topic Adding a new kitty in Pet Lovers

Adding a new kitty

Kat60 — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:52:04 GMT

Hi I need some new ideas. First I have had 43 cats which I kept 16 over time. They were newborns to one year when I got them. My daughter is at college on her final year. She took her Aunts cat because they couldn't have a cat. So my daughter's roommate turned her into her apartment management. Now I have a 4th cat till August. I can't seem to get her to hang out with the other cats. She is sweet and let's me let her. When I pick her up she softly complains and squirms. Now every night in the room next to me one of the four does that loud cat noise. Like the one when there is a stray on the porch. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get them to play nice?

Re: Adding a new kitty

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 20:27:18 GMT

@Kat60 She sounds a lot like my female cat (Katie). I've been their mom for at least 4 or 5 years. I adopted Katie and Bill (my other cat who's supposed to be her brother) at the same time. Bill is bright orange, Katie is black and white and long haired.

Anyway, I've NEVER been able to get very close to Katie (no one has). When I have company, she runs away until AFTER they've left. She comes when I call her to eat or treats. She also comes and lays next to me when I'm laying in bed watching TV. Otherwise nothing. If I walk up to where she's laying, if she can, she will run away. She's petrified of everything!

I just accept her the way she is. She loves Bill and will lay next to him in bed (he 'tollerates' her).

It is unbelievable when I try to catch her to get her to the Vets. It all has to be planned out the day before (to catch her).

I guess my advice to you is to do what I do, I just accept her the way she is. It's pretty much like having one cat (Bill). Most of my family have never even seen her! When my daughter comes to visit for a few days, (her name is also Katie) she NEVER even sees Katie the cat.

I've also adopted over the years many different cats (most I've had at one time was 4 (they found me). So, like you, I've never experienced a cat like Katie.

When I adopted her she came from people who give homes to cats until they are adopted. The only thing I could think of was she must have been mistreated at one time.....I have no idea.

But like I said, it's been years now and not much has changed.

My friend works for my Vet. She takes care of them when I travel. She always tells me Katie the cat is lucky I adopted her because a lot of people wouldn't be happy having her because she's so skitzy (sp).

She also barfs up all over my wall to wall rugs constantly. I find the furballs everywhere. I've given her everything you can think of to prevent it but so far nothing works. My heart goes out to Katie the cat because it must be terrible being so afraid all of the time.

I love her so much; but sometimes it's hard to not take it personal when I can't get near her. I keep reminding myself, "she just a cat".

Take care and I you have more experience with cats than I do. Nothing has worked for me, I hope you find something but be prepared, if she's like my Katie the cat, you might have to accept her the way she is.

Re: Adding a new kitty

Katcat1 — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 20:30:41 GMT

@Kat60 How could you possibly care for 16 cats at once? How many litter boxes do you need?

As far as your current problem, obviously the one cat is not use to other cats. Can you see if your Vet would take the cat? Or possibly have friends and one of your friends would take the cat? Otherwise you will have to listen to the noise. Take care and Happy Holidays.

Re: Adding a new kitty

2blonde — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 21:26:53 GMT

@Katcat1 I think she meant "16 over time," but this one is the 4th she has currently.

Re: Adding a new kitty

2blonde — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 21:30:34 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 You know, I think cats are a lot like people. Some just aren't nice, some aren't real smart, and some are just neurotic or unfriendly. I'm sorry you've never been able to develop a close relationship with your girl......I know how frustrating and painful that must be. As you say, maybe something happened in her past that scared her......but it's unusual for that behavior to be so permanent.

Re: Adding a new kitty

Katcat1 — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 21:30:59 GMT

@2blonde Thanks for clarifying. There is a woman on the TV now with over 10 cats at home on Dr. Phil. It's alot of work. I absolutely love cats but only have one because it is a lot of work. Wish I could have two more.

Re: Adding a new kitty

software — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 21:37:57 GMT

I recently purchased the Tidy Cat Breeze litter box and I love it so far.

I have 2 cats now, they took to it right away, no problems whatsoever.

