Cat integration tips?

[dsrtao]

We have two usually happy Siamese, Tycho and Sophia. They're 26 months old. We just acquired two ... large shaggy lap monsters, possibly with Maine Coon ancestry. Archimedes (uses his tail as a lever) and Nikola (dark and brooding, like Tesla) are about 14 months old.

Archie and Nik are currently isolated in a bedroom with water, food, litter box and frequent company, including sleeping boys.

Tycho and Sophia haven't seen them, but are very nervous. Tycho has been hissing at me, then running away.

Anyone have reliable advice on procedures for feline harmony?

Comments

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

No idea. But judging from descriptions I've heard, it always takes longer than you think.

Also, there are some cute videos about it on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhRuG0D-WsU
and thereafter.

[cellio]

Last fall I adopted two cats (who did not know each other) from a shelter. While bringing two cats into a cat-less household is different than your situation, perhaps the advice they gave me will help you.

They had me isolate each cat in a different room as you've described, with frequent visits etc. They then advised to, a few days later, switch rooms for brief periods, so each cat would start to smell the other cat before they actually had an in-person encounter.

Also, you can move a litter box about 1-2 feet a day; more than that confuses them. The trip from bedrooms to the basement was a long one.

[dsrtao]

Litter box moving: I have a procedure for that which has never failed me.

Move the litter box to the new location. Put in fresh litter. Go get the cat. Bring the cat to the litter box. Put the cat in the litter box, and then carefully move their front paws in a covering-up motion, making sure you actually move some litter with the paw. Now leave them alone.

In my experience, this works with all box-trained cats.

[cellio]

Thanks for the tip. I had tried doing the big move and putting the cats in the boxes but it didn't work. But I didn't do the thing with the paws.