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From: zzz@mit-eddie.UUCP (Mike Konopik)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Introducing cats!
Message-ID: <972@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Jan-86 09:21:40 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.972
Posted: Thu Jan 16 09:21:40 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Jan-86 07:32:55 EST
References: <589@ihu1e.UUCP>
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 24

I've had the opportunity to merge a new cat into a household with an
established cat several times before, and I've found a very successful
method.
You first need to find an "out of the way" room in which to locate the
new cat and all its necessities (litterbox, food, &tc).  Block all the
entrances to this room with an effective barrier to crossing that still
allows for both sides to view the other.  Doing this you permit both
cats to grow accustomed to each other's presence, smell, and all that
jazz without having to worry about being at each other's throats all
the time.  Our family always used a decorative room divider we called
a "sushi screen" (hell if I know what it's REALLY called), made of wood
with small geometric aperatures throughout.
It may take awhile (even a couple of weeks) before they're not hissing
constantly across the barrier.  But when they calm down this way, when
you then remove the barrier their period of physical combat doesn't seem
to last very long, and they frequently wind up immediately chasing and
playing instead.
Good luck, and don't give up heart.  Sometimes a little nose-tap and "NO"
in response to aggression on one cat's part can expedite the procedure.
-- 

				-Mike

genrad!mit-eddie!zzz  (UUCP)    ZZZ%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC  (ARPA)