Cat Introductions....Help

[Metal_Gear_Panda]

Hi All, I'm new here so I hope I'm posting in the right place.

We have a 13 year old cat called Soapy (his real name is sophie and he's gender confused but that's a whole different story haha!)

We adopted him 5 years ago from my cousin who was wanting a home for her two cats, we couldnt take both but she was happy enough for us to take him. He quickly became part of the family and was not strange around us at all.

Fast forward 5 years later, me and my now husband (just got married 9 weeks ago this week) have rescued a kitten from a shelter (another sweet note, he was born on the day we got married). We had been going back and forth for over a year on getting another cat/kitten, the reason I wanted another one as since being a young child I have been in a multi-cat household and loved having the cats with me. We couldnt do it originally as we didnt have the space but we have since moved to a two bedroom house.

Soapy used to be an outdoor cat but has had to be moved inside due to the house being situated on the main road, although we do take him outside on a harness and lead....it's entertaining to watch sometimes but it calms him down.

So we have been following instructions from the Cat Daddy Jackson Galaxy website along with lots of other websites, We set up our newbie Colt in the spare room with all his bits and bobs, litter tray and an array of toys, food, water and a bed, soapy met him once when he was in the carrier as we did not realise our spare room door did not close all the way over Soaps grumbled and hissed and swatted at the wee one, then walked away when we made a loud noise to try and distract him.

Since then, Colt has been running about mad in the spare room, we were feeding them on either side of a door that they can see each other, soapy hisses and growls at the wee one and normally walks away. This morning, they ended up face to face, it may have been an error on our part but Colt's confidence is growing and he is desperate to get out of the spare room. Soapy made the most horrendous hissing and growling noise and went to go for Colt but my husband managed to grab soapy before he got to him. We are trying our best to sepearte them as much as we can but Soapy is so big and heavy (he is overweight and we are trying to rectify this) and I'm terrified he's going to seriously hurt Colt.

I've been in tears a few times wondering if I've done the right thing by adopting Colt but it would break my heart to take him back, but I'm prepared if I cant get them to tolerate each other.

Any tips would be handy

Thanks G xxx (sorry for the essay)

[Jacks]

If you've been following all the ideas (including on this website) and trying scent swapping, etc. I do understand your caution as the newbie is so young - only really just old enough to leave his mother.

If you have the space and can borrow one, an idea I've seen is to use a dog crate in your lounge - some area where you and Soapy generally hang out of an evening. I nice big one, with holes that are not big enough for Colt to squeeze through, of course.

The idea is that you put Colt into the crate in your living area, complete with little litter tray, a box to hide in, etc. when you and Soapy are around. Then you act normal, play with Soapy (whatever he likes best) in front of Colt, give them both treats and generally get Soapy used to the fact that Colt is in the vicinity, is not a threat, and is not stealing his attention.

I've never tried it, but I sort of wish I had one myself. Seeing as how Colt is bold and ready to get going, I think he would cope with it and he can always retreat into his box if Soapy gets aggressive. Basically you're associating Colt's presence with nice things and normality - not with being an intruder.

Just a thought.

[Metal_Gear_Panda]

Hi!

Thanks very much for getting back to me! It's a good idea and I shall see if any of my friends have a cage that I can borrow! We done some small scent swapping and we had Colt out of the room he's in and let Soapy in so he was in smelling all his stuff, first thing he went to was the litter tray and then he sniffed about, didnt hiss or anything and then left the room and went down the stairs again. He's not showing over aggression until such times as Colt is out wandering about on his own.

Thanks again!