With traditional litter, I felt I was cleaning a box every day. Which I was!

But I could still smell it.

I don't have to clean this one every day - every other day - and no smell at all.

Re: Adding a new kitty

Catty2 — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 02:08:18 GMT

They may never be best friends but it seems they tolerate each other. Years ago I took in my mother's cat when she moved to assisted living. I'd already had Callie for 5 years when I took in Amber. There were never any fights but they never became BFF's.

Re: Adding a new kitty

feline groovy — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 03:15:08 GMT

@Annabellethecat66: nice to see you again kisses to Bill and Katie

Re: Adding a new kitty

Kat60 — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 08:15:33 GMT

Thank all of you so much. I guess I did not explain myself very well. I had one day and 2 dogs in 77. Then my parents had a stray in 88 called Hobo. My dad built a house by our football and so Hobo brought a pregnant friend home and she had her kittens in the winter. So dad made a kitty condo for Hobo. To shorten this Hobo split and the hussey Mama Kitty kept bringing more kids. We could not catch her but we loved each litter. So we ended up keeping one or two kittens from each batch and they were spayed and neutered except for two batches that the mother was called spooky. Between my home and my parents we had 13 cats. I couldn't get pregnant so the kittens were my babies. After they all passed away my daughter wanted a cat so we got Abbey. Then I worked at a vets office and adopted my baby boy who is like Katie except he loves me and even listens to me. After my son had a party we couldn't find Tigger so my family and the neighbors went looking. The neighbor yells she found him. My cat was in the house and this was a stray baby. Of course I kept her. She was checked out at work and she had her shots, my boss said they found mud and grass in her belly. So if course I had to keep her. In between all that my fiance bought a Pekinese for me. Lol. I hope that clears it up.

Re: Adding a new kitty

2blonde — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:38:08 GMT

@Katcat1 wrote:
@2blonde Thanks for clarifying. There is a woman on the TV now with over 10 cats at home on Dr. Phil. It's alot of work. I absolutely love cats but only have one because it is a lot of work. Wish I could have two more.

@Katcat1 I'm just like you. I absolutely love cats, but I only have them one at a time. For the last 3-1/2 years I've had my first "guy" since I was about 20 years old. He's 15 lbs of fun and fur. I like the idea of having one special friend in the house because they get so attached to me. I have to stay away from shelters, though, or I'd be in trouble. "Al" would be appalled if I brought home another cat!

Re: Adding a new kitty

Fona — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 20:38:07 GMT

Kat60: I am sorry you are having a problem with your new kitty but please don't give up on her. Many years ago I adopted a cat from a local shelter. I wasn't looking for a cat right then but when I saw that poor trembling boy with his nose pushed up against the back of his cage in fright, I just couldn't leave him there. They said he had been brought in as a stray and thought he was about five years old. He was very skinny but he grew into a very beautiful lynx point with big blue eyes. He liked my other cat but he was terrified of the world. The sad thing was that he didn't retaliate about anything - he would just whimper and draw himself into a ball. He had no idea how to play and I taught him by playing with my other cat while he watched, then gently including him. He also had no idea what any kind of food was unless it was dry, and he learned to eat other foods by watching my other cat.

Like Annabelle's cat, he just hid if anyone came to visit and no one else ever saw him. Even my catsitter would just look at him under my bed to check on him while I was away. Taking him to the vet was a nightmare, particularly because he literally had hysterics if he even saw the carrier. I often thought I would like to "meet" the person(s) who did that to him. I always imagine that they had him from being a baby and treated him very badly from day one.

Some of my friends wondered why I put up with him - but that thought never crossed my mind because he was so broken and needed a lot of love.

The good thing was that he really loved me, and would spend long periods sitting beside me or in my lap. Of course, he always slept beside me, too. I was lucky enough to have him for over 12 years, which made him about 17 years old when he died.

Kat60: My advice to you would be to accept your new girl as she is, don't give up on her and just love her anyway. Would it be possible to give her a nice cozy space for herself so she can get away from the other cats for a while (especially overnight)? She has a different personality, so if you make a few adjustments she will be happy. Always use a gentle tone when talking to her, pet her gently and don't try to pick her up (a lot of cats don't like that anyway). With a few changes she will live a happy live - and remember, she needs you.

