Is this proper new cat protocol or a cruel kitty quarantine?
June 18, 2010 6:48 AM Subscribe
I've read around lots of sites that when introducing a new cat to the fold you should keep them separate for a while (a week) so that the cats all get used to each other's smells. That's all fine and dandy but how small is too small a room for a cat?
My SO and I are cat sitting a colleague/friend's cat for a year or two while they do their fieldwork abroad. The existing apartment has two female cats of approximately the same age who barely tolerate each other (as female cats tend to do) but since they've taken to opposite ends of the apartment, things are ok on that front. The new cat is a slightly younger (but larger) male. Since the cats have staked out either end of the apartment, the bathroom is pretty much the only space for the new guy that isn't already someone's established turf and it's the only place we can really keep him behind a door (thanks, railroad apartment!). Given all I've read about how cats should be kept separated and slowly introduced, and since the new cat basically went straight for the bathroom in the first place (no other cat smells in there, secure, etc) this made sense at first. But now that he's been in there overnight it seems kind of cramped, you know? He seems pretty okay in there with his familiar food bowl, toys, bed--and he gets attention periodically (ahem). Is it wrong to keep a new cat in a small-ish (it's about four tubs big) bathroom for a few days while everyone gets adjusted or are we doing okay? Alternative suggestions welcome... Thanks!
My SO and I are cat sitting a colleague/friend's cat for a year or two while they do their fieldwork abroad. The existing apartment has two female cats of approximately the same age who barely tolerate each other (as female cats tend to do) but since they've taken to opposite ends of the apartment, things are ok on that front. The new cat is a slightly younger (but larger) male. Since the cats have staked out either end of the apartment, the bathroom is pretty much the only space for the new guy that isn't already someone's established turf and it's the only place we can really keep him behind a door (thanks, railroad apartment!). Given all I've read about how cats should be kept separated and slowly introduced, and since the new cat basically went straight for the bathroom in the first place (no other cat smells in there, secure, etc) this made sense at first. But now that he's been in there overnight it seems kind of cramped, you know? He seems pretty okay in there with his familiar food bowl, toys, bed--and he gets attention periodically (ahem). Is it wrong to keep a new cat in a small-ish (it's about four tubs big) bathroom for a few days while everyone gets adjusted or are we doing okay? Alternative suggestions welcome... Thanks!
Best answer: My aunt, who is a nothing-but-cats vet, pointed out to me that a bathroom is basically a cat amusement park, and that especially when anxious they like "cozy."
That said, I've never kept my cats separated for more than two days or so because they get so all-fired anxious to meet each other. But I have used the bathroom for new cat introduction separation and for sick cat separation, without a problem. (And now I have a house big enough to separate a cat into an actual room, but they still seem to prefer the bathroom for their quarantines ... lots of places to hide and perch, and mine has a nice bright window for bird watching.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:58 AM on June 18, 2010
That said, I've never kept my cats separated for more than two days or so because they get so all-fired anxious to meet each other. But I have used the bathroom for new cat introduction separation and for sick cat separation, without a problem. (And now I have a house big enough to separate a cat into an actual room, but they still seem to prefer the bathroom for their quarantines ... lots of places to hide and perch, and mine has a nice bright window for bird watching.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:58 AM on June 18, 2010
The bathroom is fine for a short while as you work on the "one-sense-at-a-time" intro system (better than the "get-it-over-with" system). In animal shelters they're in a cage most of the time, with some limited play time in the cat room, if they're lucky.
posted by beagle at 6:59 AM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by beagle at 6:59 AM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
I should say, the "king" of my cats LOOOOOOVES other cats and wants to be BFFs with every other cat he meets, regardless of what they think of him, so he can't STAND when a newcomer is hidden away. And the new cats, coming from the pound, seem less-freaked by having to meet ONE cat (albeit one who wants to be their BFF immediately) than by the smells of 30 cats, once they get used to the new house smells, so it's usually been only a couple days we kept them separated before they were spending all their time attempting to paw each other under the door and crying to meet. Your mileage will definitely vary, especially if you don't have a cat like my "king" cat who deeply believes he's a dog.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:01 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:01 AM on June 18, 2010
A bathroom is fine. It's also a really good idea to put swap blankets between the rooms regularly, so he can get used to the smells of the other cats.
My additional suggestion is patience. Lots and lots of patience. In my life, I've introduced one cat to a dog, one cat to a cat, one cat to two dogs, one cat to one cat and a dog, one cat to one cat, and one cat to two cats. 5 out of 6 introductions took two days for everyone to relax and co-exist peacefully with no-one locked up. 1 out of 6 took two and a half weeks before they could all be left free-range 24/7.
