Integrating an adult cat

cprcheetah

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Any tips on integrating an adult cat? I have had a foster for a few months who had a broken patella, it was surgically repaired and I had full intentions of finding her a home just had to wait for her to heal fully as she was knuckling over on her leg. She has been in a large room in my basement for a couple of months. My dogs are just fine with her in fact she plays with my Ruby dog. Anyways hubby went downstairs to the room she was in yesterday and when I got home from work told me that I should let her out to wander around. A couple of my cats have smelled her through the door etc in the past. She could care less that my cats are hissing at her, there haven't been any fights but they are guarding the stair way and not wanting to let her upstairs, they hiss at her. She hasn't hissed or anything at any of my cats. She's very laid back. She is about a year and a half old or so maybe a little older. My cats are 8 months to 15 years old.
 

shadowsrescue

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The best approach is to do proper introductions.  This will minimize fighting and aggression.  It also greatly depends on the temperament of all of the cats.  I brought a stray/feral into my home last year and it took a full year for he and my resident cat to get along.  Introductions are very important to help ease the cats into each other.  You can be the judge of how fast/slow to move depending on what you see.  You want to watch for hissing, growling, biting, chasing, attacks and also body language (ears back, tails swishing).  Here are some links and a video to help.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/
 
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