots' in the home to sit, sleep, lounge in.

She'll probably be bringing you her toys, and wanting to play with you, get more treats..etc...in the near future.