Post # 1
Member
827 posts
Busy bee
Hi bees sorry for clumsy title!
We have a gorgeous, affectionate male cat called Ash who can be playful to the point of aggressive (not often but still happens)
He’s a rescue cat (without trauma other than being moved around three times) and we have really connected with him and love him dearly.
My sis has a male cat who is a bit older and more chilled. Her and her bf are going travelling for 5 months in November and it looks like he’ll have to stay with my folks who have a Basset Hound (they live with my folks at the moment). He can’t roam around inside or outside as he pleases…(we’re from UK so roaming outside/inside is the norm)
My sis’s cat has had serious trauma but has recovered very well considering and is a lot more confident than I thought he would be. He’s very affectionate and enjoys human company even more than our cat.
Anyway our family have considered us for taking him on, for obvious reasons. They haven’t outright asked but heavy hints from my mum…
We’re super hesitant although I’d love to. If I were to take him on it would be as a forever home situation as it wouldn’t be fair on either cat for him to move back to my folks with the basset when they return from travelling…
Is introducing male cats a terrible idea when one is territorial? Have you done it and succeeded or was it a disaster? I’d like to hear from bees who have or have had cats 😸
Post # 2
Member
4539 posts
Honey bee
Tisa85 : we have two cats. A male and a female we got after from a kitten. They are outside in the day and locked indoors at night as per the laws in my city.
We inherited our male cat from an elderly relative who had passed and had not spay the cat. By the time we’d gotten him his Tom cat behaviour was well developed and continued even after we got him spayed. He was very territorial and this continued until he got to about 11 years old and started to lose his dominance in amongst all the other male cats in the suburb. No other cat dared to enter our garden before but as our male cat aged and lost his dominance these other street cats decided our garden was territory. They come in and spray everywhere to mark their territory, then our cat marks over it and our backyard stinks terribly!!
My point is that if you have two older male cats who are not spayed or have been spayed later in age, you may end up with continual territory marking behaviour or continual fighting for top spot. One cat especially if he was lone top cat may end up with issues if he is ousted out of top position. It can create a lot of stress and anxiety for the cat too. This may not happen but you never really know how it works out until you’ve tried it out. They could be best friends, enemies or just tolerate each other and spend an inordinate amount of time marking their territory 😕
If you are keen to proceed, research ideas on how to introduce them properly.
Can we have a cute kitty pic please??
Post # 3
Member
51 posts
Worker bee
We have 3 males. I already had a 7/8 year old male and I ended up rescuing 2 kittens that were both male. My cats are not best friends but they do tolerate each other. If you’re trying to introduce 2 male adult cats they are more than likely going to fight. I would maybe try introducing them through a cat carrier so they can smell and see each other but can’t actually get at each other. I would probably try several short introductions that way. Hopefully someone who works in rescue will pop on and give you some pointers.
Post # 4
Hostess
3167 posts
Sugar bee
I am a very long time cat owner who has rescued a number of cats, and currently has a (large) multi cat household. Before you proceed, are you in a place to take on an extra cat? Are you and SO on the same page?
It’s totally fine to introduce two male cats to each other. Introduce them very, very slowly. Do NOT put the cats in the same room together at first. New kitty should go in a separate room, door shut, with his own litter box, food & water dish, etc. Cat 1 will be curious and will sniff at the door, and they may bat their paws under the door at each other.
Keep new kitty isolated in the room for several days. At some point, maybe day 2 or 3, put a blanket each cat has slept on in the other cat’s area. This way they can smell each other safely, from a distance. It helps them get used to each other. Cat 1 may seem agitated by the presence of New Kitty at first, but over those few days the anxiety will lessen.
When you’re ready, introduce them while you supervise, and make sure New Kitty has an escape route back into his room. I’d only keep them together for a little while at a time, then progressively increase the intervals depending on how they do together.
If you really want to give this cat a home, I think ultimately both cats will enjoy each other’s company. Just don’t force the introduction and give them time to get used to each other. You guys will all be fine! I hope you’ll come back a month from now and post pics!
Post # 5
Member
827 posts
Busy bee
mayna : Small steps are key from what I’ve read even if it takes days before they’re physically in front of each other. Scent is number 1 too then food etc It would take time and patience
Theyre both top cats from what I gather so I doubt they would be best friends…though they both love company and are very interactive
Darling Husband isn’t keen and I can understand why but I’m thinking of that poor rescue cat who deserves a more stable situation after what he’s been through. And we can offer that…it would also allow my sis to feel less upset and more reassured about the whole thing
Post # 6
Member
1581 posts
Bumble bee
I was told by my local shelter that unlike dogs, male kitties are ok together and that it’s the female cats who tend to be more territorial towards each other.
Post # 7
Member
7767 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
chocolateplease : I’ve been told the same, although in my case it is the male cat who has major tude and territorial issues lol – my girl just wants to be friends. But I think that may be the exception to the rule.
OP I think this should be fine provided you follow the advice from pp about introducing them slowly over a period of days/weeks. I have a family friend who is something of a cat whisperer…she periodically takes in ferals, but only males. At one point she had 7 male cats coexisting somewhat peacefully under her roof. It can be done!
Post # 8
Member
2657 posts
Sugar bee
Tisa85 : as long as both cats are fixed and they have the option of being in seperate rooms if they aren’ t into hanging out together you should be alright. If they are not fixed there may be a battle for dominance. I wouldn’t recommend letting your sister’s cat outdoors in an unfamiliar neighborhood though, the likeihood of him having an accident or getting lost dramatically increases by him not being fami.iar with his surroundings.
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