new kitten right before new baby -- crazy?

[AmyKT]

A stray kitten (about 12 weeks old) showed up at our neighbors' house last week, and since the adults there are not cat-friendly, DH promised the little girl who found it that we'd find it a home. The kitten is, of course, making himself right at home in our house. DD loves him, our blind dog loves him and seems happier than he has in a long time, DH and I are quite smitten with him too, but DH worries that with a baby coming in 6 or 7 weeks, it's too much to take on a new kitten. I don't think he's much trouble at all so far (already uses the litter box and isn't scratching the furniture much, though he does scratch us when he gets excited), and I figure 6 weeks is a long time for everyone to adjust. The only creature in our house who really doesn't like the kitten is our 12 year old very large neutered male cat. We haven't let them be in the room together yet, but the older cat has a history of being hostile to other cats who come around our house, and we know he will not be gentle.

So I have two questions:

1) are we insane to even consider letting this new kitten join us now, with the other changes yet to come?

2) and if we do keep him, how can we gently and successfully introduce the kitten and the older cat?

I've already been trying to find the kitten a new home among my friends and acquaintances, and though there have been a few people say they'll think about it, I doubt we'll get any takers. Our other option is to find a no-kill shelter, but I know that they are overloaded this time of year, and I really don't want to hand him off to an unknown fate, anyway.

It's been a long time since I've had a kitten, so thanks in advance for any advice, encouragement, or tales of caution.

[bri276]

I don't think it's crazy. Kitties are pretty self-sufficient, it's nothing like getting a new puppy or something.

I've successfully introduced new cats several times. The way I do it is very gradual but worth it. First, the new cat is isolated to one room- its own litter box, food, water. Totally separate at all times. After a few days, switch it up for a few hours at a time. New cat is allowed to explore the rest of the house, old cat gets put in new cat's room. Rub each one with the same towel (making sure new kitty doesn't have fleas first!) This lets them get used to each othre's smell without any confrontation. After a couple days of that, allow them both into the main house and give it a trial. If there's any hissing, growling, etc- put the new cat back in the room immediately and give it another few days- week before allowing another meeting. Feeding in the same room, but from separate dishes at first, some tasty wet food or treats and giving the old cat plenty of love can calm them down.

MOST cats will adjust. Most cats will learn to tolerate each other's company if not enjoy it. The above might sound complicated but it's really not

[AmyKT]

Thank you for your reply, bri 276. We are alternating their spaces right now by keeping older cat outside in our fenced yard or in our bedroom/bathroom where his litter box and food is during the day and then letting him roam the house at night while new kitty is locked up in the laundry room, but it's a good idea to have them share the same eating/litter space (though at separate times) for a while. New kitty did run and use older kitty's litter box once when older kitty was outside, but I've been afraid that allowing too much of that sacred space sharing would cause old kitty to eliminate on the floor, and it seems that that has happened once. They probably would feed from the same area, though. Food is essential, right? Big old kitty is not going to give that up on principle.

Old kitty is just so BIG, he could cause a lot of damage if we're not really careful about when they encounter one another, and breaking up the fight would be very painful for a person. I'll try the towel rubbing trick. That sounds like a good idea.

Thanks again!

[broodymama]

bri276 gave you some good advice on helping them adjust, so I just wanted to chime in and say you're not alone! At 39 weeks during this pregnancy (so yeah, about 1.5 weeks ago ) we adopted another adult cat from the shelter to introduce to our multi-cat household. We're taking it slow with the acclimation since one of our female cats has adjusted quickly but our boys are having a hard time with it. My extended family thinks I'm crazy to get another cat right before the baby, but she's such a good fit for our family!

[Ornery]

When I was 33 weeks pregnant with my 6 yo dd my DH brought home our two oldest cats. They were super tiny (about 4 weeks old) and had been abandoned at one of his work sites. We fell in love and nursed them back to health.

When I was around 35 weeks with my 4 yo ds, a friend brought us our orange kitty, Hobbes. He was a feral rescue that they were having a hard time placing because he was so tiny. We bottle fed him and he is now the best cat ever.

I loved it both times because I got out of litter box duty for quite awhile and it satisfied my nesting instincts to nurture them. I don't remember any problems except for the introductory period between cats.

[BettinaAuSucre]

NO WAY! I got my kitten three days before i found i was pregnant with my second. I am so glad i got her then bc a) she kept me company b) she is a sweet reminder of my second prenancy.

do it! dont fear, but watch the toxoplasmosis!

[AmyKT]

It's good to know we're not alone! The kitten had been an angel, but he was being a bit of a stinker this morning (just being a normal kitten, really), so I hope he doesn't manage to harden the heart of a sleep-deprived DH who is home sweating it out with a wild toddler under the broken AC.

Ahh, to life's rich tapestry.