Just adopted 2 siamese cats, need help!
Just adopted 2 siamese cats, need help!
Hey all, my girlfriend just adopted 2 female siamese cats from a local shelter here in NYC last thursday. She has some experience with cats but is by no means an expert, and I am a dog person(have had poodles my whole life), so I'm really clueless when it comes to cats. These particular cats had 2 other siamese with them at the shelter, and we're assuming they're related. They are about 3 years old and were extremely abused at there old residence. They were abused and starved by there former owner, and weigh 5 and a half pounds(they should weigh around 10). Because of this, they are EXTREMELY skiddish and we're having some problems that are making us wonder if these cats are the right ones for my GF. One cat, Tammy, is extremely curious and wanders around the house, and the other, Georgia is so scared she generally just stays hidden. They both seem really sweet, but won't let us within 3 or 4 feet of them without running away(we generally dont even try, just attempting to let them feel more at home with us). When we first got them, they seemed extremely affectionate with each other. However, Tammy has been very aggressive towards Georgia the last few days and we don't have any idea of why. Thats problem #1. Problem #2 is Georgia (we think) doesn't seem that interested in the litter box sometimes, and I feel like it might be connected to how scared she is. Problem #3 is the distance they want to keep from us. Does anyone have any advice on any of these problems? We'd like nothing more then to give these poor cats a beautiful life but we're just not sure how to go about it exactly. Most concerning is the aggression Tammy's been showing towards Georgia, and it doesn't really make any sense to us. Help! Any and all advice would be GREATLY appreciated!
Re: Just adopted 2 siamese cats, need help!
Cats seem to remember the harmful ways they were treated. All you can do really is wait it out and try to gain their trust. Food always seems to help. Get some boxes of treats and try to coax them closer to you to feed them a treat. Talk gently to them tell them what good kitties they are. The litter box, its nice to have a covered one so they dont feel their privacy is invaded. The aggression between the 2 could be a territory issue, when you see one being aggressive with the other try to seperate them. More then likely though they are just playing and not really hurting each other. It wouldnt be a bad idea to take them to the vet and have them both checked out. The vet might also be able to suggest some healthy ways to introduce the cats into ur new home. Also, buy toys that you can use to interact with them. Try to play with them and be interactive with them. Cats are great at picking up on peoples personalities, just show them lots of love and respect and eventually they should return the favor.
Re: Just adopted 2 siamese cats, need help!
Even though they were kept together, this may be helpful
If you relied only on the shelter to give the cats exams, get them both to your regular vet for full health exams, deworming if necessary and tested for FELV/FIV...if they are seriously underweight or suffering hidden health problems as a result of their prior abuse, they need to be examined. Potential health problems, coupled with the new environment, could be attributing to the situation. Your vet will determine their general health status and can discuss dietary measures if necessary. I'm assuming both cats are spayed?
If you only got them last Thursday, you have to give them time to adjust.
If you mean the one cat isn't using the litterbox, put it in an area that is private, yet easily accessible and keep it cleaned on a daily basis. If she is actually eliminating in areas other than the box, this is where an exam will determine is she has a hidden health issue, such as a urinary tract infection, constipation, etc.
As for the agressive behavior, again, this could be due to hidden health problems that need to be ruled out by your vet. If they both recieve a good bill of health from your vet, then start focusing on the environment, keep stresses reduced as much as possible, and involve yourself in playtime and activity for them. Provide them a quiet, secure environment with lots of interaction so they can become adjusted to you and each other. One day at a time, with a slow, gentle approach, and patience will be the key.
If you relied only on the shelter to give the cats exams, get them both to your regular vet for full health exams, deworming if necessary and tested for FELV/FIV...if they are seriously underweight or suffering hidden health problems as a result of their prior abuse, they need to be examined. Potential health problems, coupled with the new environment, could be attributing to the situation. Your vet will determine their general health status and can discuss dietary measures if necessary. I'm assuming both cats are spayed?
If you only got them last Thursday, you have to give them time to adjust.
If you mean the one cat isn't using the litterbox, put it in an area that is private, yet easily accessible and keep it cleaned on a daily basis. If she is actually eliminating in areas other than the box, this is where an exam will determine is she has a hidden health issue, such as a urinary tract infection, constipation, etc.
As for the agressive behavior, again, this could be due to hidden health problems that need to be ruled out by your vet. If they both recieve a good bill of health from your vet, then start focusing on the environment, keep stresses reduced as much as possible, and involve yourself in playtime and activity for them. Provide them a quiet, secure environment with lots of interaction so they can become adjusted to you and each other. One day at a time, with a slow, gentle approach, and patience will be the key.
..........Traci