Advice please...I have a very old cat...

[S n o w b a l l]

First of all, Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to everyone.

So, I've had her since she was a kitten and she's 17 now, vet says she's healthy, but has arthritis, is frail and doesn't eat good. She's picky and doesn't like anything I've tried feeding her.

My question....my sister has a very sweet cat, probably about a year old and they don't want her and want me to take her or they say they're taking her to the shelter. I can't stand the thought of that and am willing to take her, but I'm afraid my older cat's health will be in jeopardy because of the stress of another cat. She's been my only cat for 17 years although she's lived through 4 different dogs and is fine with them. I just don't know how she'd be with another cat.

Would you risk it? What do you think?

Thanks.....

[blogslut]

1. What sex is the other cat?

If it's a boy, your female might not be nearly as stressed. I find that same sex cats are more territorial towards each other.

[S n o w b a l l]

2. Female

I have two dogs too so the new cat would probably hide for a few days and might be a hard adjustment for her too.

[kimi]

3. My Tabitha sounds a lot like your elderly lady cat

although she's over 18, she has arthritis which she gets medication for. She's definitely not fond of the other 7 cats, they range in age from 2 to about 10. But the other cats don't give her a lot of trouble, they seem to know that she's the matriarch and a bit frail. Plus, she was here before any of them came along, so they know that she's dominant, if that makes sense. If you were to take the younger cat - and I think you're doing a very generous thing if you do - I'd keep them separate for a while to get used to each other's scent and presence. Cats tend to work things out in the end, at least mine have.

Happy Holidays to you, too!:)

[elehhhhna]

4. intro them and find out. btw, old cats teeth are normally messed up --

super soft food might help her.

I doubt a noght w/ each on the other side of a door would make her too crazy. a slow intro and maybe it'll work. if not you tried, hard.

best wishes and good luck.

[S n o w b a l l]

12. Yeah, the vet didn't say anything about her teeth

but, he did put her on Science Diet ID, a bland soft food. She liked it until they came out with the "new and improved" and then wouldn't touch the stuff. I've tried other Science Diet flavors, Fancy Feast, a couple cans of Friskies. She'll eat a little of it and then snub her nose at it. I've got cat chow in for her too. I caught her licking the canned gravy out of the dog's bowl the other day and gave her some of that and she lapped it up but I don't know how healthy that is for her.

The vet says she's a healthy weight so she must be getting enough but it sure doesn't seem like it.

[grasswire]

5. feliway might help

It's a hormone-mimicking spray or plug-in that vets recommend for easing tensions. You can get it at some pet shops and all veterinary clinics.

I have to say that my elder cat likes to watch the younger one play. That can be amusing for them.

[haele]

6. We kept the kittens in the bathroom for a week when we introduced them to

my elderly cats.
Another possibiity is to get a bunch of trash bag ties and those click-together wire cube "9-cube bookcase or shelving" kits and create cheap, multi-level "playpen" that you can put a kitty litter box in a niche under, say, a carrier and the food in a seperate area (we did that with the smaller kittens - created an entry door that swung and latched with tie-wraps) The older cat will get used to them, and they can get used to her without everyone barging into everyone else's territory.

Haele

[david13]

7. A week or two of separation, with supervised interaction for an hour

or more, and more each day, til they don't try to kill each other.
The oldster may feel a lot younger with a young companion around. Probably before long they will be sleeping with paws around each other.
dc

[S n o w b a l l]

8. Thanks for your advice everyone...

I apologize for taking so long to say thank you.

I have the new kitty in the bedroom on the other side of my house from my elderly kitty. She doesn't even know she's here yet, she mainly just comes out to eat and then goes back to her bed to sleep. The new kitty (Sophie) was introduced to the dogs when I opened the door of her room. She hissed and growled and the dogs backed away. They wanted nothing to do with her which is good since one is an Akita that could do some damage if she wanted. So I'm going back every hour or so and petting and talking to her so she won't get lonely and she's comfortable in her room but hard telling how long it will take her to come out. I left the door open a crack in case she wanted to investigate things, but then she just hid under the bed.

I think this is gonna take awhile.

Thanks again for all your advice and comments.

Hope you all had a good holiday!

[GoCubsGo]

9. Something else that will help...

Before you introduce the kitties, get them used to each others scents. For instance, if you have a blanket that one kitty likes to sleep on, move it to where the other one can get some good whiffs of it. The transition might go easier if they are used to each others smell first. I'm glad you recognize that it will take time. My niece just got a second cat, and despite all of my warnings, she has been rushing the introduction. It hasn't been going well, needless to say.

[S n o w b a l l]

10. Thanks...good idea...

Older kitty (August) has two beds so I just took one in to Sophie and she was definitely smelling and checking it out. I put a soft blanket in for Sophie and will do the same for August once she's got her smell on it.

[Heidi]

11. Your first loyalty is to your 17-year-old girl.

The best thing you can do for the kitten is make a genuine effort to find her a better home, but I wouldn't personally subject even my 10-year-old, very indulged Wiley and Excellent Boy Cat Named Ginger to a new family member. He has a good life now and I'm not willing to jeopardize that.

P.S. :loveya: s n o w b a l l!

[S n o w b a l l]

13. Heidi!

:loveya:

Wish I would have talked to you before I got her, but it's too late now. Honestly though, it probably wouldn't have made too much difference.I couldn't let them take her to the shelter. That's how I got my second dog....from my sister who was going to take her back to the shelter after a week of trying to make it work because she was too shy with the kids. I've had her for 7 yrs now and she's anything but shy and she loves those kids now because I worked with her and gave her a chance. I love my sister but I hate the way they can treat animals like inanimate objects.

I can try to find a home for her but I doubt I'll have much luck. The shelter has over 125 cats for adoption here and I felt like she had no chance if they took her there.

I really was hoping that maybe, just maybe the younger one might provide a little company if only to sleep next to her or watch her play. She's a tough girl. She's been with me through so many changes, several new homes, new dogs, a drive from LA to IN. I really think she'll adapt but if it's stressing her out, I won't let it jeopardize her health anymore than it is. I'll have to do something.

Warm hugs to you, Wesley and Ginger. :hug: