Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
1 week cat "boot camp"? Long
Hi! I usually post on WC but some gals recommended coming over here for advice.
Background: I'm moving to China for at least 6 months(good possibility of an additional year) we have 2 cats that are our babies, but we just can't take them with us (instability, lack of veterinary care we are comfortable with, long flight where they couldn't be carried on, etc). My parents have agreed to keep the cats for now but would like for me to find a different long term home because they have 2 cats already and are worried about them getting along. My sisters cat is especially playful/aggressive (but not mean, just loves to play and chase) and my cats are much more chill so they are terrified of him. Their other cat is just a sour puss, who isnt very nice to anyone, cat or human, but is a loner for the most part so would never seek out a fight.
Now to the 1 week "boot camp". My sister flew home one of my cats last week. I flew home with the other one yesterday. I'm in Ohio with them for a week then I fly to China.
I want to try everything possible to help the cats a) feel more comfortable b) get along c) just generally be OK. My parents will be more willing to stick it out long term if everyone at least tolerates each other. Right now even my 2 cats (who have been together for 6 years) are hissing at each other.
So I'm looking for methods, books, stories, herbal supplements, basically anything I can do to help this process while I'm home for the next week. I'd rather they stay at my parents because I know they love them and I know I can get them back. I've exhausted pretty much all other friends/family options and I just don't want to have to rehome them to a stranger.
TIA for any advice!
ETA: Found the FAQ's. I'm going to try some of those ideas! Also someone recommended Cat v Cat before and I am going to buy it today (wanted to last week but with packing and moving I never made it to the store).
Skyping with my kitty cat 
Re: 1 week cat "boot camp"? Long
Just wanted to add that so far I have mostly kept Biggie (the cat I brought yesterday) in the room I am staying in. I brought Tiffany (the cat my sister brought last week) into the room for a reintroduction for about 10 minutes. I brought Biggie out into the sunroom where Tiffany was for about 20 minutes. They stayed on opposite sides of the room and occasionally hissed but mostly just had a stare off. I guess I thought their reunion would be happier since they've been together for 6 years and have always slept together, played together, cleaned each other and Biggie was so sad all week wandering around looking for her BFF.
Right now Biggie is back in my room separated from the other cats.
Ditto Cat vs. Cat. You can't do this in a 1 week bootcamp. They shouldn't even see each other face to face for 2 weeks minimum, I believe that's what the book says (something like, even if things are great after week 1 separated, please wait another week minimum).
I read that book recently in preparation for introducing 2 new ones last month and so far the tips have worked well. We're about 4 weeks in and we have just started leaving them out together 24 hours a day, and I think this is a bit of an easy case because the 2 new ones were only 5 months old and super socialized with all kinds of other cats from the shelter.
They need lots and lots of time and buy your sister a copy of the book. Oh, and send her here later if she needs us.
)
PS- what part of China? My friend/coworker just moved to Beijing .
5 cats. 1 baby.
Thanks ladies, so far the one I brought yesterday has been isolated in my room (minus the 20 minutes in the sunroom with my other cat). I guess right now my biggest concern is getting my two cats reacquainted with each other. It doesn't seem like they should need to be separated from each other for so long. They've been together for 6 years, since the younger one was a kitten so I was bummed to see the tension between.
I guess I should also clarify that I'm not expecting a miracle in a week, I just want to do absolutely anything I can while I'm still with them. This entire situation has me so stressed out. I hate leaving them.
And I'm headed to Suzhou, which is near Shanghai. About 8 hours south of Beijing.