Advice from cat people please :)

[MistressSadako]

I'm getting a new kitten

Since I already have a cat I just want a few pointers about getting new kitten settled...

I was planning on letting them meet supervised, in the hall to start with, then keeping new kitten confined to spare room for a few days when we're not in. Obviously it'll be easier to plan how to progress with this once I see how they get on together etc. My main question was about feeding. My kitty gets fed on Royal Canin urinary s/o dry food, but if the kitten needs kitten food...how do I go about feeding them separately and making sure they don't scoff each others food? Is there any way to do this without actually taking one into the kitchen at a time to eat - i often start at 7am and would have to get up veeery early in the morning to allow time to do this, so if anyone has any other suggestions that would be most appreciated.

I've never done cat introductions before, so any other pointers will also be very greatefully received!

[feorag]

Introducing a cat to anything just needs time and patience, even if it's another cat!

One trick a lot of breeders use when re-introducing a queen that has been isolated because of kittens back to the other cats is to dust all the cats with talcum powder, that way they all smell the same and it lessens 'suspicion'. Alternatively take your cat's blanket when you go to pick up the kitten and rub the kitten all over with the blanket before you bring it into the house, so it smells like the cat.

Your plans for introduction sound great, just let them be around each other when you're there to supervise and keep them separate when you aren't.

As far as feeding goes, that is a problem and if you find the answer please tell me! Separating them when feeding shouldn't be a problem, but I guess it depends on whether they clear their bowls out or whether there is any left that the other might go and eat.

[MistressSadako]

Aaaah yes thats a brilliant idea about the blanket...there's one in Hiros bed that is absolutely covered in hair, so i'll put that in the carrier. The talc method sounds like the vanilla essence one that i've sometimes used with rats

I'll be able to gauge how much kitten eats/how quickly it eats in the time it's kept separate...Hiro doesn't eat much in one sitting and I tend to leave some food in the bowl for him during the day...although if i stop that he might eat more when I want him to - i know cats aren't meant to "graze", i just feel mean going out and leaving him with no food!
Is royal canin kitten food alright? should i feed wet as well, or just dry?

[Shell195]

Feorags advice is very good. Cat are meant to graze though
You may have a problem with the feeding though. Mine have never been able to have special diets due to the amount of cats I have

[feorag]

It does depend on your cat's eating habits. Our cats come downstairs for their morning or evening meal and sometimes they clear their plates, but more often than not they don't, so what is left is piled into one dish and they graze on it for the rest of the day or night.

So we have a problem if we have to feed a different food, which was why I was saying if you find a way let me know!

If you've got a blanket covered in your cat's hair then yes, take it with you when you collect your kitten and before you bring it into the house, make sure that you cover the kitten in the blanket. I'm sure it won't stop your cat having an apoplexy when it sees the kitten, but persevere and keep swapping blankets between the two every day, so they get each other's smell constantly while you are getting them together.

Royal Canin kitten food sounds fine, but make sure that you feed the kitten on whatever the breeder is giving it for the first week or so. if the food is different gradually add the Royal Canin, bit by bit until eventually you've swapped over. Cats and kittens stress easily and a lot of kittens have diarrhoea when they go to their new homes, changing the diet aggravates that even more.

[MistressSadako]

Its a rescue place i'm getting kitten from, but I know it does come with a "kitten pack" so i'm sure it will have some food in it...if not we'll be stopping at pet shop anyway so will make sure to get some of whatever kitten is having anyway.

I know that Hiro is just going to be terrified and a complete wimp when he see's kitten, he really is just embarassing!

Will the urinary stuff do the kitten any harm? Just I know that kittens tend to be little ganets, so if I can feed kitten with kitten food first which he will hopefully finish then leave Hiro's reguar food down like I usually do, then Hiro can pick as he likes, and the new kitten can as well? Or should he have only kitten food?

Sorry for all the questions, i'm all giddy and excited!

[Shell195]

As long as the kitten gets fed kitten food finishing of Hiros diet wont do it any harm at all. I wouldnt advise letting Hiro finish the kittens off though as due to his problem it wont do him any good at all

[MistressSadako]

Originally Posted by Shell195

As long as the kitten gets fed kitten food finishing of Hiros diet wont do it any harm at all. I wouldnt advise letting Hiro finish the kittens off though as due to his problem it wont do him any good at all

No, he's on a strict diet anyway and I wouldn't want him to get poorly again, so i'm banking on greedy kitten eating all his food without hiro getting a look in

[feorag]

I wouldn't have thought so. I'm presuming s/o is the same as Hills s/d diet, which is designed to acidify the urine to prevent crystals forming, so no I don't think it would do the kitten any harm at all, especially if it was just nibbling on leftovers.

However, it wouldn't be good for the adult to eat the kittens food.

[feorag]

Shell you and I are cross posting again!