what is the best way to introduce a third cat to a household

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what is the best way to introduce a third cat to a household.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $9

how old are all cats, current, and newbie?

what sexes?

are all neutered?

what are their names?

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Please press ACCEPT if my answer was helpful and leave feedback Thank you! Terri

zoie is a female who is 14, oreo is 4 or 5 years old and is a relative new comer, but probably an alpha. zoie is reserved and stays pretty much to herself. oreo is cuddly and more dog-like. both are spayed. the prospective newby is a male, nigel, currently at the humane society having been nursed back to health after being rescued. he is 1yr and 6 mos. and twice as big as either female. he is neutered. he seems very docile, cuddly and comfortable with kids. i am worried about freaking zoie out, and also wonder about spraying. don't have experience with male cats. should i do this and what are the odds for success?

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on January 6 2007 at 8:21 PM

Dear friend,

Neutered males do not spray except to occasionally mark if THEY are te resident. I do not think Nigel, being the newcomer will even think about marking so you do not have to worry about that Zoie will most likely ignore Nigel so as long as he does not pester her, it should not be a problem. That leaves Oreo who sounds like a tuxedo cat. They can be quite feisty.Before you bring Nigel in.rub a damp cloth all over Zoie and Oreo and then rub it all over Nigell.Then he will have the girls scent on him. Repeat several times a day. Keep Nigel in a bedroom with the door open so the girls can check him out. Make sure he has a safe spot like under a bed to retreat to in case he gets overwhelmed.

Th odds for success are very high because Oreo will have a friend and playmate once she accepts Nigel and Zoie wil have the peace and quiet an older cat needs.

Thank you for saving Nigel.May God bless you.If you have any questions along the way, just let me know and I will always be here for you.

Sincerest best wishes,

Terri

Dedicated to Cats and the people who love them!
Please press ACCEPT if my answer was helpful and leave feedback Thank you! Terri

Reply to Terri Riba's Post: one more worry. i've heard that the reason for a lot of older cats being taken to shelters is because they don't just use the litter box. My husband is concerned about multiple cats and our house beginning to smell like urine. I know to have one more litter box than cat, to clean litter often. do you have other suggestions to avoid unwanted urinating outside the litter box?

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BTW: most older cats that end up in shelters do so because they have outgrown their "cute" kittenhood and it is such a throwaway society.

Dedicated to Cats and the people who love them!
Please press ACCEPT if my answer was helpful and leave feedback Thank you! Terri

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