Cat wont accept new kitten

cla666

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone had any advice or tips.....

I have a female cat who is 1 and a half. As Im at work all day i thought it would be nice to get her a companion.

Yesterday I got an 8 week old kitten. We kept her in the bedroom for most of the day to allow her to get used to her surroundings. At night, we took her through to the living room and the older cat just sat repeatedly hissing at her and getting ready to pounce. We had to keep them seperate last night, with the kitten in the bedroom and the cat in the living room.

I knew they might not get on instantly but would anyone have any advice on how to make this a bit easier? Or is it just a case of time?

picklepick

It'll take time, literally weeks maybe a month or two.

Cats are territorial, they dont take kindly to another cat invading their territory. Even if it is only a little kitten.

Dont leave them together unsupervised until you are confident that the kitten has been accepted. My older cat tried to kill the kitten when we first got another. They now sleep together, groom each other and are totally in love. So dont be disheartened. It did take a few weeks though.

Keep introducing them slowly. Take some of the kittens bedding and add it to your older cats bedding and vice versa. So their scent is combining.

I highly recommend a Feliway plug in if you can afford one. The difference and calmness in my older cat was pretty much instant after we started using one.

You could try putting the kitten in a cage/cat carrier and letting the older cat sniff and get used to them being in the same room etc

cla666

Thanks, I was hoping I would find someone who had been in the same situation.

The older cat pretty much has the run of the place just now, last night she was shut out the bedroom which i dont think she appreciated very much. She is now in there with the lazy sleeping boyfriend while i introduce the kitten to the living room!

Yesterday when she was hissing and was acting very aggressive, my boyfriend flicked her on the nose. Whats your view on this? He said he was teaching her it was wrong. I feel that it may just give her more issues with the new cat. After all, she isnt doing anything wrong, just reacting to an intruder in her territory!

mozzyc

I agree, you need to give it time and be very patient and understanding to both their needs for now. It'll happen when they've got a bit more used to each other

McKneff

:eek:

Flick him on the nose, see how he likes it.

No, No, No. Its very wrong.

cla666

Thanks Mckneff, I thought so but thought i would check.

Ill be sure to flick him on the nose......with a closed fist! :-D

downshifter

Hurting the older cat will just associate the kitten with pain, she will never accept it! It's not wrong to hiss at an intruder, all her instincts teach her to keep an intruder at bay, its just survival, would your boyfriend hit you if you tried to protect your house/kids from a burglar? It's the same thing.

I've introduced cats to new kittens several times and it just takes loads and loads of time, the suggestions here will help but bit by bit they will get used to each other anyway. The kitten will take liberties for a while but they will come to tolerate each other, even if they never end up loving each other - I've had both of these scenarios. I would also suggest feeding them separately, making sure each has his/her own separate areas at first, they'll probably end up sharing bowls but at first it's important to make sure each has her own territory.

And you need to show your older cat lots and lots of love, not the opposite!! Go and flick your boyfriend on the nose (really hard!!) now while he's sleeping and get him out of that bed to make you a cup of tea.

DS

fran2491

iv been there done this a few times now hun it just takes time my newest addition had her since feb last year is still not 100% in the fold with my older female they still have there moments:eek: few tips

i found them having there own space to eat helped and gradually moved them closer until they were on the same tray took about a month.

make sure they both have there own bed i have 4 diff cat beds for them to pick from however my youngest girl tends to love my daughters bed :rotfl:

felliway diffusers and spray really are great a little pricey but defo worth it and hopefully will losen up you older girl i would use them for the first few months, i still use the spray every now and again.

thinking back to when i got my new girl home my older girl went mad,hissing and stroped off to bed just came down to eat and go out, after a few days of this the hissing stopped but if the kitten steped over the mark and got to close she started agan:o just keep at it and try not to focus all your attention on the new kitten as your older girl may feel left out

have fun hun im sure you girl will come round in the end and they will be best buds hehe:rotfl:

cla666

Thanks everyone

That was my thought with flicking her on the nose, that she hadnt done anything wrong and she would associate it with the kitten. I cant wait til he opens his eyes, how long before he goes in a childish strop when i sit flicking his nose going "but MSE guys told me too!!". Ill show him this forum so he doesnt do it again.

My older cats bed (a rather classy leopord print hooded bed!!!) went in the bucket as she wouldnt go near it for months. She has made a bed ontop of the wardrobe where she enjoys divebombing onto the bed from at hourly intervals during the night!!! but i will try her with another. Off to Pets at home today for more supplies

Thanks eveyone, was starting to get a little worried but guess it is just normal.

catswhiskers4

This is contrary to most advice, but I just stuck mine together and let them get on with it. My original cat hissed for about a day and then they worked it out between themselves. They now cuddle up together all the time and wash each other. Took them a few weeks to get to that stage though. I think it helped that the kitten was bold as brass and didn't show any fear.

podperson

Your older cat is going to take a while to get used to the kitten - took mine nearly 2 weeks to stop hissing at her and a few more weeks before they would sit together etc. but then they got on great. We found it helpful to put the kitten in the living room or kitchen for a bit but behind the fire guard (with food and toys etc.) so the older cat could see her and get used to her but couldn't go for her. If you don't have anything like this then maybe put her in a cat carrier or something for short periods. Also make sure your old cat gets lots of fussing so she doesn't see the kitten as taking all your attention away - mine was hilarious, if the kitten came to sit on my knee she would jump up and shove her off, eventually I would end up with both of them sprawled across me