Introducing a new kitten...tell me it gets easier!

mel.b

I found a little kitten at work yesterday in the wheel of a car He's very friendly so used to people but his eyes and nose were in a bad way. I took him down to the vets and the vet thinks he's about 8weeks old and gave him a shot of antibiotics and i've got tablets to give him for the next few days.

At home I already have a cat and a dog. My dog is a Malamute and while he grew up with Puss, I wouldn't trust him with other cats. I'd love to keep the little kitten, but i'm really going to have to see how things go.

At the moment, the kitten (who I've called Joe, as I found him at St Joseph's Hospital ) is in Cooper's old crate. He's got the cat carrier with a pillow in there he can go into as well as his litter tray, blanket and food bowls so it's quite a cozy set up and he's safe from Cooper. Cooper is interested, but doesn't give him too much hassle when he's in the crate. Little Joe is starting to get used to Cooper as well as he isn't hissing half as much as he was last night.

I've only had Joe out once with Cooper in the room so far. I was holding onto Joe and Cooper got very excited. I actually had to turn my back to Cooper as he was so excited and vocal. Today before I let Joe out of the crate, I put Cooper outside. Cooper loves being outside, except for when there's something more interesting happening inside, so of course he was causing an almighty racket outside as he wanted to come back in :rolleyes:

And then there's Puss Strangely, Puss normally loves kittens and makes friends with them. In my old house there were two kittens next door and he made friends with them and even let them inside to eat out of his bowl. Then when we moved, the neighbours got a kitten and the two of them were inseparable until they moved. When I bought Joe inside last night he was in the cat carrier and Puss gave him a good sniff and everything was ok. However after i got the crate down, Puss got really upset. I remember when I got the crate initially for Cooper and set it up (before Cooper arrived) it really seemed to scare Puss. Puss didn't come in last night and this morning was hanging around the house, wanting to come in but as soon as I'd bring him in he'd bolt outside again. I tried taking him upstairs and into my room but he bolted again. Finally i brought him inside and put him into the spare bedroom where he often sleeps and shut the door. I could hear he was upset for a while but he seems to have stopped now so I'd say he's gone to sleep.

Hard to believe something that hasn't even been here for 24hrs and weighs less than a kg can cause so much chaos :eek: Please tell me it will get easier!!

Here's little Joe

mel.b

Just went to check on Puss. Thought he was asleep but he was at the door and as soon as I opened it, he bolted down stairs and out his cat flap again

Nody

Yes it does get easier it's only the first 24h

Get a Feliway plug in spray as well to help and move Joe into a side room if possible to give Puss as much of his normal space as possible.

mel.b

The feliway is a good idea...as long as I can get puss to stay inside! I guess I just put him into a room with the plug in and shut the door?

I have Joe in the sitting room at the moment - it's not somewhere that Puss comes very often as it's Cooper's space. Puss's space is the room he is fed in that has his cat flap and upstairs in my bedroom and one of the spares as Cooper doesn't go upstairs. So hopefully Joe isn't impinging too much on his space.

Nody

mel.b wrote: »

The feliway is a good idea...as long as I can get puss to stay inside! I guess I just put him into a room with the plug in and shut the door?

Put it close to the cat door; it should help puss to calm down slightly and not bolt directly. Remember his reaction is mainly due to the new smell which has set him off; the plug can help reduce that stress.

Also if he has any really smelly foods he loves to serve inside with the spray as well to associate the new smell with good stuff.

Teyla Emmagan

He doesn't look underfed anyway. Cute fella

Baybay

Nothing practical to add except I think you're a good person who can make this work. Well done you!

mel.b

My neighbour had a feliway so that is plugged in now into the room his cat flap and food is in. There's also some tasty sardines been added to his dinner tonight.

At the moment he's hanging out in the neighbours backyard...they have a minute dog kennel (no dog) and he's sleeping in there. So at least he's nearby and dry & warm.

mel.b

The feliway has worked wonders so far. Puss came in last night and ate and then went upstairs into my room where he stayed all night. I moved the feliway upstairs when I went to bed. He's come down and gone outside now but that would be typical.

