Cat wont accept new kitten

dizziblonde

Hell hath no fury like a moggy in a sulk. Mine's still grouchy over the dog being brought in, but curiosity's starting to kick in - but that's taken pushing toward a month to get to that point.

With kittens she's been more accepting - hissing, spitting, then sidling up and using them as stump rests.

Give it time - make sure veteran mog doesn't feel pushed out by the new arrival, expect a bit of hissing and tails like a loo brush, gradually it'll die down to a very half-hearted "I feel like I should be doing this but really can't be bothered" level and make sure encounters are supervised until you're sure it's all OK.

Phyzelda

I'm in the exact boat, only difference is mine are starting to bond.

On Monday we got a 9 week old kitten to keep our 16month cat company, due to the lost of her sister who had been ill all her life.

We have a very large dog cage and we've turned it into his "safe-room", basically he (the kitten) is in the cage whilst we are at work and whilst we slept. He's let out for an hour at lunch.

We decided as the whole house was Jazz's (old cat) we didn't want to shut her out, this way she's been able to see him in the cage, talk to him through it and follow him and play with him when he's out.

Has your cat always been on her own?

Our had only been alone for just over 3 weeks, but she'd always been used to the company and never ever been on her own. she wasnt coping, hence getting the kitten so soon

McKneff

Pick (no pun intended) your moment and wait till he has just fallen asleep and then watch the tears fall from his eyes..........

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

How i wish I could be a fly on the wall.............:D

bethie

i did a lot of brushing one straight after the other.. and then back again to help them get used to the scents. (9ish yr old boy introduced to a 2 yr old female- boy had always been indoors).


We also started off with both fed in the kitchen but one on the counter and one on the table, and eventually moved them closer to each other. (floor eating isnt an option with the dog!).

we also go the feliway plug in as well.

its been almost 5 months, and although i doubt they will ever be 'cuddly' with each other, my boy seems to really like having his new girlfriend around. they follow each other around the house and silently wrestle with each other (too much noise attracts the dog). a few times i have caught them in the same bed, but the boy is certainly not imprssed by this turn of events...

i think he has even lost weight from chasing her so much!


first few days was a hiss fest - girl hissing at the dog, boy hissing at the girl, and the dog thinking 'amazing! i now have two cats at home!'

things are mostly settled down - boy never hisses, girl only hisses at dog when she feels the dog is a bit too friendly with her... or, when she thinks the dog is trying to nick her food!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I have two nearly 12 year old cats and acquired another castoff some 4 years ago.

One cat took herself off into the wardrobe and refused to come out for a week (but it did take her 3 days to come out when I brought DD home when she was born ). The other one thought 'great, next door's maltreated fluffball is here for me to bundle. Bargain!'. The first hissed at her regularly for months.

Last night, old girl and fluffball were snoring together on the armchair. Couldn't tell where one started and the other one stopped.


If it's happening in six months' time, it's unusual. In another week, perfectly normal.

cla666

Thanks guys, so much great advice :-D

The older cat is in the bedroom just now, Cant seem to let the kitten just roam about cos the cat just hisses at her. Its only day 3 tho so hopefully it gets better

tanith

I had this scenario over 20yrs ago and it never resolved itself.. they eventually stopped hissing and baring teeth at each other but spent 20yrs affectively ignoring each other if they got too close by accident the hissing and teeth would start again . The older cat passed away last year but the 'kitten' is still with us.. so hopefully your two will settle down eventually but they may never actually 'like' each other but thats ok..

Candy_Belle

Hi

It's totally normal, we introduced our new kitten to older cat (4 1/2 year age gap) who proceeded to hiss,spit and stalk the kitten. It's really a matter of time, older cat always got extra love and attention - it's hard but they will settle ours took about a month or so to settle down - now they chase each other round the house, share food and treats and share the same spot on the bed for naps! Older cat will even wash the kitten and searches the house for her when she wants to play - had the kitten now for 2 1/2 yrs and they would'nt be without each other.

Have faith, they will be friends x

ERICS_MUM

Aaahhh, what a lovely thread thank you. I'm now going upstairs to have a cat-nap with my moggie Eric (he sleeps at the foot of my bed !).

geri1965_2

tanith wrote: »

I had this scenario over 20yrs ago and it never resolved itself.. they eventually stopped hissing and baring teeth at each other but spent 20yrs affectively ignoring each other if they got too close by accident the hissing and teeth would start again . The older cat passed away last year but the 'kitten' is still with us.. so hopefully your two will settle down eventually but they may never actually 'like' each other but thats ok..

My two female cats were like this for 13 years until the first one died. I think it depends on the personalities of the cats involved. In November we got another cat, but I was very careful to chose a cat who was described as timid, and now he and my remaining female cat get on like a house on fire (I think it also helped that he was of the opposite sex, and much younger, so not seen as such a rival).