Anyone know much about cats?

Trudy


Joined: 25/05/2009
Posts: 369

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 10:33

Ok, i have a cat. He was a street cat when i found him and im guessing he was only about 3 weeks old. No mum or other kittens in sight so i took him in. That was 3 years ago. We lived in Istanbul at the time near a very busy road so we decided to keep him as a house cat - not that i agree with keeping cats inside but it was for his safety at the time. Now though i am moving to a place where he will have a huge garden so im going to let him out.

Anyway, i want another kitten, but the problem is, my cat, Lucky, doesnt like ANYONE! And i mean anyone! He hisses at absolutely everyone who comes in my house apart from me and my boyfriend. No one else has ever touched him! He has always been like this. It makes me wonder what he may do to another cat... Does anyone know much about their behaviour and whether he is likely to get used to it over time or am i just wasting my time thinking about getting another one? I dont want to get one for him just to attack it.

nikicik


Joined: 15/04/2009
Posts: 201

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 10:39

well it hard but one of my cats did the same and over time they get used to it. you will just have to keep an eye on them both and if its a kitten make sure it dose not annoy the other one as it may think its taking over its home. only you can tell what your cats going to be like try taking a friends cat round and introduce the cats and see how he acts you never know they could become best of friends .

Trudy


Joined: 25/05/2009
Posts: 369

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 10:42

Haha just the thought of him meeting another cat makes me shiver!!! I can picture it now, loud shrieks and fluff flying everywhere! A grown up cat would be a massive no no, im sure of it! I just thought maybe if it was a kitten, he would know it was a baby and not see it as a threat.

nikicik


Joined: 15/04/2009
Posts: 201

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 10:48

well cats are very different and Ive got 9 of them and 2 of them don't like anyone not even us but when we brought kittens home and even puppy's they didn't bother. they just learned to grow with them some of my cats are 19 years old and 10 years old etc. i think they will be fine just don't feed them near each other as they hate it

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 10:49

Well, all the cats I've ever had, have behaved like complete monsters towards new kittens.

The kitten will probably survive, but not sure about your nerves...

It just depends whether you've got a good supply of Valium in, to take the edge off the blood-curdling shrieks!

Trudy


Joined: 25/05/2009
Posts: 369

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 10:54

Thanks Nikicik, didnt know not to feed them together.



Haha Keith, Valium isn't something i often have in my medicine cabinet! Ill manage to keep them separate for a while but its not going to be easy.



Maybe if i get one before i move to the new house so that my cat doesnt get to "this is my territory" kind of thing. He may think this is the kittens home and cut him some slack! Will have to do that soon though as im moving in 2 days!

Amber


Joined: 26/09/2008
Posts: 561

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 11:46

Trudy,



If you do get a kitten may be better to be female - he may take to one more. 2 Males together I think would be more of a problem - well you know what men are like !!!!



Best of luck.

Ailletoo


Joined: 24/01/2009
Posts: 1003

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 12:06

Hi Trudy



is your cat neutered? If not, then get him neutered and his nature will change within 6 weeks of the operation.



It will take a bit of time, but cats, in my experience, always get used to each other in the end.

Trudy


Joined: 25/05/2009
Posts: 369

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 12:11

Thanks Amber



Ailletoo - Yeah he has been neutered, i hated having to do it but it had to be done!

westender


Joined: 14/05/2009
Posts: 328

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 22:01

The best way is to introduce them to each other is slowly - very slowly. Keep the new kitten in a room of its own and then let the older cat have the kittens bedding to smell and vice versa. Over a few days you should be able to introduce them to each other and they will recognise each others smell, but do not leave them on their own for quite a while! At first let them in the same room for only 5 minutes and gradually increase the time. You may find that they take to each other very quickly - or they may hate each other for ever.

Trudy


Joined: 25/05/2009
Posts: 369

Message Posted:
01/07/2009 22:05

Aw i hope they dont hate each other forever! But i will definitely do that. Its hard cus i work all day and would like to be with them both all day until they have taken to each other but fingers crossed all will be ok!

ClaireCat44



Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 739

Message Posted:
02/07/2009 17:42

I rescued a kitten about 15 years ago off the street in istanbul. Someone had set fire to him. He was tiny so I took him back to the teachers' flat and he's still going, just about! However, he has always been very aggressive. He never went out in istanbul, he stayed inside as it was just too dangerous and impossible to let him out. When he was about a year old, I decided to get another kitten as I was out working all day and thought it would be better if there were two. How wrong could I have been?!! He spent the next 10 or so years trying to kill her. He absolutely hated her. He attacked anyone in the flat and it was a nightmare when we had to go to the vet. During the earthquake in 1999, he jumped out of our fifth-floor flat and I spent a day looking for him! In 2002 I flew over here with both of the cats and we now live in a very cat-friendly area with no traffic or dogs so he spends most of his time outdoors, only coming in to eat in the evenings. He's a very happy cat now!!