Now I just have to be able to put up with Cooper going crazy because i've put him outside so little joe can have some day release from kitten jail :P

Little Joe also needs a bath or wash - he's meant to be a ginger and white, but he's mostly ginger and grey. i thought he might start to clean himself up but if he is it isn't making any difference. What's the best way to do that? Flannel and warm water - should I use a tiny bit of shampoo or soap as well?

mymo

Flannel and warn water is fine, if really bad a drop of baby shampoo in a jug of warm water, just need a tiny drop and rinse with a clean flannel and warm water.
You really don't want to bath your cat unless it loves water or you like pain.

mel.b

Have given it a try, hasn't really shifted any of the (what I presume is) grease. Will keep at it.

Poor thing, I've had to put him back into kitten jail and he's meowing his head off. he's been out in the lounge room with the door shut exploring for the past two hours or so as I've had Cooper with me in the kitchen while baking. I don't think it's fair to keep him in there but it's the only way to keep him safe at the moment

mel.b

mel.b wrote: »

Have given it a try, hasn't really shifted any of the (what I presume is) grease. Will keep at it.

Poor thing, I've had to put him back into kitten jail and he's meowing his head off. he's been out in the lounge room with the door shut exploring for the past two hours or so as I've had Cooper with me in the kitchen while baking. I don't think it's fair to keep him in there but it's the only way to keep him safe at the moment

Hi Mel, just on the grease. My Axel was found in the axle of a truck as a kitten and was covered in oil when I got him. I washed him a few times over the first few days and it wouldn't budge. So I just left it. He was really filthy looking but it grew out in no time and did him no harm in the interim so I wouldn't be worrying too much about it.

And yes it gets easier, I promise.
But it might take some time. Anything from a few weeks to a few months. It took me the guts of 6 months! But don't panic. Axel was our first cat and my terrier was not at all happy about it. You're already a few steps ahead of that with a dog and cat living in harmony.

Like you I put Axel in a big dog crate with his bed, heating pad, bowls and litter tray. This I put in the spare room and myself and my partner took turns going in to play and visit with him. The first couple of weeks I didn't let the dogs see him at all but I'd regularly leave them in my mams house for an hour and let the kitten explore the apartment and leave his scent around. So they got used to the smell of him about the place and he got used to the smell of them.

Then I started carrying him around the dogs but well out of the reach and usually inside my jumper because neither dog would dare try to hurt the kitten when they weren't sure where he stopped and I began and they would never hurt me. At first I did this for minutes (wandering around) working up to hours (him cuddling in my top while we watched up a movie). This had the added effect of making him a very affectionate cat who loves to be held.

One day my terrier seemed to just realise the kitten was part of the family and all of sudden they became, not only okay with each other, but the best of friends. Now we have two cats and with the second cat it only took about 5 or 6 weeks to get them friends.

So hang in there. It's frustrating and some days you think they'll never all get on but you'll get there, honest.

Attaching pics so you can see how grubby he was and he turned out fine.

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mel.b

Oh wow, beautiful cat Yes, I think Joe is going to have to grow out of his grease. Cooper is learning to adapt and I was able to have Joe in my arms for a short while and pat Cooper at the same time so that is progress. Poor puss though is a different story. I think the Feliway would work if he would stay home long enough. Since Sat night when he slept inside, I think he's been inside for a total of about 30min I brought him in last night and he ate and then sat next to his cat flap while i was patting him. Little joe was wandering around, but didn't come that close. Tonight, puss was sitting in the garden so I brought him in. He didn't eat tonight, but I put him in the same room as Joe and stayed with them, patting him for about 20mins. He was meowing and generally unhappy and as soon as he had a chance escaped out the cat flap.

I know he gets fed at a couple of the houses nearby so I'm worried about him decided to pack up and move altogether. Do I just let me adjust on his own time and hope he comes around, or should I be trying to keep him in?

