Hi Everyone,
I have been reading posts to get a feel for the site before I posted. There seems to be a lot of great knowledgeable Ragdoll lovers on this site and I am very happy to have found it.
After 4 months of research, meeting the right breeder and because of my current home pet situation it was decided to bring home a older kitten or young adult would be best. After several visits to the breeders home we could not decide between the just over a year female seal bi-color and the 3 year old male chocolate lynx colorpoint. After a lot of discussion it seemed logical to take them both since they are buddies. We brought them home last night and today is their first day in our home.
With all these changes I am offering bottled water (I forgot to take water home from the breeders, they live 2 and half hours north so different water supply) and with their food am converting them over to Nutro indoor maintenance dry food. After I can assess if their stools are loose or normal I will give them a little bit of wet food as treats. Our household has two mini macaws males, pair of English budgies and Scottish terrier female. With the two Ragdolls it is now a zoo in my home.
The breeder's home is way more loud and chaotic because she has three boys under 10 and a preteen daughter. She seems to believe that the cats will probably adjust to our household faster because of the difference. That gives me a little bit of confidence that our new family members will not stress out so much. This is the first time I am not bringing in a baby animal into home. Although I originally wanted a kitten I am very comfortable with my choice of taking these cats home. I am just a bit inexperienced helping older animals adjust to new home.
For now I am letting the Ragdolls be. They know where the litterbox food and water are (I heard someone scratching in it during the middle of the night and crunching on mixture of breeder food/Nutro. Someone was eating REALLY LOUD. LOL) and I expect them to be cautious for a while. Untill they are ready and want my attention I am not going to force them. The male is very laid back and LOVES human companionship so when I get home I will probably attempt to reassure him on his terms. He was really loving me up at the breeders home but then he loves everyone! The female is more independent but younger so she may blossom in her new type of home. Even if her personality does not come out I really like this cat (I could not choose between them)
We are excited to have them both because they are really wonderful cats along with being so beautiful. For now my objective is to get them settled in and unstressed as soon as possible.
Hi, welcome to the forum. It's great that you have adopted two older cats, lots of members on here will be able to share their experiences with you. It sounds like you are doing all of the right things so far. As long as they are eating and drinking and using the litter box then you shouldn't have any worries. One way of getting them to come to you when you get home is to sit on the floor and have some treats or toys ready for them. Wand toys that you can reach out to them with are good if they are a little nervous at first.
It's great that you had two, you are right, they will settle much quicker, and the fact that they already know each other is another advantage. What are their names, and when do we get to see photos? We LOVE photos, we just can't get enough :-)
sounds like you have your work cut out for you. It's great that you were able to take both of them.
photos please?? =]
Congratulations on your two new adoptions. I also adopted older cats -- Simone was 15 months and Samantha was 3.5 years when I got them. Although they new each other from the breeders home, it seemed the stress of just moving to a new environment (it was just her and her husband and a bunch of cats - to my home, just me and my husband) still caused them some stress and they acted out with each other (sniping) for a while, which stressed me, which in turn stressed them more I think. Then I was told to quit stressing because they could pick up on it (so true) and things did get better. It didn't really take them that long to adjust after that, so I'm sure your two will be great too. Sounds like you have a wonderful plan of action and have thought of everything. Keep us informed, and I second the request for pics!
The cats just came home last night. Have not had time to download the pictures onto the computer as we got back so late (breeder lives 2 and half hours away) due to traffic. I felt sad having to leave them alone so soon but they will only have the house to themselves from 9:30 to 6pm.
While no one is home there is a kenneled Scottish Terrier and two mini macaws they can visit if they want and of course they have each other. The budgies are behind a closed door for their safety. After spending the night behind closed bedroom door I left the door opened this morning so they can investigate their house. I left out for them a basket of toys, one of those circular tube ball scratcher with cardboard toys and plenty of places for them to laze around. Before they came home I "cat" proofed the house by putting up breakable treasures out of reach. I don't think they are as rambunctious as kittens but they are still cats. I expect they will want to laze in the window and am glad the window ledge is wider than normal. Its not as wide as the breeders house so they will have to adapt their laying down so they don't fall off.
