One of my two cats recently died. The one left is territorial, but seems lonely and depressed.Can I introduce a kitten?

One of my two cats recently died. The one left is territorial, but seems lonely and depressed. Can I introduce a kitten?

Asked by FabricFanatic 55 months ago Similar questions: cats recently died left territorial lonely depressed introduce kitten Pets > Cats.

Similar questions: cats recently died left territorial lonely depressed introduce kitten.

There are safe ways to introduce a new cat to the household. I have done it many times. If your cat is a fully grown adult you might consider a "teenager" rather than a young kitten, just to help reduce the risk if injury if your current cat should lash out.

Or you might consider two kittens, so they can rough-house with each other and leave "Grandpa" alone. However, whatever age either cat is, start by making sure to have a separate room for the new cat to inhabit at least for the first few days. It is especially good if the two can sniff each other under the door to get used to each other's scent.

Set it up with a cat box, food and water, and bedding so it is a comfortable place to stay. Gradually swap possessions between the rooms. Put towels that the new guy has been sleeping on in the old guy's territory and vice versa, to try to mix their scents and reduce the newness.

Also, pet your old cat often, especially after you have handeld the new cat, so the "new cat smell" is associated with feeling good. Eventaully, when either they show no interest in each other or positive signs, try introducing them to each other in a controlled way, such as putting the new cat in a larger room and then letting the old cat in. Don't force them together, just let them sort things out on their own unless they try to fight.

You might consider feeding themboth but at different parts of the room and from separate bowls. Eventually, they will learn to tolerate each other. Sometimes it can even be "love at first sight" especially if your old cat is missing his late partner.

Sometimes it is only "if I don't look at it it isn't there. "---------------------------------------This is how About. Com puts it:Although sometimes cats will get along swimmingly in just a couple of hours, you should not be surprised to have a battle on your hands if you try to introduce your new cat too quickly.

The time you spend on this all-important process will be saved exponentially by not having to break up conflicts every day. Also, the first couple of weeks can set the tone for the relationship for a long time to come, so "getting it right" the first time will save a lot of hassles later on. The Steps to TakeSet up a comfortable "safe room" for New Cat.

Put her food, water, litter box (not near the food), scratching post, toys, and bed or other sleeping mat there. Expect a great deal of "hissy-spitty" behavior through the closed door from both cats. This is natural and normal; they are just starting to explore their "pecking order."Scent is very important for cats.

Let each of them smell the other indirectly, by rubbing a towel on one and letting the other smell it. They will soon accept the scent as a normal part of the house. Once or twice, switch roles.

Put New Cat in the normal living quarters, and let your resident cat sniff out the new cat's Safe Room. After a day or so, let the two cats sniff each other through a baby-gate or through a barely-opened door. Gauge the rate at which they seem to be acclimating to each other.

When you think they're ready, let them mingle under your supervision. Ignore hissing and growling, but you may have to intervene if a physical battle breaks out. Again, take this step slowly, depending on how quickly they get along.

If they do seem to tolerate each other, even begrudgingly, praise both of them profusely. Make their first activities together enjoyable ones so they will learn to associate pleasure with the presence of the other cat. Feeding (with their own separate dishes), playing, and petting.

Keep up with the praise. If things start going badly, separate them again, and then start where you left off. If one cat seems to consistently be the aggressor, give her some "time out," then try again a little bit later.

The introduction can take from two hours to six months, so don't be discouraged if your cats don't seem to get along well at first. Often the case is that they will eventually be "best buddies."Factors to ConsiderIf you are thinking of getting a kitten to keep an older cat company, you might want to consider two kittens. They will be able to keep each other company while the older cat learns to love them.

If you already have more than one cat, use the "alpha cat" for preliminary introductions. Once he/she accepts the newcomer, the other resident cats will quickly fall in line. Lots of snuggle-time and attention is indicated for all cats concerned during this period.

Remember, the prime goal is to get them to associate pleasure with the presence of each other. If possible, ask a friend to deliver the new cat to your home, in her cage. You can act nonchalant, as if it's no big deal, then later let your resident cat(s) think it's their idea to welcome the newcomer.

With patience and perseverance, you can turn what might appear at first as an "armed camp" into a haven of peace for your integrated feline family. Congratulations on giving another cat in need a permanent home! Sources: My Opinion AND http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/introducecats.htm .

My cat OJ was like that. I found kittens someone had dumped on a dirt road. I gave away all but OJ.

He grew up being the only cat. When he was full grown; he started wandering off. I decided to find him a friend.

