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Old cat vs New cat
Hi, I'm pretty much a lurker, but was looking for some advice or thoughts on how I should handle this situation.
I adopted a new cat over the weekend, he is 11 (long story, according to petfinder, he WAS 6 or 7, but when I went to sign the adoption papers, he aged a few years). He is neutered and is declawed on all 4 of his feet.
I already have a cat, almost 5, and we have had him for 3 years. When we adopted him he was a terrible biter, but after a year, has stopped completely. He is very routine based, needs attention, and enjoys just being with me.
My question is this, I brought the new cat home, and put him in his sanctuary room. Pretty much immediately, he wanted out of the room. He cries at the door and just seems restless. He is eating, drinking, and using the litterbox. Old cat is intrigued by new cat, but seems scared. He isn't showing any aggression signs, more the opposite. Everything I have read seems to indicate new cat needs time to adjust, will be scared, etc and that just seems the opposite of what is happening.
Sorry this got long. Short version: Adopted new cat. New cat is not afraid and wants to get out of his room. Old cat seem wary. How do I proceed?
Re: Old cat vs New cat
The board FAQs have information on introducing cats to each other.
http://sites.google.com/site/petsboardfaqs/home/just-for-cats-and-kittens/bringing-home-a-new-cat-kitten
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
Get Cat vs. Cat from the library, ebay, whatever and read it. I just brought new cats home to old cat in Jan. and found it extremely helpful. There are some really great tips, such as taking a sock, rubbing it on the side of the face of the new cat, and leaving the sock for the old cat to sniff - and vice versa. Also, put new cat in a different room (some time after the sock sniffing) and let old cat explore the new scents. Things like that. It also goes over timing, how to judge reactions, etc.
Good luck!
Thank you. I did read cat vs cat, and to be honest, after bringing home new cat, I was expecting him to be a little scared and timid, but that just didn't happen at all.
New cat wants out of the room. I tried the sock thing, and neither one of them was interested in smelling it. I guess I am just worried that this process is going fast, and I am so worried about old cat not taking this well. He is showing no signs of liking it or hating it, and I am being as normal with him as possible, so I guess I don't know when to tell if he's ready.
Did you try the room switch?
I slowly gave new cats exploring time while locking old cat in my bedroom. I also later used a baby gate so everyone could look at each other and sniff without a fight.
The book said they should sniff under the door, but old cat wouldn't go near the door so that wasn't working. The baby gate was great.
I didn't, not yet. Just from reading and what people were telling me, I was thinking the new cat would be in the room for days or weeks. I was just not expecting this at all.
I think tonight I will try the room switch, and let old cat into new cat's room, and see how he handles it.
I wrote the FAQs on intros, but we introduced my girl within 2 hours of adopting her. She wanted out, they wanted to say hi to her, everyone got along fine and none fo the cats have ever had issues with her.