Their names arrived as Zeus and Abby and they are registered with these names. However all my animals have Hispanic names and am thinking bout changing them. One suggestion for Zeus would be to say "Hey Zeus" which is the pronunciation for Jesus. I thought that pretty clever but when I have to write out his name for various paperwork people would confuse it for the son of GOD. *sign* For a male name I liked Benito and for the female I liked Julianna. I am on the fence about changing their names because of the registration (understand you can't change the registered name) and because it will probably be very confusing for them. I know they would adapt to the new names in time but I am still on the fence if I am actually going to change their names
Congratulations on the newcomers. I would start in a smaller space, your bedroom is a good home base, and then let them explore and expand while you are there. That way you know what things are safe and comfortable. I also would delay a food transition for some time, weeks to months.
Hi Jan,
At night the cats are confined in the master bedroom with their food/water/litter. It was suggested that during the day they should be let out to explore and adjust. Like you, I thought I should keep them in the bedroom for a bit then slowly give them more space. I don't worry about the upstairs which will end up being their domain but I was a tad bit worried about downstairs level because of my parrots and the dog. The parrots cages are very very large but like parrots they tend to flick and throw their food to their cage bottom and my floor. I worried about the cats "eating" parrot food until I learned the cats "help" mom by eating the toddlers toss offs off the floor. My parrots are fed a very nutritious diet so their messes if eaten by the dog or cats will not make them sick. The breeder has a blue and gold macaw so I don't have to worry about cat/parrot issues. They are use to those loud annoying animals that feed them. Both cats are too large to crawl into the pan area of cages. Bar spacing is to narrow for them to get into the cages. The dog is kenneled when no one is home and when someone is home she is out but does not have access to upstairs where I have the cats. If anything it will probably be Zeus that will go to her because he likes to play with dogs. The whole house was assessed for cat dangers and changes made for their arrival. (I had a variated spider plant taken out of house but rest is safe for them)
I am slowly changing their food because I don't like friskey's for long term. The breeder did have them on Nutro so this is why I am switching them back to it. I personally believe its a better food than friskeys and the breeder stated they should have no problems with going back on nutro however to help with digestive upsets I am doing this slowly. Right now they get 3/4 the breeder food (gave me a supply of the kitty fast food for them to transition with) and I bought the Nutro for them. Once I see their droppings are nice and firm and looking good I will give them a little bit of high quality wet food (nutro also) for a treat.
It is my hope that since my living environment is much more calm than the breeders that they will settle in quickly and the female's (Abby) personality will come out more. She did not really like the kids and dogs and preferred the company of the husband because he is currently working on the basement which is where she mostly spent her time. When the younger kids are gone she did come upstairs more often. When I met Zeus for the first time at the breeders house he sat in my lap very calmly and would not stop purring. He also would follow me to the bathroom and would come back to me for more lap time and pets. I groomed him and noticed he liked the attention and brushing and even let me clip his nails. I really like his laid back personality and this will be a plus with his adjustment. I find it interesting that it is Abby who is more adventureous who is the one that is suppose to be more independent with a confident regal queenly attitude. This gives me inspiration that she will be fine.
Even if Abby's personality does not change a whole lot the breeder thinks she will be a much happier cat in my more calm household. She is beautiful and just over a year and I put no expectations on her because I am committed to giving her my home until she passes. I am honored to be able to supply this regal queen Sheba a forever home. With Zeus I just could NOT resist him.
When the cats discover something they should not, it is better if someone is there. There is plenty of time for them to explore while someone is there and there is no rush about it. It is also an opportunity for them to more closely bond with each other, which is stimulated in a smaller space. (I understand they are already friends, but shared experience increases the bonds and, because of different rates of adjustment, one may go off from the other if given more space.)
Congrats and welcome! I think it's great that you got them as a pair since they already new each other. As far as zoo's go... 5 animals is still way easier than 5 kids! LOL I wish you the best.
Congrats to your new family members
I sure hope we'll get pics soon
