Hi All,
I'm new around these parts but this seems like a very knowledgeable group and I could use some advice.
I recently moved to a new home where they have a good TNR program in place. There is a stray who has been through the TNR program but is very friendly and desperately wants to live in my home. I'm tentatively calling her Jewel, but we'll see if it sticks or not, this is already name 2, we're still figuring it out.
I currently have one cat, Jo a female somewhere between 9 and 16, who has one kidney. She eats prescription food and has settled in nicely to the new home. In February 2018 we lost her best friend and my buddy Jasper to CKD/congenital kidney defect.
Jo and Jewel have been introduced to each other through a screen door for about 3 weeks now and they've been smelling each other on me for about 6 weeks. There was some initial hissing by Jo, but that has ended. They also eat with the screen door separating them and there has been no food aggression.
Jewel has been super quick and snuck into the house when I came in a few times now. She likes to explore and play, loves catnip, and just wants to snuggle up in the cat tree and be safe. Jo seems to have accepted her, they both lay down fairly close (within a foot or so) of each other and they were both purring. They've both attempted to friendly head butt the other cat although they need to work on their timing haha.
I have Jewel scheduled for a vet visit this Sunday to make sure she is vaccinated properly. I'm also due to take Jo in for some follow up blood work (a constant since she has 1 kidney and we need to monitor it.) Does it make sense to take them at the same time? I have a spare smaller carrier, but realistically it's more Jo size than Jewel size. However, Jo has never been in it and she and Jasper always shared the larger carrier. How do I manage that? I want to make sure Jo continues to feel comfortable, secure, and well loved but I also want to make sure Jewel is taken care of, it's such a tough balancing act.
Jo is used to free feeding her wet food - the challenge is that it's prescription wet food (the whole one kidney thing) and I put meds in it. I have no idea how to make this work if Jewel does live in the house. Suggestions?
How do you introduce a new cat to an existing liter box situation? I've never done this before as I picked up Jo and Jasper from the same shelter on the same day. I currently have 2 litter boxes, side by side, and it suits Jo okay. But I should probably add a third right? In a different spot? There is not a great spot in this house, but I will make it work if I have to (Jewel says I have to.) How do you let a new cat start using an existing cat's liter box?
Anyway, I could use some advice and maybe reassurance that this is the right thing to do. If I'm missing an important step, please let me know, I want to do this right if I can.
There's also another stray who I thought was feral but has just recently warmed up enough to me to let me pet him. His ear is not tipped and I got a good look recently and he's not fixed. The local TNR program says I have to trap him myself to take part in their program, so that's something else on my radar.
Thank you!
Katsup
I'm new around these parts but this seems like a very knowledgeable group and I could use some advice.
I recently moved to a new home where they have a good TNR program in place. There is a stray who has been through the TNR program but is very friendly and desperately wants to live in my home. I'm tentatively calling her Jewel, but we'll see if it sticks or not, this is already name 2, we're still figuring it out.
I currently have one cat, Jo a female somewhere between 9 and 16, who has one kidney. She eats prescription food and has settled in nicely to the new home. In February 2018 we lost her best friend and my buddy Jasper to CKD/congenital kidney defect.
Jo and Jewel have been introduced to each other through a screen door for about 3 weeks now and they've been smelling each other on me for about 6 weeks. There was some initial hissing by Jo, but that has ended. They also eat with the screen door separating them and there has been no food aggression.
Jewel has been super quick and snuck into the house when I came in a few times now. She likes to explore and play, loves catnip, and just wants to snuggle up in the cat tree and be safe. Jo seems to have accepted her, they both lay down fairly close (within a foot or so) of each other and they were both purring. They've both attempted to friendly head butt the other cat although they need to work on their timing haha.
I have Jewel scheduled for a vet visit this Sunday to make sure she is vaccinated properly. I'm also due to take Jo in for some follow up blood work (a constant since she has 1 kidney and we need to monitor it.) Does it make sense to take them at the same time? I have a spare smaller carrier, but realistically it's more Jo size than Jewel size. However, Jo has never been in it and she and Jasper always shared the larger carrier. How do I manage that? I want to make sure Jo continues to feel comfortable, secure, and well loved but I also want to make sure Jewel is taken care of, it's such a tough balancing act.
Jo is used to free feeding her wet food - the challenge is that it's prescription wet food (the whole one kidney thing) and I put meds in it. I have no idea how to make this work if Jewel does live in the house. Suggestions?
How do you introduce a new cat to an existing liter box situation? I've never done this before as I picked up Jo and Jasper from the same shelter on the same day. I currently have 2 litter boxes, side by side, and it suits Jo okay. But I should probably add a third right? In a different spot? There is not a great spot in this house, but I will make it work if I have to (Jewel says I have to.) How do you let a new cat start using an existing cat's liter box?
Anyway, I could use some advice and maybe reassurance that this is the right thing to do. If I'm missing an important step, please let me know, I want to do this right if I can.
There's also another stray who I thought was feral but has just recently warmed up enough to me to let me pet him. His ear is not tipped and I got a good look recently and he's not fixed. The local TNR program says I have to trap him myself to take part in their program, so that's something else on my radar.
Thank you!
Katsup
I’m glad you came to thecatsite! There are lots of great cat people here with tons of experience who will enjoy sharing with you. We love hearing about your kitties too! Thank you for bringing this kitty into your family! 
They chose us.
