Help with introducing kitten and older cat with depression

nicoleandtaz

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Hi.I just joined forum looking for some advice looking at older similar questions and answers. My name is Nicole. So 2 years ago I got an adorable kitten off Craigslist. A little girl 7 weeks old named her Ladybug. I took her to vet and he recommended me to get another kitten for her to grow up with because she was young and should have a buddy. So I went out and adopted a boy kitten from a rescue and named him Taz. They were instantly best friends. Only 2 weels in age difference. 2 months ago Ladybug escaped out the back door. I searched and am still looking for her. Taz has been sad and miserable without her. He still looks for her. I still am looking for her on animal control website daily. Searched, posted lost flyers, and posted on Craigslist. Me and my family have been sad without her.
Last week my boyfriend brought me home a beautiful 8 week orange kitten that we named Cheeto. Boy. So sorry for the long story. Right now I'm looking for advice on how to help Taz like the kitten and if this should help with his depression. I'm still hoping ladybug will find her way home and I'm hoping my Taz will accept this kitten for a buddy. Anyone go threw something similar?
 

lakedweller520

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N nicoleandtaz welcome to TCS - your babies are beautiful!! And so sorry to hear about Ladybug. :( it's so hard to have that happen! I hope you find her even still.

Someone far more experienced can prob tell you more than I can but I do know that it'll take time and you have to go slow. I'm 100% sure there's a thread in one of the forums that talks more about that. I'm sorta new here myself. :)
 

Anne

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Welcome Nicole! I'm moving your thread to the behavior forum where you're more likely to get responses to the question.
 

tarasgirl06

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No, but I have introduced lots of cats including kittens to our large feline family, and there are excellent tutorials on intro'ing new cats to a family here on the site, as well as via "Cat Daddy" Jackson Galaxy's Animal Planet show, "MY CAT FROM HELL", his books and his social networking including on YouTube.  He is a cat behaviorist par excellence!  

The most important things to know is that it usually takes time for a newcomer to fit in with the family and for the family to adjust to a new addition, just like it does with humans. Love and patience are key.  Interactive play can be a great way to get cats together in a positive environment.  But experts suggest keeping the newcomer in his/her own room with all needs -- food, water, toys, litterbox, cat scratcher/furniture, etc. -- for a couple of weeks, doing gradual supervised introductions until they are comfortable with one another's scents and presence.  Hope you find helpful information here on the site, and best of luck to you and your family -- may Ladybug return safely and soon, too!
 
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nicoleandtaz

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Cheeto is in a bedroom with litter box and food. He's doing great. We have had him for 5 days now. We take him out into the living room for a little while each day. Taz came and smelled him then walked away so that's progress from hissing and scared the first few days. Taz is still depressed. He doesn't act the same anymore. He sleeps more and is more shy. He also plays less even when I got him all these new toys. I want him to be happy again. He has been this way since Ladybug escaped.
 

kskatt

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I'm so sorry about Ladybug! There are stories about animals found after some long periods of time. You will get lots of strong vibes and prayers from here.

Have you taken Taz in to the vet for a check-up? Stress and depression can lower the immune system, leaving cats very susceptible to illness. It is so hard to see the ones we love in pain.

Please, please keep us updated! I know I can speak for many when I say hearing situations like yours gets our hearts involved. None of us can stand seeing our babies in any kind of pain, physical or emotional. All we want to do is make them better! At least humans can talk about what hurts, cats are stuck! A very helpless feeling for all of us. ((((hugs))))
 

moorspede

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Cheeto is in a bedroom with litter box and food. He's doing great. We have had him for 5 days now. We take him out into the living room for a little while each day. Taz came and smelled him then walked away so that's progress from hissing and scared the first few days. Taz is still depressed. He doesn't act the same anymore. He sleeps more and is more shy. He also plays less even when I got him all these new toys. I want him to be happy again. He has been this way since Ladybug escaped.
Poor little Taz, the thing that you need to do is associate Cheeto with good things. Jackson Galaxy has a method where you feed them both on opposite sides of a door or baby gate. You start off with each bowl a few metres away from the door. You then gradually bring each bowl closer until they are eating very close to each other. The idea is that each cat associates the other with good things ie food. You can see his video at youtube, just place Jackson Galaxy cat introductions into the search field. 

Another way is to grab a wand toy and play with them both together, give them treats and a lot of encouragement to both of them. 

