Cat experts: Need your help introducing new cats

[supernova]

I have two four month old siblings, a male orange tabby (Sid) and female tortie (Nancy).

This saturday, I got two more females who are, I guess about 4-5 weeks old. Barely eating solid food. One is a beautiful little smoke colored one, the other is a little tux with white feet and white chest.

OK.

So, Sid gets along fine, if a little rough n his teenagerish way, with the new kittens (though he does wear on them and I limit their time together to about 10-15 minutes at a time.

Nancy though, this as just rocked her world. :cry: She hisses at the kittens and really doesn't want anything to do with them. I don't think the kittens are old enough to really understand her reaction.

I have the new kittens in a spare bedroom so they have their own space. Is there anything I can do to help them all get along better in the future? I do give the older cats more attention, especially tortie since I got the new ones. But wow Nancy sure does have her nose out of joint about it.

[Corgigal]

1. I have 6 cats

and I always do it the same way. I bring in the dog's crate into our living room. I placed the new kitten/cat inside the crate with a litter box and water. This allows the new guys to get the smells and sounds down in safety. It also allows the other cats to come over and look and smell. I give it a couple of days and then allow the new cat out. It has always worked.

[supernova]

3. So, am I prolonging

the agony by keeping them in the bedroom?

I have the door open when I am there and the cats can interact if they choose.

Nancy remains by the door. So far, the closer she comes, the more she hisses.

[Corgigal]

6. i would put the kittens in the main area of the house

where Nancy would be forced to walk by them daily. Of course, I would use the crate where I know the little guys are safe. The older cats will get curious and one night when you're asleep Nancy will come over to make her greetings in her own way. Once that happens, and don't be surprised when you find them all sitting by the crate, then allow the kittens out. Just let the older cats do it in their own way.

[Condem]

2. We've got "a lot", supernova.

We volunteer with resucues and have a little bit of practice. There are different ways to handle it - one is to get a small towel and rub Nancy with it and then rub the kittens. She may like the kittens better if they smell more like her. The other thing to try is to have them in a room together and to show a very obvious preference for Miss Nancy. Start leaving them in a room together for short amounts of time. When Nancy can be in the room without looking at the kittens, you're on your way.

[supernova]

4. That's a good idea

about the towel.

The newbies do have their own, erm unique odor.

LOL! They stank on Saturday. :rofl: They were cratemates with some bengal mixes at the pet expo, plus they've been at a vet's office since they were born.

[Captain Hilts]

5. The females can be very turfy. So, I'm not surprised Nancy wasn't pleased. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Not surprising that Nancy would be more difficult about the whole thing

than Sid (I love those names. "Sid and Nancy" :rofl:). Females tend to be pretty territorial and reluctant to accept new cats, at least at first. She will come around but it will probably take her longer.

Oh, BTW, where are the pictures???

[supernova]

8. Update

Everybody is freely roaming about the house.

:D

:rofl:

Sid is in heaven, 3 girls and HIM! :rofl:

Nancy is still skittish, but no longer hissing at the new kittens. She's trying to ignore them and be dignified about it.

Sid is really taking to being a big brother. I've had to bottle feed the littlest one today, she wasn't drinking water, nor eating her food. I'm kinda worried about her. Sid gave her a really great tongue bath to clean up the formula (he probably liked it too, the freak!)

But so far so good.

*crosses fingers*

edit: Forgot to say thanks for the towel idea and cross smells. Nancy was really mad about being swiped with their scent, but it seems to have calmed things down a lot.

[applegrove]

9. Put a kitten behind a door where Nancy is on the other side. The kitten will try

and play with her underneath the door. Nancy will fall in love. How it worked for me anyway.

I also once introduced a kitten to a big male by putting her underneath a tipped over laundry basket so the male couldn't get at her other than with paws. They started to play and it was love. Pretty soon the kitten was dive bombing ontop of the male and he would meow with glee.

I think introducing one kitten to Nancy would work better that several. Make sure it is one of the older kittens as they love to play and will lure Nancy into playing along. Keep something between them so that there is the semblance of separate space.

Good luck.