Introducing 2 Female Cats

Question
Hi...

I plan to move in with my fiancee very soon.  She has a female cat that is 9 years old.  I have a female cat that is 6 years old.  My fiancee's cat is very very moody.  You interact with her on her terms exclusively. I have never noticed her really playing or having fun.  I think the previous owner abused her. Perhaps due to getting up there in age. Sometmes she will become angry when we try to move her from a chair so we can sit. She will greet you in the morning with hello meows and roll on her back.   

My cat is very friendly and affectionate.  She sleeps with me at night and curls up under my chin.  She comes to you when you call her.  She is like a dog.  She will fetch a ball and return it.  She loves to play. She bumps into everything while playing.  She is very tough.  I'm wondering if WWIII will break out when we finally try to introduce the two of them.  My fiance's cat has her front claws declawed.  My cat has all her claws.  

Any suggestions regarding how we should handle?

Thanks
Cheers
Ty  

Answer
Tyler,

I think that your fiancee's kitty is either a tad on the dominant side or excessively fearful. Either way such a cat can cause problems especially if you are considering having children. A cat that will not allow you to move it from a piece of furniture without a bit of a fight needs to be handled carefully. You may want to consult a behaviorist just to deal with the dominance or fear issues before someone gets hurt. I would also suggest that if the cats are not neutered that this is done before they meet.

As for the issue at hand I would think that introducing the cats in the standard manner should be okay. I would suggest that because your kitty will be new that you isolate her in one room of the new house with food, water, litter, a bed and a few toys. Don't forget about her though. Make sure that you both pay frequent visits to pay attention to her so that she doesn't feel as though she is being punished. I would suggest rotating the bedding between the cats so that they each get a chance to get used to each other's scent. After 2-3 weeks you will want to try very slow and well supervised interactions between the cats. If things start to get hairy remove the new cat so that she doesn't get hurt. In time the cats should learn to accept each other especially if treats, play and positive reinforcement are used to help these ladies become friends. I hope that this answers your question. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me again.