You have a couple of options here: If you are introducing a Suchi Burmese kitten to a Suchi Burmese that you already own we offer an introduction service where you drop off your existing cat and we introduce it to the kitten for you. We take away the stress and dramas of this process and get both cats to the point where they are happy to be together in the same carry box. This can usually be done within 2-3 days but obviously every cat is different and we go at a pace that works for your existing cat.
Alternatively you may choose to do it yourself and you can try the following…
FIRSTLY and most importantly… CLIP THE CLAWS OF YOUR EXISTING CAT before bringing the kitten home. Don’t leave the cats unattended until you are confident that they are friendly towards each other. Initially I would probably recommend that you don’t introduce the cats straight away. Lock your existing cat away with some toys, food, water and litter tray and let the kitten explore without feeling threatened by your existing cat. It is stressful enough being in a new home away from everything that the kitten is used to so adding on the stress of an aggressive hissing cat is not recommended for at least the first 24-48 hours. Once the kitten is comfortable and is eating, drinking and using the litter tray with confidence then you can start doing some slow introductions. As a general rule short introductions with 1/2 an hour to an hour gaps inbetween is the way to start. These introductions can then be extended in both length and frequency.
1. Where possible before bringing the kitten home get a towel or blanket with the kittens smell on it and give it to your existing cat and then give a blanket used by your existing cat to the kitten. Alternatively if you go to visit the kitten hold the kitten up against you and let your cat sniff you when you get home.
2. Leave the kitten in a fully inclosed carry box and let your existing cat come and sniff the carry box. As soon as either cat gets stressed and hisses take the carry box away. Bring it back again 20 minutes later and repeat the process about 4 or 5 times. Then leave and repeat the following day till the hissing stops then try either option 3 or 4. You can also try putting your existing cat in the carry box and let the kitten explore.
3. Put the kitten in a glass shower with the door closed. Put your existing cat in the bathroom and let them meet each other through the glass. If all goes well you can crack open the door a tad and let the cats sniff each other.
4. If all is going reasonably well you can then try this…. If the kitten is sleeping let the existing cat come and sniff the kitten. If the existing cat starts to hiss or growl remove him/her immediatly.
If you follow the above you should find the cats are getting along just fine with about 2 to 3 days after the first introduction. Burmese love company and adjust to other animals usually very quickly.
LITTER TRAYS: Technically the rule is 2 litter trays per cat but as you can imagine if I stuck to that rule I would have litter trays from one end of the house to the other…. Initially at least two litter trays is certainly advisable and probably necessary if you are going to keep the cats separate at first. Keep all litter trays clean. To limit the smell you may like to try Catatonia’s Kitty Litter Clean-Up (See ‘My Store’ for further info)
FEEDING: This can be difficult if you have 2 cats that are completely different in age. Stopping an adult cat from eating kitten food and visa versa can be really hard. You may like to get your existing cat to eat age neutral foods before bringing the kitten home for example: Barf and Eagle Pack are both suitable for Adults and kittens. You can also get Multi cat dry food to suit a multi cat household with cats of various ages. Providing your existing cat isn’t overweight a bit of kitten food is not going to hurt him or her.
There is a fantastic product on the market called Feliway. We stock it here or you can possibly purchase on Ebay. This is often used for cats in multi cat homes where things are a little tense and it is fantastic for introducing a kitten to an existing cat.
There are 2 versions of Feliway:
1. A plug in Diffuser
2. A pump spray bottle that you spray on areas where the cat is spraying (walls, furniture etc). We stock this product or you can order on Ebay.
See further info on Feliway Below.
I pulled the following from this site: http://www.pethealth.com.au/index.cfm?Do=View.Page&PageID=57
How should pheromones be used to improve behaviour of cats?
Use of Feliway Diffuser
- the unit is for indoors use only.
- plug the diffuser in a power point in the room most used by the cat during the day and don’t turn it off at night
- place the diffuser near the cat’s bed or common sleeping area if possible
- don’t put the diffuser behind a door or cover it in any way
- don’t put the unit under furniture – the vapour is oil-based and can rise and possibly stain furniture
- the more contact the cat has with the diffuser, the better the effect will be
- consider housing your cat inside if it is a roaming cat or has ‘outside the house’ issues
- one diffuser lasts for approximately four weeks and covers an area of 50 – 70 square meters.
- the vapour produced by the unit is heavy and will sink down to pet level so the height of a room is not a problem but the vapour will be dispersed by strong breezes
- the pheromone has no effect on humans or on your love life!! It is species specific.
What behaviours can be improved with Feliway Diffuser?
- Feliway
- helps to stop fear or prevent fear and stress-related signs in kittens and adult cats
- It can assist to resolve spraying behaviour in cats
- It can be used to assist assimilating a new kitten into a home
- It can be used to assimilate an adult cat into a new home
- It can be useful for assimilating an introduced cat into a house where other cats already live
- It can sometimes be helpful for inter-cat aggression
- It can be helpful for excessive vocalisation and nocturnal vocalisation
Effects are usually noticed within 14 days and improve further over the first month. Use the units for a least one month.
Total duration of use depends on the condition being treated but can be up to, or longer than, three months.
What are the costs of the Feliway System?
To use a high-level product like this, you need to know how to use it. Most cases need full assessment to establish a diagnosis and to map a treatment program.
We will not supply Feliway units without some form of consultation as the units need to be use properly to be effective. However the good news is that you get a free five minute telephone consultation if you buy a pheromone unit.
To ascertain if the use of pheromones is appropriate, consider a telephone assessment. If pheromones are appropriate, I can then courier the units to you.
Advantages of Pheromones
- Ease of use – plug it in and turn on the powerpoint. Ten seconds of work for one month of therapy
- No side effects
- Scientifically proven to be 70% effective for target behaviours relating to anxiety, fears, establishing pets into new territories and other behaviours
Disadvantages of Pheromones
- Not effective for pets housed outdoors
- Need to be left in an active powerpoint for 24 hours a day at least for the first month
- Not always a certain cure for target behaviours.
- Cost