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Author Topic:   Huey the Cat
proxieme
Knowflake

Posts: 5331
From: Southern 'Bama
Registered: Aug 2002

posted November 08, 2005 10:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for proxieme     Edit/Delete Message
OK - a few questions:

* Just how long does it usually take an older cat to warm up to a kitten?
It's been some time for me...and we had a large house w/ some acreage surrounded by farms. While I was growing up, if the cats didn't want to see each other they didn't have to.
Now we're in a fairly small duplex...so.

* Does it really make a difference if both are male?
OK, I know that it does. But how surmountable is this if one's older and one's a 5-week-old kitten?

* Should we get two litterboxes?
Harry (our older cat) didn't seem too keen on Huey's little doos in his "space"...

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proxieme
Knowflake

Posts: 5331
From: Southern 'Bama
Registered: Aug 2002

posted November 08, 2005 10:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for proxieme     Edit/Delete Message
I tried to get some cute photos of Huey, but he's a kitten and is not wont to stand still (at least not when you want him to...).

This is the best that I could get before my camera's batteries died:

The most funny part: Harry watched this fiasco; then when I said, "Harry, your turn!" he sat and serenely posed (very out of character for him).

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Nephthys
Moderator

Posts: 2162
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001

posted November 08, 2005 11:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nephthys     Edit/Delete Message
I am so jealous. I want a black cat!

I love the name you have picked out for him!

There are some cat experts here so I'm sure they'll give you great advice!

I love Harry's pink nose.

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Gemini Nymph
Knowflake

Posts: 1115
From:
Registered: Jul 2004

posted November 10, 2005 02:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gemini Nymph     Edit/Delete Message
1) Cats have distinct personalities and tastes, as well as a habits. So ther'es no real "trick" to getting cats to get along. If an older cat has been the only cat for a long time, it'll be very hard for him to adjust to another cat. However, they tend to be more tolerant of young kittens, namely because kittens are less threatening (although often annoying) and usually adjust to the personality of the older cat.

If Harry's isn't acting up in very egregious ways, like urinating all of over the house, violently attacking the kitten, acting aggressively to you, etc., then there's fairly good chance he'll accept the kitten eventually. He may never warm up to Huey completely, but sometimes with cats, the best you can get is a truce.

Until then, make sure Harry has his space, and begin teaching the kitten to respect his elders (i.e., discourage him - humanely of course - from stealing Harry's food, tormenting Harry while he's in the litter box, claiming Harry's favorite sleeping place, and so forth). Cats are actually social and hierarchal (although not as much as dogs), so if you reinforce that Harry was there first, things probably will go better. However, if Harry feels he's being crowded out of his own home, this would be extremely stressful for him and cause him to become very aggressive (towards anyone) or depressed.

2. Gender always makes a difference is how cats get along. Again they are social and hierarchal. Males aren't always the dominant, but if there isn't a female, it's important to reinforce who's the Alpha and who's the Beta. Cats are very territorial so this begins with territory - basically what I said above. Kitten shouldn't be allowed first dibs on anything, at least until they've adjusted to one another. Make sure Harry gets his food first, gets his provacy int eh litter box and gets left alone when he wants to be left alone. That kind of thing. I even know of some cases where the alpha cat is "given" a room to himself, and the other cat is not allow in there (don't know if that is doable for you, but this often works very well).

When the kitten gets to be 1-2 years old he'll start feeling his male tendencies and may challenge Harry, so it's good to have a living arrangement to reinforces who's Alpha. That's the main concern with two male living together. However, as long as the younger is reminder and accepted he's the Beta, things usually go OK.

3. Normally, it's advisable to have one more litter box than the number of cats. If that's not doable, try to have at least two. Chances are, Harry'll claim both anyhow, but at least if there's two, they won't get as dirty as quickly, and thus give Harry less to object to.

Cat are very clean animals and do not like to use a dirty litter box. Normally, if another cat has used it bfore them, that means "dirty" to them. If a cat is not used to sharing a litter box, it's best to add another box to help ease the adjustment.

P.S. They're both adorable. Harry looks a bit like my Alpha cat (who's female).

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angel_of_hope
Knowflake

Posts: 834
From: Palmer, Alaska (the valley)
Registered: Jul 2004

posted November 10, 2005 05:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for angel_of_hope     Edit/Delete Message
Awww ... they are both adorable!! What a lil cutie Huey is! I miss having a kitten around. Harry looks alot like my male cat, Diablo!
]

I wont even bother to answer your question - as GN explained it purr-fectly!!

edit: OMG that turned out huge. Does anyone know how to make it smaller?

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Sun_Scorpion
Knowflake

Posts: 1590
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted November 11, 2005 07:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sun_Scorpion     Edit/Delete Message
Rofl Angel!!!! I think if you loaded it on to the LL photoshop or maybe photobucket you can resize it?

Aw Prox Huey and Harry are really cute!! I think Gemini N gave some great advice there too, hope it works out.

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Gemini Nymph
Knowflake

Posts: 1115
From:
Registered: Jul 2004

posted November 11, 2005 02:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gemini Nymph     Edit/Delete Message
Here's an example of an older cat "tolerating" an new addition (my Alpha female, Natasha, with Lemony, who at the time of the photo was barely 3 months):

Lemony adored Natasha and acted like she was his "new" mommy (I found him when he was only 7 weeks old, abandoned), but Natasha, however, wasn't terribly fond of playing any maternal roles.

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Sun_Scorpion
Knowflake

Posts: 1590
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted November 11, 2005 03:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sun_Scorpion     Edit/Delete Message
Awww!! Look at that 'long suffering look' shes got!! He look angelic!

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Gemini Nymph
Knowflake

Posts: 1115
From:
Registered: Jul 2004

posted November 11, 2005 06:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gemini Nymph     Edit/Delete Message
Angelic? Ha! Lemony's a Libra-Pisces, which might make you think he's a sweetie...well, he can be, but most of time (he's now 1 yr, 2 mos old) he's a little devil kitty. Always getting into trouble or pestering the other cats. My brother think I should have called him "Bart" after Bart Simpson, because that's his personality. LOL.

His redeeming quality is he really means no harm. I've never had a cat who never gets mad, aggressive or growls/hisses when they're very upset. He never has. He bites a lot, but it's all play. He's just a little overly rambunchous, that's all.

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Randall
Webmaster

Posts: 22691
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted November 13, 2005 01:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message

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