As for Cheeto, to make him or her feel confident and at home, you do much the same. Lots of affection, soft words, petying and places where she can get up high and be part of the action. Beware of jealousy though, Taz needs as much if not more attention at this time. 
 
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nicoleandtaz

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Yes thanks for the advice. I have not taken him to the vet, he was just there 4 months ago. He has all shots and neutered. The vet recommended food change for weightloss. Taz was 18.5 pounds so he's overweight. I think he's lost a pound since ladybug has disappeared. I feed him very well though. Blue buffalo orijen chewy and Stella and canned fancy feast. I said no to prescription weight loss food because I don't like the ingredients. This being said id rather not spend the money on a vet visit for depression. Taz is now becoming interested in Cheeto and they are getting along well while they are together supervised. I'm hopeful they will become buddies. By the way I love that show my cat from hell with Jackson galaxy. I've watched many episodes. I went out and bought a cat tree a year ago after watching it :)
I took a pic of taz this morning. Attaching
 
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nicoleandtaz

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Taz and Cheeto are both males. Ladybug was female. Will this affect there relationship?
 

lakedweller520

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N nicoleandtaz your taz is gorgeous - and reminds me of my cat, Pieces, who we lost in 2012.

I'm not sure about the relationship thing. Even if they are both fixed, it might.... id be curious to hear what a few others say. :) there's some really wise peeps here for sure!
 

moorspede

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Taz is now becoming interested in Cheeto and they are getting along well while they are together supervised. I'm hopeful they will become buddies. By the way I love that show my cat from hell with Jackson galaxy. I've watched many episodes. I went out and bought a cat tree a year ago after watching it
That's great news! I really hope they become best of friends but even if they don't Taz will still benefit from having Cheeto around. 

There's a lot of contention about the aspects of nature vs nurture with regard to cats. In feral cat colonies a female is always boss with her litter being next rung down on the totem pole. Some behaviourists say that this is not the case for house cats while others, particularly some in this forum will swear that females are top of the pile. And for this reason a male and a female cat are more likely to get on rather than two females. I sort of agree that female cats tend to be more serious than males generally. They do have to feed their kittens so they may have that bred into them to a certain degree but it may be my biased opinion. All I can say for sure is that I've been really lucky and all the cats I've had have gotten on with each other. For this reason, I believe that the sex of your cats doesn't really matter, it's more about personality (which I believe is the result of genetics, and more importantly, whether they grew into adulthood in a nurturing environment. 

I've heard they are filming a new series of My Cat from Hell, Galaxy has done a lot to make us understand how cats think. 

By the way, Taz is a cutie pie! I hope he continues to feel better.
 

jtw87

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@NicoleandTaz  Your Fur babies are sooo adorable!!! In my own experience when two male cats are to live in the same house together, rather than a male and female, there may be some territorial issue that can lead to some hissing and pissing around the house. I agree with that "Cat Daddy" Jackson Galaxy's has some fantastic advice to give. Also I found that Whisker City At Ease Cat Aromatherapy Spray really helps both cats to co-exist in one area.
 

doomsdave

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My experience is that most reasonably well-socialized cats will learn to get along well, particularly if there's places where one or another can hide if need be. Separate rooms are a good idea for the newbie till everyone gets to know his or her smell, at least.

As a kitten grows up, it keeps its playfulness for a while, which can get on the nerves of older cats, though I don't think Taz is that old.
 
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nicoleandtaz

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Update: they are doing great together. Cheeto tries to nurse off Taz and he gets offended and walks away lol. Taz is so gentle with him. Taz is grooming and licking him and they play chase together.Taz is less depressed now. He plays more. I'm super happy about it. I'm taking Cheeto to vet today to get his kitten shots. All is going well. Attaching a cute photo of Cheeto. I can't seem to get a good one of them together. Still haven't found ladybug but I'm still hoping she finds her way home. Thanks for the advice. I love this site its very helpful
 

imjustacatmom

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Just read all of this....I am praying that ladybug find her way back too...and they are both cuties...I have a female and male both rescues each with their own messed up history....my girl however is my ESA and her and I have a bond that I have never had with any animal and I've had a ton of animals...so my two tolerate eachother...my girl does dominate my boy...but then she has too cuz he tries to bite her back and not let her in room...so sometimes I let them get their dominance junk out and most times I intervene and talk to them about loving eachother....ok and welcome to TCS
 
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