New baby!

[SarahShambles]

Hi guys!
The time has come for us to get a new baby! Deposit is down and we collect her end of next week!!!! Just after some tips how to get church used to her after 5 years of being an old child is this going to stress him?
Also any tips you guys can give me in general buying what to ask/look out for I really feel like she’s going to be such a great addiction to the family but I’m so scared of making a mistake

We’re also *hopefully* buying a property soon so I feel this will be added stress for church moving

 

[Anansi]

Take the introduction slowly. Don't rush it. Set up a room you can close off with beds/blankets, food, water, litter, toys all that good stuff for her to have as her own. And keep church and her seperate. Let her settle in and get used to her new surroundings cause it's scary for her as well. Give her lots of love and cuddles and do the same for church.
Then start scent swapping so take her blanket and give it to church and vice versa so they get used to the smell of each other. Let them sniff under the door and do short supervised interaction between them and let them get used to each other
Sometimes it takes a few days and sometimes it can take weeks before they are totally settled but it should be pretty easy if you are patient with them

 

[Yoda mom]

@SarahShambles , so excited for you ! Amd Church!
When is your gotcha day?

Here is a link
Introducing a new adult sphynx cat or sphynx kitten into the home

Like mentioned slooow introductions , take it at their comfort level
I recommend wellness check set up in advance with a vet - good to get s base,ine and establish a relationship with a vet - read your contract - some require wellness check within a few days

I set up a kitty safe room with kitty alone for a few days or longer

There are threads with recommendations for intros

i have all adult adoptees amd tend to go really slow woth intros over at least two weeks or more depending on kitties comfort level
They are best buddies amd bed hogs together

Keep us updated often

 

[Toa and Ross]

So excited for you and Church. Great advise given. I'm sure Church will learn to like his new buddy in no time

 

[Catzzzmeow]

How exciting. Congratulations.

 

[SarahShambles]

Thank you all!! I get her on Friday wish me luck! So really I should there be 0 interaction to begin with? I’d need to make sure church isn’t by the door when we arrive with Luna?

Sarah

 

[Yoda mom]

@SarahShambles , Many of us set up a kitty "safe room" amd schedule a wellness check before imteractions.
L-lysine powder mixed in wet food is popular

Once kitty is vet checked (you can also bring a fresh poo sample for a fecal test )
Then I Buick up to slow introductions -
Cross scent hand towels and place by each other's food
I put a "cat dancer " toy under the door of the kitty safe room Sri king out on both sides of the door for kitties to play before meeting .

I swap free roaming amd let kitties explore the scents alone .

I put up resold et kitty in my bedroom and let new kitty explore on own and gets to know where kitty safe room is -
Good for retreats during meet n greets
I get two deboned pole toys amd when I let them meet lots of dual play woth the Dabird pole toys
Go at their comfort level -

I keep kitties separate in the beginning when I am not home - peace of mind and keeps balance till they are getting along - some get along quickly others take some more time

Lots of slow Positve introduction and praise ! I tops treats amd play for distractions and keep it positive
Watch body language and put up new kitty in safe room
Amd let resident kitty wander

It will all come together at their comfort level

It's a big new world for them
Go slow

It would be like us plopped into a new big city

Look forward to Luna gotcha day pics amd updates !

Do you have a pic of Church to share with us ?

 

[SarahShambles]

Ah brilliant advice thank you @Yoda mom
Not long now! We will be setting off this time tomorrow to get our little one

I’ve attached a picture of church let us up he’s not set in his ways after 5 years and will accepted Luna into the family!

Xx

 

[SarahShambles]

Right guys the first night went well we kept them seperate, this morning after letting them smell eachothers blankets and pure curiosity..we let church meet Luna and things went sour pretty quick!!
Luna wanted to say hello and church was having none of it after a minute, I haven’t heard gowls or hisses like that other than in a cat fight outside! it’s made us so nervous! I tried to get church out got scratched in the process!
Needless to say that was a mistake, however I’m dreading the next meet! Any advice would be welcome!

And to add they have their food bowls either side of the living room door to try and help with the positive smell, have I just done things too early?

 

[Yoda mom]

@SarahShambles , awhhh
Checking in for updates amd be sure to keep an eye out on the scratch for any infections , clean it regularly

I recommend just taking it really slow - use a kitty safe room amd share equal time alone with Chruch amd Luna ..
My little Toby was a Hellyan at first ..
I went super slow ... Lol now they all are bed hogs together

It can take some time so do not get discouraged
My moms two kitties wemt at it - they ended up being very bonded

I always get envious when I see some gotcha introductions posted thst get along right away -
Mine just took longer - weeks to months even to fully settle
Depending on kitties personalities

They usually establish a pecking order amd settle

Keep us updated often
Don't forget to try do,e of the tips om t he introduction thread

Head smooches sent along with positive vibes

It's a big new world for all
Lots of patience amd love

( I also swapped kitties to check out each other's turf alone )
I put resident cat alone in kitty safe room
Amd let new kitty explore the resident cats rest of Home alone -
Then pick up amd switch them back to their areas -
It's time consuming but paid off

Definitely recommend at least 3 litter boxes in quiet safe places with multiple kitties
( I always take the door flaps off covered litter boxes too )

Look forward to updates amd pics!

 

[JSal]

@SarahShambles thinking of you. I found my first kitty was the alpha and had to adjust at her own speed. I got lots of scratches in the beginning but within a week they were adjusted. Hugs!

 

[SarahShambles]

@JSal @Yoda mom
I must admit I didn’t think my eldest would be like that! He’s so upset and angry!
It scares me as the new kitty is so small, I’ve tried introductions with Luna in her carry bag and he hisses, growls makes weird gurgling noises!
Today was a little better but he was soo ridged and transfixed on her, I tried distracting with play and food but he was in the zone! It was scary.

 

[Yoda mom]

@SarahShambles , did u set up a kitty from?
My Toby was a little brat with new intros
So I swapped him into the kitty room daily amd let me kitties explore (of course eith acces to a secondary litterbox)

Toby hissed and growled for quite sometime with sloooow intros -
Just kept it up amd now omce the hierarchy was established all is well and he actually grooms the others sleeping together cuddly

Hang in there - go slooow - it took awhile but all is well

My mom adopted a kitty amd her resident cst went ape shi* for a month
My mom was ready to give bsck her new adoptee
She kept up slow intros swapping rotating kitties free roaming amd they turned out best of buddies -

I read you say Today was a little better- that's great!

 

[SarahShambles]

@SarahShambles , did u set up a kitty from?
My Toby was a little brat with new intros
So I swapped him into the kitty room daily amd let me kitties explore (of course eith acces to a secondary litterbox)

Toby hissed and growled for quite sometime with sloooow intros -
Just kept it up amd now omce the hierarchy was established all is well and he actually grooms the others sleeping together cuddly

Hang in there - go slooow - it took awhile but all is well

My mom adopted a kitty amd her resident cst went ape shi* for a month
My mom was ready to give bsck her new adoptee
She kept up slow intros swapping rotating kitties free roaming amd they turned out best of buddies -

I read you say Today was a little better- that's great!

That’s exactally what we do! In the Day one is the living and the bedroom...then we swap in the evening. We try and rotate regularly so they can have a wonder and burn some energy.
I just am struggling with stressing church out so much I feel terrible!
Hopefully in a week or so it’ll get easier, but right now I’m a little concerned with the anger coming from church

 

[Yoda mom]

@SarahShambles Keep up the good work !
My Toby would get Sooo mad amd stressed like he would growl at me ! Smelling new kitites scent on me
He was ticked
You would t believe he is the same cat now all snuggly with the newbies
It was scary for a bit

Head smooches sent !
Keep us updated often!

It is not uncommon for some of us to work on slower longer intros
I Always was a bit envious of others that had newbies jump right in the mix with resident kitties

Take a deep breathe , enjoy cuddle time separately for the time being
It will comee together