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Nakittymom2

Lairian
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
13
Points
14
Good morning all,
I couldn't be happier to have formally joined :). I am a mommy of 2 adorable nakitties Sadie (green eyed calico girl) 1yr and some change, and Penelope (blue eyed tuxedo and seal point mix) 10 weeks. I have often referred to member experience to guide my "parenting" and all the nuances that come with sphynxies and, having added our new lady last night, I found myself scrolling through the night about how to best transition our little family. I look forward to sharing our new journey and helping as best I can to whomever may be in need ♡
Mina
 

Yoda mom

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
30,518
Points
653
@Nakittymom2 , welcoming you , Sadie and Penelope to the lair family. look forward to lots of pics and tales. dont hesitate to ask questions. all paws are family. jump in and enjoy this fun friendly bunch.
the info center is a great resource. hugs n head smooches cant wait to see pics!

 

Nakittymom2

Lairian
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
13
Points
14
Sadie hiding in her fort while Penelope catches a snooze.
 

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Nakittymom2

Lairian
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
13
Points
14
Thank you forthe warm welcome! I posted my girls above. Its been tough so far... I'm off for 10 days with 8 remaining. I brought the kitten home yesterday. Exchanged blankets, and kept them separate, although Sadie wouldn't leave the door. I should mention its just been us two and she's a pandemic kitty so I was working from home until she was 7 months, were pretty tightly bonded. Anyhow, she caught a glimpse of the baby and lost it. Hissing, swatting at me, the whole 9. I left them separated until this morning and took turns w each of them. It was wild, the baby would cry if she woke up alone and Sadie would stalk the door when she heard crying. The met this morning and it's been, uh, bad. Sadie's on high alert. Pouncing, hissing, growling, swatting, and bopping the kitten. No biting or claws yet but i typically break it up especially if the baby is cornered. Its only been a few hours but my heart is BREAKING. I got the kitten bc Sadie was lonely. I went back to work and she would cry and want to play and be all over me the second i walked in. I work in healthcare long shifts 6 days a week. Now I feel like i made a mistake bc both kitties are so clearly stressed out and not cohabitating well. I tried everything suggested. Tuna, trading blankets, 24 hrs separate, nothing seems to be helping. My breeder is awesome and my mom is talking me off all the ledges. I just wonder if this is typical and of they will ever bond or even not hate each other in the next 9 days. Suggestions and support welcome, feeling like a failure of a momma. Ps second guessing ever having humans
 

Yoda mom

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
30,518
Points
653
@Nakittymom2 , awh... hugs, deep breath, you got this. its a big new world for both. sadie and penelope are darling! happy gotcha.

over the years I got 4 nakids. I truly am a firm believer with slow and steady wins the race at their comfort level. I quarantiined new kitty to safe room, bedroom, bathroom till I could do vet wellness check . I set up cat tree,litter box radio in newbies room. i cross scented handtowels left by eachs food bowls with lots of praise and a treat.
I rotated free roaming so newbie could explore on own. I limited the areas building up distance and time. puttin my others in my bedroom. then I put resident kitty in the "kitty safe room" for a few minutes. to explore alone and sniff. praise n treats.
I did this rotation for a week. then meet n greet peeks, praise treats.

I got a baby gate, used zip ties to lock it open in widest position. I held it with my foot in the bathroom door way for minute or two meet n greet sniffs., at comfort level. making sure resident kitty did not climb over. praise n treats. I held a pole toy on each side as a distraction play .
at the end of the week at their comfort level, I closed all adjoinin doors, leaving kitty safe room door open. tall cat trree set up I found resident kitties like to perch and watch.

I got two pole play toys a bag of treats and dual played tossed treats. newbie could retreat to kitty room if wanted to. I even put toby on a harness for meet n greets.

you are not alone. so many similar stories of new intros. and tips in the help center. hissing is normal, they will set a pecking order. Mine are total bed hogs together and soo loveable.

take your time, slow and steady wins the race. I am sure in no time we will see pics of them cuddling. when I was not home, I kept newbie in the kitty room. then each night worked on intros. you will see so many posts of the same and then updates with adorable photos cuddling together. my toby was a brat at first, now he is the most loving always grooming and loving them.

you got this, believe n breathe. hugs n head smooches. I was always jealous of kitties that hit it off right away. some just take a little longer.
helpful link in the info center.
 

