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Ryan S
i've had an female american short-hair cat for 2-3 years now, and my family has decided to get another. we were thinking of getting a Siamese cat. hoping to get it as a kitten. do you have any tips to introduce them. i realize theres a chance they wont like eachother. but is there any thing i can do to ensure they get along ok, thanks!
Answer
Ideally, give the new cat his own room to begin with. He needs to settle in to this "safe room" before meeting other pets. The room must be made escape-proof and safe. Block any chimneys/fireplaces and if it is necessary to open a window for ventilation, fit a mesh panel (make it secure so that the cat cannot dislodge it). Switch off gas or electric fires and make sure there are no cables to be chewed (or they are tucked out of the way). A safe room is essential except when the household is quiet and you can watch or supervise them.
If your home is the sort where some rooms have glass panelled doors, it would be an advantage if the safe room is one of the rooms. This allows the newcomer and the resident pets to look at each other through the glass. Don't worry if you don't have such doors as there are plenty of other ways to start the introductions when the time comes. A windowsill or a seat allowing a view through the window are more important - the cat will want to start surveying his new territory and getting used to the comings and goings of others.
The safe room must be equipped with a cat bed or some description (a blanket-lined box, old armchair etc are fine if you don't have cat baskets). A hiding place (e.g. under the bed or a large upturned box with a hole in the side) is also essential as cats like to hide while they take stock of their new surroundings. Food and water bowls are essential. The litter tray should be placed as far away from the cat's sleeping place and the feeding place as possible. Like us, cats don't want to sleep and eat in the toilet (particularly in a toilet that can't be flushed). A scratching post or pad is advisable as are some toys.
If you think the room gets cold at night, there are a wide variety of heat-pads (electric, microwavable, simple thermal pads or fleeces) available or you could use a hot water bottle wrapped in towel. A battery radio (or mains powered if the cable can be tucked out of the way) tuned to a talk station (e.g. UK's Radio 4) can be used to provide company when the cat is in the room alone. Preparations need not be elaborate - just common sense!
If a safe room isn't possible because of lack of rooms or an open plan home, the alternative is a kitten pen (or kittening pen). Kitten pens are metal mesh pens approximately 1 metre x 1 metre square and 0.75 - 1 metre tall. They are collapsible and have plastic bases that are easy to clean and prevents the occupant from scratching the carpet in an attempt to dig his way out! The dimensions vary depending on the supplier. Some of the large dog crates that fit inside estate cars are suitable as long as the occupant cannot escape through the mesh and there is enough room for bed, food, water and litter tray. Large chinchilla cages might also suitable as long as its door is large enough. If you are only using the pen for short introductions (e.g. to a dog) then a smaller crate with a blanket in it will be fine as the newcomer will be spending most of his time in the safe room. It is possible to make your own kitten pens so long as there are no protruding bits of wire to cause injury. Whatever type cage you use, the door must be able to be shut securely (if in doubt, a strong bulldog clip usually does the trick). The cat inside the kitten pen can see what is going on around it, but feels safe inside the cage.
To make a kitten pen feel more secure, at least to begin with, you can put a sheet, blanket or curtain over the top and around two or three sides. One side should be left uncovered so that the newcomer and the existing residents can see each other. They will want to sniff each other through the mesh, try to put a paw through and will probably hiss or growl at each other. However they cannot attack or physically intimidate each other. ((more at link below)
Ideally, give the new cat his own room to begin with. He needs to settle in to this "safe room" before meeting other pets. The room must be made escape-proof and safe. Block any chimneys/fireplaces and if it is necessary to open a window for ventilation, fit a mesh panel (make it secure so that the cat cannot dislodge it). Switch off gas or electric fires and make sure there are no cables to be chewed (or they are tucked out of the way). A safe room is essential except when the household is quiet and you can watch or supervise them.
