Hi everyone.

I was given a 8 month old female cat a couple of hours ago by a friend who could no longer keep her. We already have a 12 month old male cat that has been living with us since he was a tiny kitten. I have a few questions if you don't mind taking the time to answer .

Well one, the new cat (Nala), is very timid at the moment. I expected her to be timid but I'm wondering when she will be alright with coming up to one of us for a stroke? She has walked past me very close a couple of times but as soon as I make the slightest movement she darts under the table scared. Will she always be timid or can I expect her to be completely fine and if so how long until new cats settle?

Question two is about the two cats together. Our male cat (Iggle), has been known to fight with other cats (only male) but can be a bit jumpy and weary of other cats or animals. When Nala first arrived and was taken from the box, he sniffed the box before realising she was stood behind her then they both sniffed one anothers face. All looked well until Nala backed up and began growling and doing tiny hisses, putting Iggle on edge as he stared at her wearily. My question is, is this normal behaviour between two cats of opposite sexes and new to one another? And how long until they finally get along? Also Iggle is out at the moment, will it be ok to let them sleep downstairs together tonight or shall we take one upstairs?

My last question is about when Nala should go out. I am thinking we should keep her in the house for around two weeks before letting her venture out into the garden and beyond, is that correct or is the time shorter or longer in which to keep her in to get used to the smells and us etc?

I would be so appreciative of any help as I really am stumped on these three questions. Many thanks for any answers .

Louise.

Firstly are they both neutered and spayed?

Some of your questions are unfortunately 'how long is a piece of string' it can takes cats months to settle, or a few days, the same with getting used to a new cat.

What I will say is I do not think you have introduced them properly. Nala needs to be given her own space which she can make her own where Iggle can not get to her. Then you can start by swapping blankets and smells, and letting them see each other through a gap in the door. Only when there is no hissing and growling from either party can they be allowed physical contact. So no to sleeping together until they can be around each other without any negative interactions.

As long as she is spayed she should be fine to go out in a few weeks when she is more settled in the house and with Iggle.

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for intros i'm following this

Integrating Kittens with Cats

i have a yr old and a 10 week old ( and a missing yr yr old)

its a slow process

as far as the girl goes with you - spend time in a room with her but dont look at her - read/ watch tv and let her get used to new sights and smells in her own time. if she was friendly before she will be again, quicker if shes not rushed

its all new for her, so she's a bit stressed right now, dont worry

i wouldnt let them in the same room till they are used to each others smell

( i had first cuddle between mine today - and i think it was keeping them apart till yr old was ok with smell and sight that let it happen this fast)

I thought after I probably introduced them wrongly, I think once I can get near Nala I will put her in our bedroom and shut the door...but at the moment she is hiding and as I said before, keeps darting off at the sight of any movement from me.

No they are neither spayed or neutered but this isn't an issue for us as we wouldn't mind at least one little before having Nala spayed. My partners mum breeds cats so the up keeping and proper looking after of a pregnant cat and later on a new litter isn't a problem at all.

I'm not expecting too much or anything like that, the way Nala is behaving isn't a issue at all as she isn't aggressive towards me or my daughter, something a previous cat had been so we had to immediately get rid as she swiped for my toddler on many occasions. I sense Nala will be fine soon enough, of course she is going to be petrified with new people and a new place, and on top of that a new cat.

With the whole introducing the two cats, I just wanted to make sure I was correct about sectioning her off in one room in case I was wrong - I had fears she would be bored and cooped up but if that's not the case I'm more then happy to do it.

Erm yes it is an issue. You cannot just willy nilly breed your cats, its insanely irresponsible.

I cannot be bothered offering help to someone who thinks they can just breed two random cats together just for the sake of it. Poor Nala, seriously. You know she could get pregnant NOW. As a kitten? Are you going to stop that or just let her.

If your partners mum was a responsible breeder she would tell you to not even think about it, but I imagine she is just a back yard moggy breeder also.

Its horrifying.

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Please read these two threads ....

Do you think your cat is Pregnant? Or do you want her to get pregnant?

reasons to Spay / Neuters your Pets

Then please get at least the girl booked in to be spayed within the next week, then your boy as well. Keep them separated in the mean time. Not only will this likely help with intros and less risk of infection from either party, but also will prevent any pregnancy.

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Thanks for the info . I shall keep them seperate as to not stress either out. That's if Nala lets me near her, she is hiding somewhere sleeping at the moment!

Yes, she was a friendly cat before, my friend told me she is very playful too which is why I think even though she is a bit scared - she has this wide eyed playful look when she looks at me and walks past.

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Whoa remove the stick from your backside love! I wanted help not a lecture on life! she won't get pregnant as a kitten as if you bothered to read I'm keeping them seperate - and if as you are saying I'm forcing both the cats together when they don't want to be then there is no fear of them breeding is there! She could have got pregnant anyway, regardless of having a male here - what if I don't agree with the spaying of a female - was I meant to keep her in the house until she was a full grown adult?!

I didn't get her for the purpose of breeding, I got her to prevent her being put in a shelter. Before my cat I was new to cats so stop talking to me like I should know what I'm doing, I wouldn't have bothered posting a question if I already knew it all as you seem to make out that you do! And chucking insults about our family as well - you don't even know us! Sorry for doing the right thing of wanting to take an animal on instead of being put in a shelter - if that warrents being a nasty person then kill me now!

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Thank you for actually giving the facts instead of biting my head off not without any help at all!

I shall look into it, that is what I was here for to find out more.

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The ignorance is insane.

Keeping them separate, yeah, only cos we told you to on here, you weren't going to until then...

if you dont agree with the spaying of females, then you shouldnt have cats Keeping a cat indoors is fine if you choose to do that, leaving them unspayed to suffer uncomfortable calls and get a diseased uterus is not...

You didnt rescue her if all you are going to do is breed from her. Out of the frying pan, into the fire... You clearly know nothing about cat care nor breeding, yet you decide you want to 'have a litter'

Why? To help fill up the rest of the shelters out there filling up with cats, that you 'saved' your Nala from? I wonder who will save the kittens you are going to breed, and the kittens that will be PTS cos people are busy looking after the ones youve pumped out.

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