I need kitty advice.

[Puglover]

My partner and I have 3 cats. Really mellow males. Sorta like dog/cats. We also (SURPRISE!) have a pug. Horribly a week ago last Sunday my partners(hereafter known as Kim)only sister Pam was killed in a car crash en route to Denver for a move. With her were her two cats Callie(14) and Hershey(12) who being cats survived the crash. We drove to NE to deal with all of this and returned to Mpls with the two cats.

First of all there is no question that we will keep them (Jesus, 5 cats) Because that is what Pam would want however these two cats are not as easygoing as ours. Right now we have them in an extra bedroom. I'm starting to think of them as my "Flowers in the Attic". Any suggestions on how to integrate? I'd appreciate any advice you could offer.

[Richard Steele]

1. Integrate SLOWLY.

Keep them in the separate room for awhile, until they
feel comfortable living there and the other cats are
familiar with their smell; then start leaving the door
open briefly so cats can explore in either direction.

Since they already know each other, they may never
integrate with your cat group. That's just the way it
goes sometimes.

[Puglover]

9. Thanks Dick

That's sort of how I've been handling it so far. And I'm proud of my originals cats and the dog too because so far they have pretty much been ignoring the newcomers.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. very slowly. keep them in seperate rooms. let them get used to each others smell.

sorry about your sister in law. that must be terrible for your partner and you.

[Puglover]

6. Thanks

She was the only immediate family that was living. He is crushed.

[Haole Girl]

3. Here is a link I found...

http://ask.metafilter.com/37841/Integrating-new-cats-into-an-existing-cat-domicile

I'm so sorry to hear about your partner's sister.
It's very kind of you to take her cats. :hug:

[Puglover]

8. Thanks

I will check this out.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Putting a screen door on the extra bedroom would also help

with the integration. That's what we did and it worked very well.

:hug: to you and Kim.

[Puglover]

7. Thanks Midlo.

The opening between the door and the floor is quite wide so there has been alot of sniffing and hissing going on.

[Frosty1]

5. If you have a kennel

or cat carrier it helps to contain the new cats so the house cats can see and smell them without fights breaking out. Introduce them for a while several times a day for a couple of days.
:hi:

[Flatline]

10. Do you have any pictures of the kids? =)

as well.........sorry to hear about the loss... :hug:

[Puglover]

11. In photobucket I have a pic of mine.

Clockwise from the top. Frankie,Peter and Thomas. Frankie is sweet and stupid. Peter is smart and neurotic and Thomas is just plain nuts. He's a Manx and I think not having a tail makes him a little odd.

[Flatline]

12. Awwww sleeping after

a hard day of running everywhere causing trouble and getting in the way.....how sweet =)

[Puglover]

13. Yup exactly.

Welcome to DU btw! :hi:

[Flatline]

14. Thanks

back at 'ya......:hi:

[stuntcat]

15. omg

look at them being BUDDIES :loveya: :loveya:
And haters try to say cats aren't social.. whatever.

[stuntcat]

16. you're so good

I can't help really, I just wanna say you rock for taking care of the kitties. I wouldn't blame the first three for feeling ..territorial (or whatever)

We had five once, after I inherited two from my dad. It was a lot of cats but their lives are short :( we're down to three again, even though my dad's cat Jake lived to 18!

[Puglover]

18. Thanks I had a Siamese named Jake once.

He was just a doll.

[mvccd1000]

17. Use food.

Here's a trick I read, and then tried, and it worked. I had an older female cat who was quite used to living alone with me. I got a newer, younger female cat who was very timid, while the older one was very grouchy.

I put their food bowls on opposite sides of the door for a few days, then moved them both to opposite ends of the same room. I gradually moved them closer until they were right next to each other, and then I started using only one food bowl.

The whole process took about 2 weeks, but in the end they were at least able to take turns eating without killing each other. I don't think they ever really became bosom buddies, but the household was tolerable. :)

[Puglover]

19. I'm thinking

this will be the case at our house. Hopefully they all will just live and let live. I just hope hope hope noone decides it would be cool to start marking their turf.

[applegrove]

20. Sorry for your loss.

Put a screen between the cats so they can see and smell each other, and engage in low level interactions. After a while (less than 3 days I would say) they will get used to seeing and smelling each other. Then you can let them go.

Whether they become friends is up to each of them. Cats often have one friend they like to lick (not all of them will be close). That is how it works at the cat colony at the Hemingway House. Did you ever see that documentary on the TV?

[Puglover]

21. Thanks.

And no haven't seen it. Something to not miss?

[applegrove]

22. The documentary on cats used to play on A&E or the Learning Channel once every

six months. I haven't seen it in a while. Anywho..they showed this colony of cats..about 20..and pointed out that each of the cats has a particular friend they like to lick but that all the cats were not that engaged with each other.