I need to take home for fall break a homeless cat I have been feeding outside my dorm. The problem is I already have three cats at home and I know cats do not take to one another easily. How can I help my cats accept this stranger? Also, can you train a grown cat to use the litter box? How?Do you have advice for helping a stray cat adjust?
Introduce your cats to this one slowly. First thing I ususally do is when I bring them in in the carrier is to let the other cats smell him/her and by leaving him/her in the carrier it protects them all. After a little while introduce the new cat to a ';safe room';, where he/she can be alone and get the feel for the new place. Have litter, food and water in there for him/her. Spend some time with ';new cat'; and allow ';her'; to adjust and leave her in this room. When she is calmer show her the litter box (no lid at this point), put her in it calmly and if possible take her leg to scratch in it so she has the feel of the new ';dirt';. If she potties on the floor later put it in the litter box so she can smell her smell there. Spend time with your other cats, once everyone is relaxed bring new cat in and hold her while they see and smell each other. It's your job to protect new cat.. don't let her have to defend herself or it will get quite festive later. If too much tension arrises put her back in the safe room and try again later after all is relaxed again. It may take several times before you can go to the next stage of letting her loose, yet still protect her, put her back in safe room if needed and repeat until you feel comfortable to let them all together with no supervision.
Remember your cats at home will feel a little betrayed and new cat is scared to death and you are her protector.
Good luck... oh later show new cat all the litter areas, she should catch on pretty quickly.Do you have advice for helping a stray cat adjust?
Isolate him away from the other cats for a long while, let them interact under the door, exchange blankets with each others cats, when you first introduce them supervise them and maybe put the new cat in a carrier. Usually they will go by themselves to litter box unless you have potted plants they may decide to start using that so be careful make sure the only sand around is in the litter box.
Go to http://www.spiritessence.com and look into using flower essences with all the cats. Dr. Jean Hovfe has a mixture there called ';New Beginnings'; which might be very appropriate for them all. In Dr. Hovfe's article library at http://www.littlebigcat.com she has an article titled ';Cat to Cat Introductions'; which will give you some useful guidelines about introducing the cats.
Sometimes a thin layer of dirt on top of a litterbox will get an outside cat to use it. It has the smell and texture they are used to.
Uhm try to socialize them and then when you have to go to work or where ever even if its near make sure you sepreate them for their safety. Yes you can train a cat to use it to I did it.
my freinds had the same problem but after a few weeks both of his cats got along and had little kittens. he just put one in one room and closed the door and let them smell and ';hiss'; at each other. good thing for takking in a stray because most adult cats are unwanted and put to sleep. :(
the cat will automatically go to the litter box it is their nature and it will take some time for the others to get used to the new addition but they will you just have to watch and observe their behavior so they dont fight but they will get along eventually....just takes time and patience
I just took in 2 strays and they are adjusting still after a month away from my other 2 cats. They usually use the litter box but I have to scoop everyday of more often and clean out totally twice a week. Not hard. I think the idea someone mentioned about putting some dirt in is a good idea. We have had a few accidents with just one so I am going to try that. Good luck and thanks for taking in a stray. Make sure to take it to vet or shots etc...
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