How will my cat react?

Question

Our cat Morris is 15months old, my son is almost 4 and dotes on him. Me and my partner have decided to get another kitten to join him. A boy, how do you think Morris will react? Is there a certain way to introduce them? I don't want Morris to hate him i'd like them to be friends.

Kind of regretting not having 2 to begin with but we couldn't afford it.

Beginning to think this is a bad bad bad idea :(

Answer 1

Some shelters and petstores will have an area you can take your cat to to introduce your cat and the new kitten. Otherwise, first make sure that you inform whoever it is that you're not sure how your cat will react. Most have a policy of how long before you can return the feline. They may have some tips on how to introduce them as well. A good way that I've used is take both cats into the same room. This will be the kitten's room for a while. This helps the kitten get used to the new place, and you can let the other cat in to check out what's going on if he wants to. Make sure you're around every time the cats are in the same room. But in first introduction, introduce the kitten in a carrier so that you don't have to break up a fight if Morris decides the new kitten will be a threat. If he acts alright, let the kitten out of the carrier and let Morris inspect him more. Just keep up the gradual introductions. If it looks like Morris is getting used to him little by little, you're probably fine. If he overreacts at any point in the introduction, it might not be a good idea to keep the kitten.

Most older cats will take a new kitten under his or her wing. Don't worry too much if the older cat growls a little in warning or bats at the kitten once in a while. He's just portraying that he's alpha. If he avoids the kitten at all costs, and attacks or hisses at the kitten, then he's probably not going to get used to the kitten.

Answer 2

OK, introducing cats to each other is a tricky business. It is best to keep the kitties separated completely for the first week to ten days. During this time, exchange bedding and toys between the two cats. That will allow Morris to get used to the new kitten's scent.

Then, start gradual interaction. Try putting Morris in his carrier and allow the kitten to explore the house (and Morris) in safety. Continue this for brief periods every day until Morris stops hissing and adopts a more positive attitude toward the "intruder."

After that, start brief SUPERVISED interaction. The fact that you're getting a kitten is a good thing. Most cats accept kittens more readily than adult cats. This whole process can take anywhere from two weeks to a month, but do NOT rush things. You could undo all the progress you made and have to start over.

Do not allow the kitties to be together unsupervised until you can observe non-aggressive behavior for several hours over a period of a few days.

A word of encouragement: I have a female Torti who is painfully timid and shy. I brought a male kitten home, thinking she would not be intimidated by a "baby." I was wrong. This little mitten of a thing drove her crazy--and this was after the above introductory period! One day, Tyler had her cornered behind the piano. She was terrified. She took one look at me, and one look at Tyler, and I heard this low pitched growl turn into a yowl and Tyler came flying out from behind the piano and shot upstairs. After that, he never really badgered her again. Now they're best buds.

If your kitten has some moxie and has been well socialized, he and Morris should become good friends.

Answer 3

They will probably be fine although there maybe some resentment from the older cat to begin with he will soon come round and enjoy the company. Just make sure that you all give Morris a lot of attention so he doesn't get jealous of the new kitten. When I was younger we had a lot of cats and never had any real problems introducing them because they were all loved and got attention.

Answer 4

If my experience is anything to go on, Morris will be furious and might leave home for a while. Why do you want another one now when your son loves him already and will be distracted by another kitten, thereby making Morris very unhappy and jealous and if it's a male kitten is likely to attack it! Just imagine how you'd feel if a stranger came into your home and took over your position of importance there. You're bound to make a fuss of a new kitten, it's impossible not to, and it might teach your child that it's "off with the old and on with the new", something which is a lot too prevalent these days.
I too, wish we had got another kitten when we first got the one we have now, but she was dumped behind our house at five months old by people who had presumably, got tired of her. (I'm not suggesting that you're like that) When my son came home for Christmas and brought his kitten with him, our cat went spare, hissed and spat and fled and didn't come back for several days. We were frantic and the kitten had to go to a house without a cat for the rest of the holiday! Sometimes I think it would be nice for her to have a feline friend to wreak havoc with when we're out! but it's too late, now she's not a kitten anymore.

Answer 5

more than likely, morris will not like the new kitty at first. a lot of times, if kittens are young, then they still smell like their mother, and other animals know that whenever there's a kitten, there's usually a mother close by so they won't tend to mess with them. just put the baby down on the floor and let morris come to it. don't force them to be friends. you have to let them do it on their own. morris will probably get his bluff in on the little one early, most adult (or older) cats do that so the younger ones know just exactly who the boss is around the house. chances are also that since he's still relatively young, he could take to the kitten and really be best friends from the start. either way though, they'll eventually be buddies. it just takes time, and since i don't know your cat morris, its hard for me to say just how hes going to take the new edition. good luck though and i hope this helps you out.

Answer 6

Will two tomcats get along even if they are fixed























Well you won`t know how they will react until you introduce them. Morris the 15 month may be alittle hesitant at first because he has been the main attraction all of this time..After they been around each other for awhile they may be best of play mates. This is a chance that you will have to take and see how it goes from there. Good Luck to you all and the 2 kittys!!!

Answer 7

Cats are typically territorial. It protects its home and family. In Morris' case he will try to "freak" the new kitten at first because it is a threat to him.Freaking out means that he will sniff and hiss at the new member. But as days or weeks will pass, eventually Morris will realize that the kitten is staying and he might consider the kitten family also.Good luck

Answer 8

They probably wont get along for the first few days. Morris will probably spend alot of time growling at the new kitten. But, once he figures out that the little guy isnt going away, Morris will realize he has a new friend AND he gets to be alpha male and all will be well.

Answer 9

I have to female cats 12 months apart. The still fight some times, though rarely, and get along well, not as well as siblings would but still you can't have everything. When you introduce the new kitten to Morris make sure you supervise it, pile love and attention on Morris as well as the kitten, and make sure that both have an area that the other can't get to if they want to retreat......

Good luck

Answer 10

We've always had unwanted cats which are free, and they make wonderful pets. Loocie is 7 years old and everytime we get a new kitten she totally ignores it . . . for life.

Soxx is three, and he takes every addition in his stride (apart from the dog). He tolerates Ted, but when we got Tilda a bandy-legged female, he got a new lease of life playing with her, until of course she got too rough.

As long as you fuss over Morris and give him loads of love, and in the beginning try and ignore the kitten when Morris is in the room or needs attention.