If your home is the sort where some rooms have glass panelled doors, it would be an advantage if the safe room is one of the rooms. This allows the newcomer and the resident pets to look at each other through the glass. Don't worry if you don't have such doors as there are plenty of other ways to start the introductions when the time comes. A windowsill or a seat allowing a view through the window are more important - the cat will want to start surveying his new territory and getting used to the comings and goings of others.
The safe room must be equipped with a cat bed or some description (a blanket-lined box, old armchair etc are fine if you don't have cat baskets). A hiding place (e.g. under the bed or a large upturned box with a hole in the side) is also essential as cats like to hide while they take stock of their new surroundings. Food and water bowls are essential. The litter tray should be placed as far away from the cat's sleeping place and the feeding place as possible. Like us, cats don't want to sleep and eat in the toilet (particularly in a toilet that can't be flushed). A scratching post or pad is advisable as are some toys.
If you think the room gets cold at night, there are a wide variety of heat-pads (electric, microwavable, simple thermal pads or fleeces) available or you could use a hot water bottle wrapped in towel. A battery radio (or mains powered if the cable can be tucked out of the way) tuned to a talk station (e.g. UK's Radio 4) can be used to provide company when the cat is in the room alone. Preparations need not be elaborate - just common sense!
If a safe room isn't possible because of lack of rooms or an open plan home, the alternative is a kitten pen (or kittening pen). Kitten pens are metal mesh pens approximately 1 metre x 1 metre square and 0.75 - 1 metre tall. They are collapsible and have plastic bases that are easy to clean and prevents the occupant from scratching the carpet in an attempt to dig his way out! The dimensions vary depending on the supplier. Some of the large dog crates that fit inside estate cars are suitable as long as the occupant cannot escape through the mesh and there is enough room for bed, food, water and litter tray. Large chinchilla cages might also suitable as long as its door is large enough. If you are only using the pen for short introductions (e.g. to a dog) then a smaller crate with a blanket in it will be fine as the newcomer will be spending most of his time in the safe room. It is possible to make your own kitten pens so long as there are no protruding bits of wire to cause injury. Whatever type cage you use, the door must be able to be shut securely (if in doubt, a strong bulldog clip usually does the trick). The cat inside the kitten pen can see what is going on around it, but feels safe inside the cage.
To make a kitten pen feel more secure, at least to begin with, you can put a sheet, blanket or curtain over the top and around two or three sides. One side should be left uncovered so that the newcomer and the existing residents can see each other. They will want to sniff each other through the mesh, try to put a paw through and will probably hiss or growl at each other. However they cannot attack or physically intimidate each other. ((more at link below)
back boiler gas fireplace?
Gemma G
hi
i live in a private rented flat, it has Worcester boiler in the kitchen on an external wall, but in the living room we have a hideous 60s fire with a back boiler i dont know if its still working of if its disconnected because to be honest i know nothing apart from its a fire lol.
what i want to know is how much roughly would it cost to have the back boiler and/or fire removed, and are there any grants to have it removed (im in the uk). ill probably replace it with a gel fire bowl or electric plug in as i only really want it for decoration.
thanks
Answer
It is not possible to give a quote without seeing the job and what is involved in removing the item. Contact local handymen who possibly advertise in the local paper and ask a couple of them for quotes. It could be £50 or £200 depending on how difficult the job is and what part of town you live in. The posh part of town is charged more for the same job. Since it is a rental you need to speak to the owner or his agent and will not get your money back for making "improvements" to the home. Can you just cover it with a rug and put ornaments on top ...?
It is not possible to give a quote without seeing the job and what is involved in removing the item. Contact local handymen who possibly advertise in the local paper and ask a couple of them for quotes. It could be £50 or £200 depending on how difficult the job is and what part of town you live in. The posh part of town is charged more for the same job. Since it is a rental you need to speak to the owner or his agent and will not get your money back for making "improvements" to the home. Can you just cover it with a rug and put ornaments on top ...?
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Title Post: how to introduce two cats to eachother.?
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