introducing new kitten to older cat

Grimbal

We re-homed Maise, a 2 year old tabby a couple of months ago. She's settled in very well, sociable but not interactive & very much an out doors cat

last Thursday, we brought home Smudge (F) a 9 week old rescue. Smudge is already at home, completely fearless & already has us fully trained.

Maisie is completely unimpressed. Most days she now only goes in the rooms Smudge doesn't. when we do keep them in the same room together (with feliway on), she hisses & growls. These are getting less intensity every time we do this, so we're hoping that things will improve

Any hints on what we can do to help the transition? We've done the introduce-the-cat-to-an-empty-but-cat-smelling-room, but Maisie just runs straight out !

ETA: sorry, not valid thread without photos:


Maisie:


Smudge:

antw23uk

Firstly they both look beautiful

Ideally the introduction would have been slower but at the end of the day you have two queens, being tabby and tortie .... These two might NEVER get on!

I wouldnt try and keep them in the same room, its just making it worse, they just need time to adjust and decide if they are going to tolerate each other.

You could try some catnip time to get them both a little stoned and then use some toys on a string or lazer pen to get them playing together but dont put any pressure on and if that doesnt work dont push it further but maybe try at a later stage.

We have two boys with a two year age gap and sometimes the eldest still hisses and growls at the other one but then sometimes they are playing or grooming each other. Peace rarely lasts long in our house

Grimbal

that's a great idea about getting them playing together - many thanks as I wouldn't have thought of that. If they can just tolerate each other, I'd be happy. I feel so guilty that Maisie is obviously feeling a bit pushed out from her own home, I do hope she learns that there is space for them both with us

caz2003uk

Awww they are both gorgeous and smudge looks so cute in that picture!!

Fire_Fox

Perhaps you are rushing things? Generally the new cat stays in one room or a couple of rooms for the first week or so, then scent swapping progressing to switching rooms progressing to being in the same room takes place slowly over another week or more. You seem to have gone from first meeting to white wedding in four days!