bringing a stray into our home

Question
Hi Lisa,
I have two Golden's and one cat that I had adopted last January. She is about a year old and happy and content. I had a stray come to our door yesterday. She looks to be about 2 months old or so. and is a female she is skin and bones. My cat Alley is a female and is very upset that we have brought this cat in. She spent the night and is not afraid of our dogs or our cat. Alley how ever is not taking this very well. They have not fought but Alley is mad at us and will not go near the little stray. I am taking the stray to the vet in the morning. Do you think Alley will acept this new cat. I am feeling really guilty about wrecking her world but I need to give this liitle cat a good home. How long will it take for her to be accepted and do you think it will work.

Answer
ok the problem is probably that the new baby stinks.

here is what you need to do. go buy a small bottle of baby shampoo, yes human baby shampoo, and also buy an empty bottle with a lid. then pour half the shampoo into the empty bottle and then fill both bottles with water. this is a shampoo for cats now. we use this watered down baby shampoo because it removes the dirt and odors from the cat but does not remove the oil from their skin. this oil is a vital part of their immune system. now you give that baby a bath.

now i know you are thinking im crazy and that you dont want to get scratched up by the baby, but if you do it right, you wont get scratched up at all. first of all, the baby will try to fight when you first start soaking it with warm water, but then once it is totally wet it will give up and hopefully just sit there. if not, you put your hand on its chest just above its front legs, it will push and push, but not be able to go anywhere. DO NOT, put shampoo on it head or face, this gives a feeling of drowning. use a warm wet washcloth to wipe the face and head, rinse with warm water and dry the baby vigourously. then turn the baby loose and watch her run! she will lick and lick and lick till she is dry. this will take the odor away and the older cat will be more likely to accept the baby in a week or two.

good luck!