I am fostering the kittens while my friend is away for 1 yr or so.
My cats met them yesterday and they don't like them.
2006-09-05 03:22:18 · 6 answers · asked by LAUGHING MAGPIE 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
It's entirely normal for your resident cats to dislike the 2 "intruders" to their territory. The good news is that your 10 month old cats and these 4 month old cats are all still "kittens". 10 months is still an easily adaptable age. If your cats were 10 years old, I'd be giving you totally different advice. One thing to recognize is that the behavior is normal and that it takes time for acceptance and adjustment. I would give it a full month. Kittens are not very threatening so it's unlikely that a dominance match will ensue. Just be sure that you allow your cats to hiss and growl to their heart's content because they are simply communicating to these little kittens that this is THEIR turf and that they better behave themselves if they don't want trouble. And don't worry, the hissing and growling will lessen over time and eventually cease altogether. The only time you should intervene is if things get physical. And always, remove the aggressor, never the target. And realize the aggressor is not always the one being verbal. If you cannot tell who the agressor is, don't punish any of them. Simply separate them all or knock both fighters on their side in submission to YOU. In doing so, you are communicating your disapproval and YOUR dominance. Kittens can be a general pain in the butt, they have 2 speeds...on & off and they will drive your older kittens nutso. But I predict but they will also play and snuggle together happily in time. Good luck!
2006-09-05 03:40:46 · answer #1 · answered by Alleycat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're not going to like them right away. I don't think I've ever seen or heard of a cat accepting another on its turf right off the bat. It takes time. Your cats are still young, and so are the kittens, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get them used to each other. Just monitor their interaction to ensure the kittens aren't harmed by your cats, and let them work out territory on their own. Remember that older cats tend to at least tolerate kittens fairly easily, given enough time to adjust. You'll want to keep them in separate rooms while you're away or sleeping, just to be on the safe side....and just until you're absolutely sure they're all ok with each other.
Good luck!
2006-09-05 03:26:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No cat or cats like ANY intruder in their territory. Your little group should work things out rather quickly. The older guys will bop the kittens around a bit to show them who's boss and it shouldn't get too serious.
Just monitor their interactions for a while to make sure that the older ones aren't using their size and strength to make the kittens' lives miserable.
2006-09-05 03:26:32 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if you just hold the kittens the other cats will get interested and sniff them and accept them.
2006-09-05 03:24:54 · answer #4 · answered by Karrien Sim Peters 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Time. (If anything.) Cats are VERY territorial.
2006-09-05 03:27:34 · answer #5 · answered by jessiekatsopolous 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
just introduce them slowly thats what i did to my cats it works!! they play and hang out
2006-09-05 03:29:17 · answer #6 · answered by amandacupcake 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