Nakittymom2

Lairian
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
13
Points
14
@Nakittymom2 , awh... hugs, deep breath, you got this. its a big new world for both. sadie and penelope are darling! happy gotcha.

over the years I got 4 nakids. I truly am a firm believer with slow and steady wins the race at their comfort level. I quarantiined new kitty to safe room, bedroom, bathroom till I could do vet wellness check . I set up cat tree,litter box radio in newbies room. i cross scented handtowels left by eachs food bowls with lots of praise and a treat.
I rotated free roaming so newbie could explore on own. I limited the areas building up distance and time. puttin my others in my bedroom. then I put resident kitty in the "kitty safe room" for a few minutes. to explore alone and sniff. praise n treats.
I did this rotation for a week. then meet n greet peeks, praise treats.

I got a baby gate, used zip ties to lock it open in widest position. I held it with my foot in the bathroom door way for minute or two meet n greet sniffs., at comfort level. making sure resident kitty did not climb over. praise n treats. I held a pole toy on each side as a distraction play .
at the end of the week at their comfort level, I closed all adjoinin doors, leaving kitty safe room door open. tall cat trree set up I found resident kitties like to perch and watch.

I got two pole play toys a bag of treats and dual played tossed treats. newbie could retreat to kitty room if wanted to. I even put toby on a harness for meet n greets.

you are not alone. so many similar stories of new intros. and tips in the help center. hissing is normal, they will set a pecking order. Mine are total bed hogs together and soo loveable.

take your time, slow and steady wins the race. I am sure in no time we will see pics of them cuddling. when I was not home, I kept newbie in the kitty room. then each night worked on intros. you will see so many posts of the same and then updates with adorable photos cuddling together. my toby was a brat at first, now he is the most loving always grooming and loving them.

you got this, believe n breathe. hugs n head smooches. I was always jealous of kitties that hit it off right away. some just take a little longer.
helpful link in the info center.
[URL
 

Nakittymom2

Lairian
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
13
Points
14
Thank you for the encouraging words! You sound like an expert. We only have 800 sq feet here and 1 bedroom. As of now all doors are open but each has their own litter, food, water, toys and snuggle safe zone. I'm all for letting them work it out it just feels like everyones stressed and thats not how I envisioned this starting. Gonna keep a steady pace of supervision and rescuing the baby when need be, just wish I knew how to make them both feel safe and loved.
Note: theyre from the same breeder same daddy diff mommy. Sadies mommys name is sassys, very fittingly and she seems more like her than ever lately LOL. Hopefully my cuddle pics qre to follow shortly. Again I cannot thank you enough forthe kind words and suggestions. Not feeling so alone or out of the norm helps my stress ♡. #firsttimecatmom
 

Demom

Lairian
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
69
Points
54
Thank you forthe warm welcome! I posted my girls above. Its been tough so far... I'm off for 10 days with 8 remaining. I brought the kitten home yesterday. Exchanged blankets, and kept them separate, although Sadie wouldn't leave the door. I should mention its just been us two and she's a pandemic kitty so I was working from home until she was 7 months, were pretty tightly bonded. Anyhow, she caught a glimpse of the baby and lost it. Hissing, swatting at me, the whole 9. I left them separated until this morning and took turns w each of them. It was wild, the baby would cry if she woke up alone and Sadie would stalk the door when she heard crying. The met this morning and it's been, uh, bad. Sadie's on high alert. Pouncing, hissing, growling, swatting, and bopping the kitten. No biting or claws yet but i typically break it up especially if the baby is cornered. Its only been a few hours but my heart is BREAKING. I got the kitten bc Sadie was lonely. I went back to work and she would cry and want to play and be all over me the second i walked in. I work in healthcare long shifts 6 days a week. Now I feel like i made a mistake bc both kitties are so clearly stressed out and not cohabitating well. I tried everything suggested. Tuna, trading blankets, 24 hrs separate, nothing seems to be helping. My breeder is awesome and my mom is talking me off all the ledges. I just wonder if this is typical and of they will ever bond or even not hate each other in the next 9 days. Suggestions and support welcome, feeling like a failure of a momma. Ps second guessing ever having humans
I feel you. Just took my 12 weeks old girl home and my 2+ years old boy was hissing n growling. I didn't dare to let them near yet. Cages nearby and my boy look so stressed out. Wondering if I should have kept to my 2 cats. I have another furry who is nonchalant about everything except treats. My boy slept in my arms the whole night as opposed to just sleeping near my arm every night. Guilty mom here. I'm gonna take it slower now. Exchange smells and eat near while blocked and giving treats when they peek over at baby without hissing or growling. Pray both of our babies will be accepted by their siblings soon.
 