I'm still trying to find a home for little joe as well but I'm not having any luck, so it looks like he will be staying, but I don't want that if it means Puss moves out

mel.b

Two nights in a row i've gone out to get Puss and he's sitting with another of the neighbourhood cats yet he can't accept the little scamp inside :rolleyes:

Joe and Cooper are getting to know each other though

You mentioned puss hates the crate joe is in. Have you tried having them in the same room with no crate around?

mel.b

Deleted User wrote: »

You mentioned puss hates the crate joe is in. Have you tried having them in the same room with no crate around?

I had them inside together tonight in a room that puss doesn't use much and Joe has never been in. The crate was no where to be seen. We spent about 40mins in the room together. Puss will tolerate joe being within about arms length. If that's as good as it gets I'll be happy with that. What continues to worry me more is that Puss has still not spontaneously come inside since Joe arrived on Friday. The only way he comes inside is if I carry him and the only way he stays is if he is locked in a room. If not, he bolts for his cat flap at the first chance he gets. I just tried to shut the room to the door the cat flap is in, but I just heard the bang of it, so he still managed to get in the room somehow and get out. I'll go outside in an hour or so before I go to bed to see if he is nearby. When I got home from work tonight he was again sitting on the neighbours doorstep. I tried to bring him home then but he ran away from me About an hour and half later I was going outside to take the dog for a walk and he was in the driveway so I was able to get him and bring him inside. I've become attached to little Joe, but I really think I'm going to have to try and find him a new home

taytobreath

mel.b wrote: »

I had them inside together tonight in a room that puss doesn't use much and Joe has never been in. The crate was no where to be seen. We spent about 40mins in the room together. Puss will tolerate joe being within about arms length. If that's as good as it gets I'll be happy with that. What continues to worry me more is that Puss has still not spontaneously come inside since Joe arrived on Friday. The only way he comes inside is if I carry him and the only way he stays is if he is locked in a room. If not, he bolts for his cat flap at the first chance he gets. I just tried to shut the room to the door the cat flap is in, but I just heard the bang of it, so he still managed to get in the room somehow and get out. I'll go outside in an hour or so before I go to bed to see if he is nearby. When I got home from work tonight he was again sitting on the neighbours doorstep. I tried to bring him home then but he ran away from me About an hour and half later I was going outside to take the dog for a walk and he was in the driveway so I was able to get him and bring him inside. I've become attached to little Joe, but I really think I'm going to have to try and find him a new home

I wouldn't worry so much, he will get used to him, just give him time. I wouldn't force Joe on your new arrival either, cats are very stubborn and by doing that you'll only drive him away further. Joe knows his food source. All you need is patience.

mel.b

That is true, but with puss being fed at two other houses, the only extra i offer is pats, cuddles and a warm bed at night and when he won't come in its hard to offer those! Although, he did come in all by himself last night for the first time since Joe arrived so that's progress, but i did advertise for a new home for Joe so we'll see what happens. I am going away on Thurs for 5nights and have a house sitter coming. Puss is normally fine with a housesitter but i'm worried it will be added stress on him if Joe is still here and he hasn't adapted more to his arrival.

taytobreath

mel.b wrote: »

That is true, but with puss being fed at two other houses, the only extra i offer is pats, cuddles and a warm bed at night and when he won't come in its hard to offer those! Although, he did come in all by himself last night for the first time since Joe arrived so that's progress, but i did advertise for a new home for Joe so we'll see what happens. I am going away on Thurs for 5nights and have a house sitter coming. Puss is normally fine with a housesitter but i'm worried it will be added stress on him if Joe is still here and he hasn't adapted more to his arrival.

please be careful about re homing the kitten, vet the potential owners very carefully, go to their house to do a home visit, thereby u are making sure that all the necessities are in place for the kitten. Too many people get kittens on a whim and several weeks later the kitten is abandoned. Cats and kittens have also been re homed to people that want to use them as live bait for their dogs.

Be vigilant