You are here:

Cats/socialization / behavior

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/16/2008


Question
I have 2 female cats ; both whom are extremely opinionated and have attitudes. They keep their distance from each other and get along for the most part. They are 1 and 2 years old. My roomate is rescuing 2 male kittens and they will be in the townhouse with my 2 cats. My one cat is aggressive towards other cats and my other cat is afraid of other cats. I am worried that my cats will become depressed when the new kittens arrive and be angry. What should I do to prevent this ? Or will it just take them time to adjust? I just want my cats to be happy and in prior situations where they have been with other cats they were not happy! what should  i do / expect?


Answer
Brittany,

Cats are very territorial and they aren't fond of drastic changes in their environment. Questions concerning proper introductions of new cats or kittens are quite common and I have answered several. So long as you make sure that the kittens are kept in a room behind a closed door for a period of 2 - 3 weeks things should be fine. It's a good idea for you to look at my previous answers regarding new cat/kitten introductions for more detailed information. As long as the introductions are done gradually and all of the cats get the attention and love that they've grown accustomed to I don't foresee any problem. If the new kittens are just brought in and immediately allowed to roam freely throughout the house there is a good chance that the older cats and the kittens will respond poorly to each other and that there will be some serious fighting happening so please, feel free to look through my previous answers on this subject to help you guys prepare for proper introductions.

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.