Nakittymom2

Lairian
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
13
Points
14
I feel you. Just took my 12 weeks old girl home and my 2+ years old boy was hissing n growling. I didn't dare to let them near yet. Cages nearby and my boy look so stressed out. Wondering if I should have kept to my 2 cats. I have another furry who is nonchalant about everything except treats. My boy slept in my arms the whole night as opposed to just sleeping near my arm every night. Guilty mom here. I'm gonna take it slower now. Exchange smells and eat near while blocked and giving treats when they peek over at baby without hissing or growling. Pray both of our babies will be accepted by their siblings soon.
Yes for both our hopeless hearts praying it resolves soon ♡ thank you for the support. Not sure if it was the isolation of pandemic, not having any family in this state, or healthcare burn out but this cat is my whole life. She sleeps on my chest normally or touching me someway. To have her upset with me is so painful. I haven't seen her happy or relaxed since i brought kitten home. She ate some treats today in the presence of the kitten vs trying to hunt her, so improvement? Oof. Hang in there! I'm here for all your venting needs ♡ this is a super supportive spot.
 

Demom

Lairian
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
69
Points
54
Thank you for the encouraging words! You sound like an expert. We only have 800 sq feet here and 1 bedroom. As of now all doors are open but each has their own litter, food, water, toys and snuggle safe zone. I'm all for letting them work it out it just feels like everyones stressed and thats not how I envisioned this starting. Gonna keep a steady pace of supervision and rescuing the baby when need be, just wish I knew how to make them both feel safe and loved.
Note: theyre from the same breeder same daddy diff mommy. Sadies mommys name is sassys, very fittingly and she seems more like her than ever lately LOL. Hopefully my cuddle pics qre to follow shortly. Again I cannot thank you enough forthe kind words and suggestions. Not feeling so alone or out of the norm helps my stress ♡. #firsttimecatmom
Seems to be going well if they didn't fight. Mine hissed and growled lesser today. I have my daughter helping me with the kitties. I distract with food, she will ninja the new kitty out into the next cage so we let them eat next to each other with a cardboard in-between. And dish out treats when they look over without hissing or growling. Hopefully the next day will be better!!
 

Demom

Lairian
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
69
Points
54
I do not know if I can ask her or should be in a new thread. So here goes.
I still feel like a noob even having my cats for 2 years. So I want to ask and know if it is okie or not okie or is it even possible to "tell" my sphynx not to hiss or growl at the new kitten? Will it like interfere in their relationship or stress him out instead of reassuring him and letting him know its okie?

My boy is quite possessive of me. He now tolerate our furry cat on our bed, used to chase her off immediately. But only he sleeps right next to me. He understands instructions, comes when called(by me). So I have tried to limit my handling of the new kitty so I'm not full of her smells. And I'm wondering if me being with him reassuring him that it's okie if he starts hissing and growling at the new kitten. Or I should just sit there and watch?

I put a small blanket with both their smells near my boy sleep area last night and he didn't seem to sleep as well. He walk away and back a few times smelling the blanket and licking it.

I really dunno how you ladies do it cos I really feel stressed out when I even think he might hiss or growl at her again. And they are in different cages with my daughter in between them when they can see each other.
 

Yoda mom

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
30,518
Points
653
@Demom , can you copy and paste to a new thread so everyone can see and chime in? we dont' want your post with questions lost in an other members post. I can share some tips I used with Toby. deep breath, you got this. I did slooow and steady intros and he is a total "Toby Love" now to th . thers. will be looking out for your post to chime in more.
 

Nakedandafurred

Lairian
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
2
Points
4
Hi there! We have a 1 year old cat who was very unhappy with the new kitten for at least a few weeks. They are great friends now, it just takes time! We got a feliway diffuser (like they have at the vet office) and I think this helped a little bit. We had the kitten confined to one room for at least a week and they were able to interact under the door. Then we would have supervised time with them together but if we left the house, we kept the kitten separate still because the older cat would play a little too rough for our comfort. We had them separate when unsupervised for probably a month or two, and now the kitten is big enough to play and they have grown quite fond of each other.

I know it can feel really stressful when new pets are not getting along, and it can feel like a mistake or that it will never get better. But take a deep breath! Give both lots of attention and love (and space, they are cats after all). I hope things calm down a bit over the next few weeks!
 
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