For the difficult integration, we used the tuna bowl method: (1) separate the cats by a door. (2) Put a tablespoon of tuna in a bowl for each cat. (3) Station a human on either side of the door and pick up the cats. (4) Place the bowls of tuna on the floor on either side of the door. (5) Open the door, make sure the cats can see each other, and let the down to eat the tuna. (6) Be prepare to close the door if there is aggressive behavior.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:15 AM on June 18, 2010
My additional suggestion is patience. Lots and lots of patience. In my life, I've introduced one cat to a dog, one cat to a cat, one cat to two dogs, one cat to one cat and a dog, one cat to one cat, and one cat to two cats. 5 out of 6 introductions took two days for everyone to relax and co-exist peacefully with no-one locked up. 1 out of 6 took two and a half weeks before they could all be left free-range 24/7.
For the difficult integration, we used the tuna bowl method: (1) separate the cats by a door. (2) Put a tablespoon of tuna in a bowl for each cat. (3) Station a human on either side of the door and pick up the cats. (4) Place the bowls of tuna on the floor on either side of the door. (5) Open the door, make sure the cats can see each other, and let the down to eat the tuna. (6) Be prepare to close the door if there is aggressive behavior.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:15 AM on June 18, 2010
A full bathroom is more than sufficient space for a cat for an introduction period of a few weeks, a powder room is not. Just try to spend time in there with him -- playing, patting, some sort of interacting.
posted by jeather at 7:15 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by jeather at 7:15 AM on June 18, 2010
Best answer: A bathroom is ideal, as others have said. Many cats, when in unfamiliar surroundings, like a little cave or nook to hide in, where they can observe but not be observed. A small box or airline crate with soft bedding works well.
I concur with the idea of 'one sense at a time' vs. 'get it over with,' simply because first impressions are lasting ones with cats. If your cats meet each other for the first time with hissing and yowling and fracas, it may take longer for them to reach kitty equilibrium. For cats, peaceful introductions involve ignoring each other (this is why people who don't like cats tend to be the first person the cat will approach) rather than confrontation.
posted by Seppaku at 7:20 AM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
I concur with the idea of 'one sense at a time' vs. 'get it over with,' simply because first impressions are lasting ones with cats. If your cats meet each other for the first time with hissing and yowling and fracas, it may take longer for them to reach kitty equilibrium. For cats, peaceful introductions involve ignoring each other (this is why people who don't like cats tend to be the first person the cat will approach) rather than confrontation.
posted by Seppaku at 7:20 AM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
I just went through this - introduced my 18 y.o. curmudgeon to 2 livelies who have lived together for years. I probably let them loose on each other too soon, but it seems to be okay. I kept the old guy in our bedroom, and he has taken up residence there, but sometimes ventures out to the rest of the house. The Alpha cat (6 y.o. female) is quite curious about him, but surprisingly, has behaved with a lot of deference. Maybe she senses that the old guy is, well, too old to play.
The only real issue I've seen so far is with the food. I have always kept my old guy's bowl filled, and the two younger ones are on a once-in-the-morning and once-at-night schedule. So Alpha-girl has taken to chowing on Old Dude's food. The two youngsters share a litter box, and once we get all the moving boxes out of the way, I'll be moving Old Dude's box to the mudroom as well.
We've had a few middle-of-the-night hissy-fights, and Old Dude tends to hiss and growl at Alpha-girl when she comes into the bedroom, but they keep their distance for the most part. The other younger one shows no interest whatsoever in Old Dude.
And for the first few days, Old Dude hid in the bathroom, behind the toilet.
posted by mnb64 at 7:35 AM on June 18, 2010
The only real issue I've seen so far is with the food. I have always kept my old guy's bowl filled, and the two younger ones are on a once-in-the-morning and once-at-night schedule. So Alpha-girl has taken to chowing on Old Dude's food. The two youngsters share a litter box, and once we get all the moving boxes out of the way, I'll be moving Old Dude's box to the mudroom as well.
We've had a few middle-of-the-night hissy-fights, and Old Dude tends to hiss and growl at Alpha-girl when she comes into the bedroom, but they keep their distance for the most part. The other younger one shows no interest whatsoever in Old Dude.
And for the first few days, Old Dude hid in the bathroom, behind the toilet.
posted by mnb64 at 7:35 AM on June 18, 2010
To get a sense of appropriate space, bear in mind what the size of a cattery space for each cat is. It's not large.
Get a scratching post. Also, it's worth swapping blankets so that from the go, the incoming and incumbent cat[s] get used to the others' smell.
As others have said, it's important for the incoming cat to feel secure, above all.
posted by MuffinMan at 7:59 AM on June 18, 2010
Get a scratching post. Also, it's worth swapping blankets so that from the go, the incoming and incumbent cat[s] get used to the others' smell.
As others have said, it's important for the incoming cat to feel secure, above all.
posted by MuffinMan at 7:59 AM on June 18, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks ya'll! Mr. New Cat seems to be doing pretty well in his new digs and the other cats seem to have a healthy amount of curiosity but aren't showing any intense anxiety over the newcomer. Thanks for putting my mind at ease!
posted by johnnybeggs at 8:07 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by johnnybeggs at 8:07 AM on June 18, 2010
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posted by bunny hugger at 6:52 AM on June 18, 2010