I didn't know whether to get a grown cat or kitten. Our local feed store's cat had kittens so I brought home a calico female kitten. She was so tiny and needy(momma cat was not the best provider).

I worried about introducing them, but OJ immediately took to Poe. He began licking her and purring like a motorboat. He even showed her his food bowl and let her have the first milk.

When she was full he cleaned her from head to tail. Poe curled up to sleep and OJ curled up around her with one leg over her. From then on they were always together.

All Poe had to do was mew and OJ was right there to see about her. He brought home all kinds of treats for her; from mice to rats. My neighbor told me OJ had completely de-moused his barn.

Both cats are gone now, but I always remember the two of them curled up together with OJ's leg over Poe purring. Sources: My pets.

Very slowly and carefully. A kitten is a good idea, probably better than adding another full grown cat, since it can adjust more readily to your current cat’s quirks, and he may not feel as threatened by a baby as by another adult cat. But you will still need to make the introduction very gradual to have the best chance at success.

Keep the kitten in a separate room or section of the house and do not allow the two to meet for a long time, preferably a month or so. Your cat may hiss at the door dividing them or at anything that smells like the kitten (including you). Extend the quarantine if he’s still really freaking out about the scent after a few weeks.

The cat will keep picking up the kitten’s scent, especially on your and other objects that move between the two areas, and will have time to gradually get used to it. Making the kitten’s scent familiar is one of the biggest steps to getting your cat to accept the kitten. When you finally let them meet, don’t let them be alone together until they settle in and get used to each other.

You can start with short, supervised meetings, letting them set the pace and never forcing them together, and gradually work towards just separating them at night, until finally they’re used to each other and can be left alone with free run of the house. You can also use a product called Feliway during the transition period, to help keep you cat and the kitten as calm as possible. Feliway mimics the scent that cats mark objects with, which makes them smell familiar.

Being surrounded by the smell of familiarity is comforting for a cat and reduces stress. It’s not really a recommended use, but when I had a cat that was seriously throwing a fit when I was cat sitting, I anointed the visiting cat’s collar with Feliway, and it did seem to calm my cat down and maybe trick her into thinking the new cat wasn’t a stranger. Even if you’re slow and careful, they may never like each other.

Some cats are just picky about companions. But even if things don’t work out with them being friends, you should be able to get them to the point of tolerating each other, if nothing else. Callisto's Recommendations Comfort Zone - 48 ml - Feline Behavior Modification Plug-In with Feliway Amazon List Price: $41.95 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 35 reviews) .

Cat's behavior is somewhat gender-biased. You did not say whether a female or male died, andwhether a female or male is left alone. A lot depends on the surviving cat's territorial "boundaries", andwhat surviving cat is willing to do to defend them, orhow accepting he/she can be of another cat/kitten.

Cat's of the same lineage (common ancestry) get along better,with the exception of older males attacking younger malesespecially when they are not their own kittens - but even then. As a precaution,I would not introduce another cat/kitten,unless you can temporarily physically separate the two into different areaswhen you are not home or around to break up any disputes. After a while,such physical separation should not be necessary.

If you do introduce another cat/kitten,in general, a female is more likely to be accepted. You can contact me (LeheckaG on Askville)for more assistance or information. Sources: My personal opinion and professional experience.

Depends I have always had female, neutered cats. We always try to have 2 of them so they don't get lonely. I have never had a problem introducing kittens, since cats that I have had tended to be very motherly to the new kitten, bathing them, playing and whatnot.

I have my first male cat now, and he is also spayed. He is superfriendly with other cats, so I wouldn't have a problem introducing a kitten into the mix. I think you will know better than anyone the personality of your cat and if they would adapt well to a new friend.

Good luck! .

" "Why is it that when single people have dogs, it's no big deal, but when single people have cats, they MUST be lonely?" "I want to thank everybody for the good advice they gave me on how to introduce a new kitten to my other cats. " "How do you advise I introduce a new kitten to my two older cats? " "Are cats right or left "pawed"?

Like people are right or left handed? " "Need some tips on how to introduce a new kitten to a home with 3 adult cats. " "i recently obtained a male kitten that hisses and growls at my other cats will they eventually tolerate each other?" "Will my kitten nursing on my cat make my cats milk come in?

" "What kind of presents have your cats left for you as the leader of their pride?

I want to thank everybody for the good advice they gave me on how to introduce a new kitten to my other cats.

Need some tips on how to introduce a new kitten to a home with 3 adult cats.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.