dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Okay so i have two cats, a kinda mean black and white boy, and a very sweet, but shy tabby (gray and black) girl... neither declawed, both fixed, etc. Im going to be cat-sitting 2 persians, at my house, for the next week, and im worried the four cats wont be getting along, does anyone have any advice as to how to keep them from fighting, and keep all 4 cats happy?? the two cats im sitting for are a boy and a girl, thanks for any help anyone can offer :)
~*Taylor*~
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
First, don't leave your male alone for any length of time with the new Persians. That "sorta mean" clawed male may have an issue with the new guests, particularly the male.
You don't say whether your Persian guests are declawed or fixed.
Anyway, here are a few options:
1. If you have the space, you could just keep the Persians in a different part of the house. I've had a spectacular white Persian male for over 10 years who decided he didn't like the stray tabby I adopted, even though the tabby could have easily torn him up. Solution: Persian lives on one floor, tabby another. Supervised visits.
2. If you don't have the space, you can try introducing the males for very short periods and see how they react to each other (ditto for the females, but they tend to be more tolerant). Watch their body language very carefully. It's also usually a good idea to have one of them in your arms so that if they decide to attack each other, you will not find yourself in the middle of a catfight. I have the scars to back up my advice on this one.
If they show good tolerance, just extend out the periods of introduction and socialization.
3. You will know in a day or two whether the case for "adaptation" is hopeless. Cats typically adapt to their environments very quickly, which means that you will have a good answer before your week is up. Be prepared to move to isolation (separate bedrooms is another option) for their own protection.
4. Please suggest to the friends you are cat-sitting for to provide to you the Persians' toys, bedding, etc. with their scents so the cats do not feel lonely, abandoned or scared.
Cat Fancy magazine also has good advice on socialization.
God, am I pussy-whipped or what? ::)
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Thanks so much for the advice! The other persians are fixed, and NOT declawed, so at least all four cats will have a level playing field, lol... what i plan to do at first is keep the new cats in their carriers for a while, to see how my cats react, and then open up the carriers and let the new cats come out on their own... other problem is, we have human house guest for the same week we have these cats, lol... so i think i might have my sister-in-law and her fiance sleep in my room, and me and my hubby sleep on the couch so my guests can sleep in peace, lol... thanks again for the advice!! i felt stupid posting here, but i didnt know who else to ask!
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
The male persian isn't fixed? I wouldn't let an unfixed male cat into MY house with another male cat!! ;D That could prove quite, uh, stenchy.
Whenever I had to bring other cats into the picture, I would put the new cats into their own room (separated by a closed door). That way, they could have their own place, my cats would feel like they still had most of their domain, and within a day or two, they would get used to each other.
I would just be concerned about the two male cats, though. Males are extremely territorial and even neutered males will "make their marks" if they have another male around. I would be really aware of what they are doing ALL the time...don't let them spray AT ALL, otherwise you'll have a war...and then your male cat will just continue to spray long after the other male is gone. Ick.
Good luck!
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Cats. Hmm i say a seperate room for the two you're sitting for. Damn, has anyone ever seen a cat fight? Wow! Pluss you wil have males spraying, marking spots you know.
Good luck,
Pamela
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
thanks for all the advice... sorry i didnt mean to confuse anyone, ALL cats are fixed, NONE of them are declawed,
heres the update, they're all getting along pretty well! the male cat took to the house very quickly, there hasnt been any fights, and the female cat is the one thats hissing and scratching at us... male cat is snuggly and such a cute fluff ball!!! my cats are okay, kinda leery of the new cats, but overall good... however my male cat wont let anyone in the kitchen... hmmm, lol... thanks for all the advice :)
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Glad to hear that it's going well for you!! ;D
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
thanks, only problem today is, i cant seem to get the visiting cats to come out to eat... my cat wouldnt let them in the kitchen so i had to move their food to the living room, ::sigh:: silly cats...
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Watch the persians with the litter box. I have a female persian and they are picky about thier boxes and were they go. I have been having a problem lately with her going in the bathtubs and in the fromal dining room. My other persian was this way too. Just make sure they have their own box.
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
yeah they have their own box in the hallway and we have our cats self cleaning box in the bathroom... i cant get the persians to eat!!! i dont know what to do about it! they told me not to leave the food out for them all the time, but they wont eat when i put it out! ughhh....
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Don't worry, the Persians are probably just stressed. New house, strange cats, weird smells. Try putting out a little dry food for them so they can come out when things are quiet and they feel safer.
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Is there food in the kitchen by the mean cat? Also if it by their litter box that could be it. Those darn persians are so picky but sooo cute.
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
As a lifelong cat lover, I think it's sweet that you all helped her with this. Hope it all worked out for you and your fluffy friends. :grouphug:
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Sounds like you've got your own little "Kitty Heaven" (see the thread about 8-10 pages back "There is a...") going there, lucky you!
And it's going remarkably well, too--when I first started reading I thought "You gotta keep 'em separated...", like the song goes.
Other than the problem with food, you have it under control. But I have found that even the most finicky of cats will eat when they get hungry enough, lol--maybe try putting a bowl of dry food where the visitors tend to sleep.
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Wow, you have it more under control than I ever did with the introduction of Puddy. It took over a year for my cat to finally go from dislike to tolerate. She still doesn't like him just tolerates him as she realises (unfortuantely) that he isn't going anywhere.
They've worked out their heirachy. They don't really 'fight' anymore.. it is just a case of my cat complaining "he's near me.. he's doing this to me.. where is my human to rescue me from this damn cat!!" lol! Really that's all it is... she has her safe spots and runs to them (and me as she knows I will take her side).
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
lol, wow this thread is a year old! i saw that I had been the orginal poster and had no clue what it was, lol...
that whle thing worked out great, the persians and my cats got along fine... my latest issue with my cats was getting them acclimated to the new apartment, we've been here 3 weeks about and my female cant still wont talk to me, lol... but she'll get over it eventually ;) i do want to thank everyone again for helping me out during that time!
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
Whoops, I had no clue, lol--I rarely check dates on these things so I assumed it was an ongoing situation.
Maybe the plethora of cat threads recently caused it to get bounced back up...
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
And for anyone that looks at this and is needing help with stressed out cats, there's a product called Feliway, that's a plug in pheremone system that supposedly puts off the pheremones of the mothers' milk, or something like that. works up to a 500 (or more) square foot space. they also have something like that for dogs, but I can't remember the name.
Re: dont know where to post this-- about cats!
oh yes, feliway is wonderful!! my mean boy cat gets a spray of it when hes being rude, and he just kinda sits there and daydreams for a while, lol... its sooooo nice for getting him off me when hes in one of his biting moods!