Okay all you other cat servants, need tips . . .

[ET Awful]

The new little girl is scared as hell. I need ideas to mellow her out and get her to come out of her crate and explore. I actually had her purring for a while this morning, but I want her to get acclimated and meet Quinn when she's not so panicked.

For those that missed her last night, this is Althea:



She's a very slim, trim little girl (build almost like an Abyssinnian, same long face and slim lithe body).

So how do I get her to relax (other than just leave her alone)? :)

[MissMillie]

1. Catnip?

Nothing like a stoned kitty.....

She's ADORABLE! Have you named her yet? (Der... yes you did! Sorry I missed that.)

[ET Awful]

3. I don't know if she's even old enough to respond to catnip. . .

she's only about 12 weeks old. I thought most cats didn't even care about catnip till they hit 6 months or so.

[Jo March]

2. Hate to say it but... CATNIP!

Catnip sprinkled just outside her crate may do the trick. It doesn't affect all cats the same but most will wander over to it to smell it at least.

Other than that, time and a bit of space. She'll come around.

The new cat is beautiful. She needs to come and visit me! ;)

[underpants]

6. My cats FREAK on catnip

like an acid trip (or so I am told)but then they are very social and aren't aloof or isolationists.

[Jo March]

13. Yes, around my house we call it "the nip"

Our cat rolls in it and then eats it. Then he runs up and down the stairs like a wild cat - eyes super dialated, the hair standing up on his back, breathing heavily - oh, yeah. He's seeing things. Pretty, pretty colors and things...

Then he collapses and sleeps for a long, long time.

[calico1]

4. Are you keeping her in a separate room for now?

Introducing her to the other cat and the whole house(or apt.) at once may be too overwhemling for her. She is a cutie by the way!

[ET Awful]

5. Yup, she's got my HUGE bathroom all to herself right now

My bathroom is really big, and there's enough space to have both food and litterbox in there with no interference.

basically she's got all she needs in there. I left the cat carrier in there with the door open so she has a dark place she can curl up in, but she hasn't ventured out of there yet.

Like I say, she was purring this morning (and licking food off my finger when offered to her). So I think she'll come around, she's just really stressed and nervous still.

As to cute, the picture doesn't do her justice. It makes her look more round than she really is. She is a really long, lean baby. We're talking a body like a ferret (but not quite as long). :)

[havocmom]

8. Good advice ^

Another trick: Keep cats in seperate rooms BUT put food bowls for each right by the door which seperates them. They can sorta get used to each other's presence/scent/sounds and associate it with a good thing -Food!

Give it a few days like that. Don't try to force introductions. Takes time to let it happen. And make sure the kitten has a hidey-hole the other cat(s) cannot get to for awhile. We all like a safe den for quiet contemplation and rest. Kitten will be OK, just go slow.

Lots of praise, pats for established cats so they don't get jealous of the newby.

[Lisa0825]

7. What a SWEEEEEET little pink nose!!!:-)

She's a beauty! :loveya:

[WMliberal]

9. i prefer to be called "cat staff" thankyou.

Just a little time and quiet. The new one should get some courage within a week. The older one will hiss at it for a month or two. Then within a year they'll be best buds.

[jukes]

10. *TIME*

when i intro'd my 2nd cat, 'tonio pouted in the closet for 3 weex. had to sleep on the flooor w/ my head in the closet for 3 days before he forgave me.

she'll come out when she's ready.



EDIT: beautiful girlcat, btw!

[LynzM]

11. Second that one!

Just keep being patient... if she's still mostly in there in a couple of weeks, then you can start talking about more ideas, but give her some time to warm up. She is absolutely beautiful, btw!!

[Cheswick2.0]

12. She looks like my Moo

He has really pale green eyes though. Like her he is really long and thin and has a sensitive personality. I had another cat with this coloring, her name was Patches. She had the same body type and personality.
These cats are very smart. Theyrespond to your moods and love to sit with you with their heads burried under your arm while they pad pad pad until it drives you nuts. They also love to talk. Patches would keep up the conversation as long as I was willing to talk to her. She always had to have the last word. Moo is not that bad, but he loves to talk too.
Try talking to her and sitting with her. She will come around.