Need help with a cat and a kitten to get along?

Question

I have a one year old male cat and just got a 7 week kitten also male how long will it take for the both of them to get along? Or what can i do to help

Answer 1

The kitten is just a baby.. they should be introduced SLOWLY. I kept my new kitty in the bathroom for about a week before she was allowed out full time. I brought her out a few times a day for a little bit at a time. Now all four run amok together with no problems.
While the new one was in the bathroom the others woud come up to the door, or peek in when I went in and out.

Be sure the cats both have thier own dishes to eat from and you may need a second litter box.
Good Luck

Answer 2

I would try keeping the kitten in a separate room (especially when they are home alone) so that the kitten will start getting familiar with all the new smells around him - at least for the first couple of weeks. Also make sure that you give your older buddy a lot of special attention so that he knows he's still loved. I have a male cat who has "raised" many kittens and is very patient with them, but this took some time. Is your older cat neutered? That too will help. Only allow them to interact under supervision so that they don't pick on eachother until they are buddies. Best wishes!

Answer 3

Cats are territorial, especially males. What I would suggest is, keep them apart. I mean, let them get acquainted with each other through a closed door. You older cat has to get used to the new cat's smell and understand that the kitten is no threat to his territory. You do not want to put them together in one room because the older cat will hurt the little one!!! Do not punish the older cat for growling or hissing at the kitten or he will obtain a negative perception toward you and the kitten and then it will take a very long time for them to get used to each other. Remember, cats have a short term memory. Keep them in separate rooms until you are gone, and let them out when you are home, that way you will make sure that the little one will not get hurt. Give it a week and you will be happy with the results.
Hint: try giving them can food in the same place in different plates (like for ex. in the kitchen in different corners, so that they can see each other)!!!
Good luck

Answer 4

Rules to follow for the adjustment of your new kitty:

1. Have a special room prepared for the new addition. This room should have no hiding places. Do not use a laundry room or bedroom. Kitty will hide from you. A bathroom or a large empty walk in closet is best. Have all the necessities in that room, litter box, food and water. I used the covered litters boxes manufactured by Pet Mate. You can buy an extra pan allowing you to quickly change the litter box while the used one can soak in disinfectant.

2. Place Kitty in the chosen room and leave the room, close the door and stay away for awhile. (suggestion one hour)

3. Return to the room, tip toe in and speak to the Kitty in a soft tone. Sit down, continue speaking. Use the Cat teaser cats usually respond favorably to it. If Kitty is feeling confident it will approach, if not after ten/fifteen minutes leave the room and try again later .

4. Repeat this step with every member of the family over the next several days. Eventually Kitty will want to play and be petted. Other household pets should be introduced after kitty is comfortable with people. Kitty may not eat or drink too much at first because this is stressful!

5. Do not rush this part! After several days and up to one week for some, Kitty will become more confident and begin to interact with the family. If all goes well, it is time to leave the room and leave the door OPEN. This allows Kitty to investigate at its own pace. Close the doors to other unnecessary rooms, but leave the kitty access to the bathroom. Just give Kitty a little space not the whole house for the next week or so. Once Kitty is acclimating, you can move Kitty's box and food dishes to their permanent areas.

Answer 5

It usually takes four or five days minimum for cats to come around with a new cat in the house. This doesn't mean they will get along immediately, but they won't be so territorial and hiss at each other so much. With a kitten, it should be easier - but adult cats can find them a bit annoying. The fact that your cat is only one year old is a good thing - as his energy level will be higher and he'll more likely want to play with the kitten as it gets older. Don't be surprised though if he gets annoyed at times. One thing I would urge you to do - if you haven't had it done - is make sure your cat is neutered. The male cat (the older one) could start spraying over territory issues if he hasn't been neutered. Don't try to do anything to make them get alone - that might actually exacerbate things - just let nature take its course and they'll find they're groove. Like humans - cats don't always like other cats - and sometimes need time to grow on one another - or they might just hit it off right away - but they ALWAYS have a breaking in period for a number of days - this is just their natural instincts. Just make sure that you give them BOTH equal attention. Your male cat will need a lot of reassurance that he is still important to you guys and that he hasn't been replaced. If you get the kitty toys - do something nice for the other cat - just make sure they both feel included in as much as you can do. I would also get a separate litter box for the kitten (this will help for territory issues) - and make sure your male cat has his own place to chill out - that the kitty can't get to. They both need to be treated with respect - you do that - and they'll be loyal and loving to you till the end of their days. Studies are now showing that animals DO have emotions and needs like human beings - they just express them differently. What you can do is tune into your cats emotionally - look for their signals (and they'll show you over time) and do what you can to make sure they feel heard (by your actions) and respect them.

Answer 6

Let them sort things out. There will be hissing and spitting for a while, but they will come to terms. The worst thing you can do is interfere and seemingly show favoritism to one over the other. As long as the older one doesn't have a death grip on the baby, let them be. Right now, I have 3 adult male cats and am fostering 2 3 mo old kittens (I have had them for 6 weeks now), and it took about 2 weeks for them all to get the pecking order straight.

Answer 7

Leave them alone in a closed room & let them spend time together. Once you notice that the younger cat feels safe around the other, then you don't have to keep them in the closed room together anymore. & don't give the kitten more attention! It tends to happen that way, but if you do the old cat will become remorseful since it was there first. So be fair with affection & time.

Answer 8

Separate them with a baby gate or something like that. They will eventually stop fighting. If they start fighting after you let them together again try this a few more times. If they are still fighting try to change little things like feeding them separately at the same time, playing with them both at the same time, and other little things like that. The adult may be jealous of the kitten or the other way around. Just make sure they feel equal.

Answer 9

hmm...well, u should stop jealousy by putting the new kitten in a room for a week and NOT LETTING IT OUT! of course go in 2 play with it and give it food and water and litter. at about 3 hour intervals, u should put your resident kitty by the door and call the new kitty, so they can grow accustomed to each others smell, without seeing each other. why? b/c cats go by 1st impressions. and if their first impression is spitting and hissing at each other, they will most likely not get along. so if they get used to each other's smell without that image of spitting and hissing, then it is the righ ttime to let the younger kitty out, to meet the resodent kitty face to face.

Answer 10

It will take a couple of weeks maybe. My big cat was horrible to my little one when we brought her home. We kept her locked up in a carrier when we were out because we were scared of what she might do to her. But they love each other now.