My very best wishes to you and your new girl. Please keep us posted as to how she is doing.

Re: Adding a new kitty

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 23:08:26 GMT

@2blonde Thank you for your kind words. Yes, there are still a few times now and then still when I get a little boo hoo. I've always had cats that I adore and they give me love back. There's a joke in our family that there are more pictures of my late husband and his favorite cat (Fabio) in his lap than there are of my husband and myself. (Not true but it is funny).

I know my brain knows that I shouldn't take it personally, but sometimes it still hurts...At least though, I do get love from her when I'm laying down as long as I don't even twitch (then she jumps up and leaves the bed).

She's not mean, just always afraid. I feel so sad for her. I can't imagine feeling so afraid so much. I'm glad I don't have a lot of company because she'd always stay hidden. At least she's around because it's just myself and Bill here.

I tell her GOD sent her to me because he knew I'd love and take care of her and love her just as she is (on her terms). She's so beautiful, I wish more people could see how beautiful she is.

Re: Adding a new kitty

2blonde — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 16:14:12 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 I agree with you. If it weren't for you, that poor little girl would have never made it. No one else would have had your patience with her.

My guy, Al, is only skittish when someone comes to the door because I haven't had that many people in the house since he's been with me. He was a little mean and a lot rotten when he was a kitten, but I kept working on him, and now he's my little buddy. I'm only allowed one hug per day when I first come home (he barely lets me in the door). He purrs and cuddles, and that's our big moment together before the mischief begins. He hangs around me a lot more now at 3-1/2, than he used to.

As many cats as I've had over the years, no two were ever alike. I had a beautiful tuxedo female for a number of years who loved people so much she'd run to the door if the doorbell rang! She would always sleep next to me wherever I was. I never had children, but I imagine it's much the same......no matter how many you have, no two are ever alike!

Re: Adding a new kitty

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 01:20:22 GMT

@2blonde I agree with everything you said. Katie the cat is perfectly happy as long as no one comes to visit. Luckily, I don't get a lot of visitors (2 daughters live in other states and the daughter that lives around me is still about 45 or so minutes away and is very busy with 4 children. I go up to visit her on my way to Drs, etc. So it all works out.

She does love Bill the cat though. He puts up with her too....Ha! She's always trying to snuggle with him and you can imagine if he was a human....after awhile he pushes her away........kinda like, "OK, enough, you're smothering me". Ha!

All cats are very, very different. Bill follows me everywhere. I cannot teach him to fold up his tail. It drives me crazy because I'm afraid I'll step on it.

I don't know if you remember, but 2 years ago in May I had both knees replaced. I do really well with them, but it's not the same as when they're real.

It's a good thing I'm used to cats (me looking down) to avoid them.

I guess some people don't realize how much company cats can be. I'd be very lonely were it not for Bill and Katie. I know Bill understands everything I say by his reaction.

The only thing ever that scares him is the trash bag (plastic). He will head for the hills when I pull out the trash bag. Other than that, well, he gets into everything.

When I get up in the morning, he's opened cabinets, pulled out things in the cabinet. Climbed up on everything. I have to be so careful because he'll get into things no cats have ever thought about.

He loves to jump up on the dining room table (loaded with ummmm....stuff(?) and pluck out the big plastic tub of cat ****** and roll it around the house! He also has a very small little stuffed cat that has cat ****** in it and he carries it around. Like I said, life is interesting will Bill the cat!

Have a wonderful weekend and I love 'talking' to all of you ladies.

Re: Adding a new kitty

2blonde — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 15:10:14 GMT

@Annabellethecat66Ha! Your Bill sounds a lot like my Al. He not only won't "fold up" his tail, I swear he sticks it out there and swishes it around like an arcade game, hoping I'll step on it. His fur is very long and bushy, so on a few occasions I've caught the tip of it with my foot. He jumps away and I look down to see a clump of long fur on the floor...........