The Brady Bunch
by Lisa
I have 4 indoor cats that get along for the most part. I am combining households with my boyfriend next week who has 2 indoor cats. Yep, we are soon to be the Brady Bunch of cats. We will be living in his 1000 sq. ft. 2 bedroom condo with no opportunity to separate the cats for gradual introductions. How can make this as easy as possible for the cats??? I have already brought over things from my place for his cats to sniff - but I really can't come up with anything else that may ease the move for them. Put your 4 cats in a room together (maybe the 2nd bedroom?) and your boyfriends 2 cats together (maybe in a bathroom?) while all of the activity of moving is happening. Once all of the moving is done, let out the 2 cats whose home it is so they can explore. If you can, keep your cats separated for the night. Feed them in the room they are in. Visit them frequently. In the morning, let them out and get ready! There will likely be some hissing and spitting, slapping, even chasing and hiding. Let this happen. Keep yourselves calm. If the cats sense your tension, they will be more stressed. Keep a squirt bottle handy. If an actual fight breaks out, squirt the cats. It won't hurt but it will distract them. Otherwise, let the cats work things out for themselves. Continue using the flower essence for a couple of weeks until they all seem settled. Make sure there are lots of hiding places (boxes and open cat carriers work well and you already have them!) and provide tall cat trees so they have places to get up high and away from each other. In the small space they will all be living in, there are bound to be difficulties and disagreements. Be sure there are enough litter boxes and that they are kept clean. Just take it day by day and see how they all do. Cats can be surprisingly adaptable but they can also be very stubborn. Give it time and see how everyone does. You may just get lucky! Donna House Full Cats Mom |