Trudy


Joined: 25/05/2009
Posts: 369

Message Posted:
02/07/2009 19:35

Hi claire!



So you still have the cat? Well im moving in the next few days to baspinar and have a huge garden. Im worried as he has never been outside except for once when we were in bodrum but im excited for him too! If i was staying here another cat would have been out the question but as we are moving there i figure it should be ok! I hope so anyway! Do you think your cat would have actually killed the other one given the chance? As im obviously a bit worried about that.



Im told from Amber that getting a girl would be better and though it makes sense, the one that i know needing a home is a boy. What do you think? Thanks

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
02/07/2009 20:40

Trudy,

Girls tend to be more feisty (ain't THAT the truth?) - the males quieten down a lot after neutering, so I would say that a boy would be a good match - at least there will never be any question as to who, exactly, is TOP CAT!

Don't forget that you will need to keep your old cat in the house for a few weeks, until she identifies it as 'home' - I wouldn't bother with all that palaver of putting butter on her paws though - not unless you wany greasy footprints all over the house

Good Luck!

Keith.

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
02/07/2009 21:09

Oops! - sorry Trudy,

Must have lost track somewhere - it's my age, you know - forgot that your cat is a neutered male.

I'd say 'Go for it' - they'll reach some sort of understanding............EVENTUALLY !!

Keith.

rowan


Joined: 04/09/2008
Posts: 450

Message Posted:
02/07/2009 22:12

One way I have introduced cats to each other is to use a cage, like a small-guage dog cage, and put the newcomer into that for a while until there is some adjustment. A kitten would not be too uncomfortable in there for a little while and then return it to its own room. The idea being it can be seen by the other who will undoubtedly hiss, spit etc but all will be safe. Rest asured you are in for a torrid time and will need lots of patience and nerves, but it can be done if you can stick it out""

Trudy


Joined: 25/05/2009
Posts: 369

Message Posted:
03/07/2009 10:09

Keith - butter on his paws????? lol haven't a clue why someone would do that!!



Rowan, yeah ill maybe try the cage thing too actually! Given that my cat is a feisty one it might save me getting covered in scratches should he not take to the kitten as well as i hope!

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
03/07/2009 10:35

Trudy,

It's an 'old wives' tale' I suppose.

The idea was that the cat would spend so long getting the butter of its paws, that it would be acclimatised to its new surroundings by the time it was all off - but as I say, don't go there'!

BTW Celia Haddon is a great source of cat-related information, see: - http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/

Keith.

ClaireCat44



Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 739

Message Posted:
03/07/2009 17:03

Trudy, the second cat I got as a kitten to be a friend for him (haha!) was a female. He would never have killed her but he cetainly didn't like her and she spent most of her life trying to get away from him. The only time the tables were reversed was when she was 6 months old and came into season and then he hid on top of the fridge because SHE wouldn't leave him alone!! (He was neutered). I bought them both here from istanbul and i put them in the same tiny pen at quarrantine - they actually got on fine, I think they were reassured that they were both there together. Up here in Karmi (cat heaven!) they were both allowed in and out for the first time and the only time they came into contact was at 'supper-time'. My female cat developed a lump on her spine and the vet removed it the first time but it grew back again and she was too old for a second operation so she stayed at home nearly till the end. During this time, he couldn't have been nicer to her! He loved her really!

Vidal


Joined: 14/05/2009
Posts: 867

Message Posted:
03/07/2009 17:19

Regarding the 'butter..dont go there', years ago we lived one side of York and moved about 3 miles away. We kept our cat in for two weeks then buttered her paws (ok yes it sounds daft now) She licked the butter then b*****ed off anyway. It took her about a week to get back to our old house and she did it three times before the new owners said they would like to keep her. It was upsetting to let her go but better than her being hit by a car on her travels.

HildySmith


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 1708

Message Posted:
03/07/2009 18:05

Hi

We had a cat who was on its own and was introduced to a cat from a shelter. They eventually settled down ok, but each had its own space and the original cat was always the leader, the other one followed behind. They got used to dogs and lived with a springer spaniel until they were 18 years old, when both died within a year of each other. do not force them to mix just let them find their own space.

lottie


Joined: 21/12/2008
Posts: 29

Message Posted:
03/07/2009 18:16

Oh Claire what a lovely story ! Thank you for sharing it with us.

Trudy


Joined: 25/05/2009
Posts: 369

Message Posted:
04/07/2009 09:38

Thanks for all your advice folks! Im going to be getting the kitten next week. I know its going to be tough but if claires cat can cope then so can mine! He sounds just as mad as my one! It will be a miracle if they become friends though i really hope they do.



I think ill give the butter on the paws thing a miss though!

racoonchic



Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3223

Message Posted:
04/07/2009 09:46

the size determines just how far you can throw them

lottie


Joined: 21/12/2008
Posts: 29

Message Posted:
04/07/2009 17:09

Good Luck !