My husband got me a 10week old female kitten about 2 weeks ago. We have kelp her in a spare bedroom since then. We let her out every day so my 5 yr. female cat can get use to her smell. My older cat, JoJo, doesn't like the kitten at all. The kitten was raised with cats so all she wants to do with JoJo is play. The kittn will chase her and JoJo will run away and hiss and growl at her. A friend of the family told me that i need to keep the kitten out all the time even when no one is home and at night, but I'm afraid that JoJo will hurt the kitten. I know it takes time for them to get along, but its difficult to keep an eye on them all the time.
2006-09-01 03:47:06 · 12 answers · asked by bjksbaby 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
The new kitten is an "intruder" and as with all intruders, they need to prove themselves either friend or foe. So, this kitten is a threat to your other cat. Make sure they have separate boxes in different rooms, along with their food dishes too. Don't show a lot of attention to the little one in front of the older cat, it will become jealous and resentful.
Introduce them slowly for small amounts of time. It will take a while and you should keep an eye on them. You don't want to have the older cat hurting the kitten. It takes different amounts of time for different cats. My cats warmed up slowly but became very loving eventually and there was a bigger age distance than yours.
2006-09-01 03:52:55 · answer #1 · answered by MadforMAC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Instead of keeping them together all the time (your instincts are right), try keeping the kitten in the bedroom for several days. This will give JoJo some time to decompress. After a few days, let the kitten out and immediately give them both something super yummy - sardines, catnip, tuna, etc. Give JoJo attention when the kitten is around, don't give her much attention when the kitten isn't there.
If the kitten is bothering JoJo and not responding to JoJo's warnings, put the kitten in a timeout. Put her in another room for just 30 seconds or so. Praise her when she is being polite to JoJo. With repetition she should understand that she shouldn't be so rough.
A product called Comfort Zone may help JoJo to relax. It uses a synthetic pheromone to make cats more comfortable. Most pet stores sell it.
2006-09-01 10:54:27 · answer #2 · answered by melissa k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your cat will warm up to the kitten, but leaving it out unsupervised might not be the best idea. They may not ever become best friends, but you don't have to like everyone you meet either. They say that after cats are two years old, they are not very receptive of meeting other cats/kittens, as they view them as competition or a threat to their domain. Since Jojo is five, she may not ever become "litter mates" with the new kitten. One thing you have to be sure of, is the you reassure Jojo that the new kitten is not a threat and make sure you give Jojo lots of attention (positive reinforcement) and don't punish her if she acts like a cat should. The hissing and growling may sound bad, but it's also helping the new kitten to learn where she belongs in the hierarchy. While we have to remember that cats are not kids (even thought we may love them like they were) they do have the mommy and daddy brought home a new baby issues that a child would on top of the wild kingdom issues.
2006-09-01 11:07:04 · answer #3 · answered by amandapanda74 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a pet carrier where the two cats can see and smell one another without actually being able to swat at or bite each other, I would try bringing the kitten out in the kennel and allowing the two to see each other and get used to the smell so the older cat can associate the smell with this kitten. It worked for me, I had two older cats and I brought in a kitten and I had a carrier that was made with chicken wire, so it was very narrow. There were still a couple of weeks where they weren't "chummy," but generally they got along. Now they're all friendly.
2006-09-01 12:51:19 · answer #4 · answered by JenV 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the older cat may view the newcomer as an ... "outsider" it may take her a while because she is so old and cant adapt as well as a kitten... i would suggest letting them see each other more often, but when Jojo has enough, take the kitten away or play with her yourself. its also possible Jojo is jealous. but definitely DO NOT leave the two alone! you could definitely have to bring one to the vet.
2006-09-01 11:46:39 · answer #5 · answered by Kitty_Gurl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should go to www.littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article on "Cat to Cat Introductions. It includes many of the suggestions you have gotten here and it's all in one place in a well-written article.
I would really try the spirit essences she mentions in the article too. They are only $16.95, no shipping or handling or tax. They are mailed to you with instructions as to use. You can just put them on the cat's fur between her ears. The kitten doesn't need to be treated. and do that too if you want.
This is inexpensive, easy to use, and will help your older cat make a less stressful adjustment to the kitten. So that her "trials" in dealing with the little monster don't affect her permamently.
2006-09-01 12:54:30 · answer #6 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that you should let them sort it out by themselves really, obviously, keep an eye out for severe bullying. My cats have been together for 3 years now, but still sometimes fall out and fight horribly, but when I put them together for the first time, I kept the kitten in her carry cage so that the older cat could approach her safely and get a good smell of her, you could try this a few times and see how it goes. They will work it out eventually.
2006-09-01 10:52:51 · answer #7 · answered by rami #1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is normal. I wouldn't worry about it. Most adult cats will hiss, growl, and get angry but they don't (generally) try to kill a kitten. They just need to teach the kitten to respect their space.
Unless I saw the adult cat persuing the kitten everywhere, i'd just turn them both loose in the home together.
2006-09-01 10:53:30 · answer #8 · answered by Funchy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have gotten several kittens over the year and had to have older cats adjust. I just let them be with eachother. The sooner the better. If you keep doing it part time, they never get used to eachother. My kitten played with my cat after one day.
2006-09-01 10:50:27 · answer #9 · answered by Elizabeth 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
THIS IS NORMAL FOR YOUR CAT TO DO THIS THE KITTEN IS INVADING ON TO THE CATS TERRITORY AND she is letting her know about it will take care of it self and soon will be friends
thank you
2006-09-01 11:48:24 · answer #10 · answered by cooks delight 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