YAY! I Think We Have A New Cat!

[Placebo]

So my grandma and grandpa who live in the apartment below us blew a fuse (don't ask) and my father and I had to go down to the basement to get the power back on...

And right outside the basement door was a pretty white cat! It looked about 6 or 7 months old, I'd guess. It was meowing and rubbing up against my leg and following us everywhere. I think it must have been a house cat at one time or another because it let me pick it up and hold it, and it didn't have any claws. And I think it's a girl. (don't quote me on that)

We brought it down a can of food and it gobbled that up. So we decided to lure it into the basement (luring isn't even the word, it would have followed us down there regardless) with some water and more food.

It's in the basement for the night. Hopefully no one will come and claim it before tomorrow afternoon (if it was someone's cat that just got out), because that's when we're going to take it to the vet to get checked out. If it's already declawed, chances are good that it's already spayed.

If all goes well, we'll have a new kitty tomorrow! :) :) :)

Anyone have tips for introducing a new cat to my current cat? My current cat is 13 years old and never been around other cats.

Also, it's going to be fun introducing a white cat into our home. Almost everything in our house is black or dark, which works well with our current cat who is mostly black with a little white on the paws and belly. Oh well! We'll make it work. :)

[CottonBear]

1. Congratulations on your new kitty cat!

Keep her/him in a separate area w/ food/H2O/Litter Box until you've taken them to the vet. Then, only GRADUALLY intoduce the two kitties. Allow white kitty a safe space to retreat to complete with a soft kitty bed and scratching post! Good luck! :) :hug:

[Placebo]

2. Thanks!

Darn, does no one else care about my story or have advice for introducing a cat to another? :cry:

[CottonBear]

3. I care. My 3 kitties send love!

I had a great post last night that Elad (Administrator posted to multiple times!). I reposted the thread mid-day and I got 1 (0ne) response. Don't feel bad.

How is "new kitty" doing? Take it slow and allow the new one a space of its own. All will be OK. You are an angel for taking in a homeless kitty! Watch the other kitties. It may take months before they accept a new kitty to the house.

Peace. CB

[Placebo]

6. Oy, months?

Oh well, I guess that's what summers off from school are for. :)

Thanks!

[bettyellen]

4. ignore the new cat. don't let the old one see you pay attention to it.

you have to wait until the old cat "introduces you" to the new cat.
i read this a while ago, and it totally makes sense.
it also sounds impossible!

[Placebo]

7. I was thinking of keeping them seperate...

for a while. Or possibly having someone else bring the new cat into the house in front of our current one, in a cage, see how they respond.

[bettyellen]

9. just pay more attention to the older cat, they can get very territorial...

and if you limit their space because of the baby, the older one might get pretty pissed.
if anything, keep the baby sequestered a bit.

[DELUSIONAL]

5. Similar situation -- old black cat new white/ginger cat

Our new cat is a bobtail and he thinks tails are toys -- the 14 yr old black cat with the toy/tail is not amused. The older black cat was raised by a dog and never saw another cat until he was nearly a year old.

They will work it out. The advice you've gotten above is good.

[Placebo]

8. Wow, almost identical situations.

I wonder how my current cat will adapt to a fluffy energy-filled younger cat. :)

Although my cat @ 13 still has TONS of energy.

[DELUSIONAL]

15. The younger one will liven up your whole house!

Our older cat is acting younger -- and he turns around and swats at the youngster.

The peace maker is our Chihuahua -- who can ride in a carrier with either cat. She loves cats and thinks the cats having hissing contests is fun and entertaining! She wants to play too.

Two cats makes live twice as interesting -- just ask our Chihuahua.

[alittlelark]

10. 6-7 months old is about time for 'going into heat'

That is the age most unfixed cats get lost. If she still has a glossy coat w/o mats she hasn't been gone for long. I'm hard-core about spaying, but many think that indoor cats don't need it (HA). Those unfixed 'indoor cats' are the ones I trap - with their kittens- at the creek near our house.

Hopefully she will be yours!

[Placebo]

12. She looks pretty clean...

especially considering she's all white and dirt would show up clearer on her.

I don't think anyone would get their cat declawed only to leave it not spayed, that's just craziness. :crazy:

[alittlelark]

14. Many do. They are quite confused. Hacking off the 1st joint

of their 'fingers' is worse than spaying, but quite a few do. She may have a tatoo on her tummy - all of mine do. It's the universal 'female' symbol w/ a 'no' line through the circle.


For having new cats meet each other - I put the new cat in a carrier, bring it into the house and let the established cat discover it on their own. The newbie feel somewhat safe in the den, and the older one feels in control. Let the new one out after a few hours. Give the established cat 3-4X the attn of the newbie - feed it first... It generally takes 2-3 weeks.

[Maddy McCall]

11. Congrats on your new kitty!

Post some photos soon, will ya? :D

[Placebo]

13. Will do!

Once she's all cleaned up and shiny. :)

[roguevalley]

16. go down and bring her up. its kismet! :)

[ET Awful]

17. WoooHooo for kitties!

And those who save them :woohoo: