They're here!

[Condo commando]

Sounds about right, cats can be very stubborn about wanting their way. They're big on smells, if a cat smells different that cat is a stranger, but if a cat smells the same that is a recognized friend. That's why I would bet that in time they all share the bed because all of their scents will be everywhere. The 4 year olds could take a bit longer to adapt but basically as long as they all get a warm place to sleep, access to a litter box, food and water, and some attention, they will adapt.

Smells are a big thing with cats. I used to have a cat that would hiss at my other cat when I had to take one of them to the vet. So I decided to take them both even if only one needed to go and they both came back home smelling like the vet's office and all the dogs there - problem solved.

Oh and there is nothing more attractive for a cat than a bed with freshly washed linens. Or a litter box with fresh litter. All they want to do is roll on the bed and pee in the box to mark it as theirs.

 

[optimism]

@Condo commando i hadn't really thought about it, but our bedsheets and blankets get washed every Tuesday or Wednesday, and we picked the twins up last Thursday. I wonder if that will totally change things for Princess as far as snuggling in our bed. I guess we'll find out in a day or two!

 

[Condo commando]

Yes washing the sheets will make a difference as well as just having their smell inside every room.

I can't remember if you got them any scratching things but that is another biggie, and with 4 of them I would make sure there is something for everyone's liking that's not your furniture

 

[optimism]

We have several scratching posts, towers made out of scratching posts, etc.

There is a scratching disc encircled by a circle track with a ball in it in the master bedroom closet, and all 4 cats love scratching that thing so whoever is in there for separation can use it.

Tonight I think we are going to let the twins out into the rest of the house while we close our girls into our bedroom. At this point our bedroom and its bathroom and closet smell like all 4 cats (or I assume they do to the cats, they don't smell any different to me ) so it's probably time to expand.

Neither of the new kitties (the twins) is a hider so I am less worried about letting them into the main part of the house than I was with our first two (because our very first cat was a serious hider).

 

[Condo commando]

I bet the twins will smell every nook and cranny too. If it's big house they could be busy for hours!

 

[optimism]

Well, I closed up the girls and let the twins out, and that half worked. Bare is combing every inch of the house and climbing and exploring...and Princess won't leave our bedroom. We have tried talking her into it, but she is not having it.

 

[Yoda mom]

@optimism ,Princess sounds like my Batman- he just wasn't having it .. At first... For a week he was perfectly content in his space-
I just left the door open and his brother Yoda bolted out to explore everywhere!
Batman came down from his fav cat tree he came with after day 3 and just poke out to look

I praised him and let him go at his own pace.. I threw a couple of treats his way each time he came out more.
It took him a week till he would explore with his brother Yoda I adopted at the same time.

I put the an ultimate cat scratcher with pad near the door- he came out and rubbed it- trears n praise! Yah!
He loves that same turbo scratcher you have!

**With newbies, I always scratch the posts with them giving treats and big praise and petting!
**Same thing with litter box use to reinforce good behavior
I look nutty doing it but it works!
Then he just liepkevh wind bolted with his brother to explore - on top of everthing!
He is like a whole new cat! Talk , cuddle , run , steal coffee, etc..

Princess will make progress at her own comfort level-
Keep lots of praise, petting and treats to reward behaviors you want-

*** You at doing great rotating "kitty zones" as To get them used to smells intermingled and accepted-
Kep up the good kitty training!

** I went very very slow and positive with my intros of the 3 males and 1 female adoptee who came to me over a very short time period.

I really enforced the " litter box praise party" having 3 males getting to know each other.
I also have two extra boxes for their comfort level to claim their own fav -scoop 4 x a day even though I have extra boxes- I wash out boxes 1 a week -

Your babies will all get in a routine-
Princess will blossom in her own pace-

Head kisses to the bunch!