New Kitten in the house?

Question

Ok My mother rescued this 6 wk kitten that was going to be left in a parking lot(in 100 degree weather in Lousiannia no less) , the problem is we have 2 dogs (age 5 and 10 )and a 18 year old simease cat that we already have in the house. I want to keep the kitten so does my mother, my dad is undesided he says the cat needs to leave but he is bonding with it too. the question is how do I get the other animals to bond with it? Should we even try if we are not sure she is going to stay, we are sorta trying to find her a good home where she can be a housecat, she likes to cuddle, she really is a sweet kitten, but she is afraid of our animals, she keeps hissing.

BTW the other animals are also upset about it too, will it ever calm down

Answer 1

Introducing a new kitten or a cat into a household needn't be a trying experience for either the kitten or adoptive parent. Felines are most likely to adapt to new living arrangements and homes with or without resident pets if a few precautions are taken. No single plan will work equally well for all cats due to their different nature (each kitten may differ in breed, personality, early experience, etc). Added to this, the same kitten may react differently to two different living situations (some homes are smaller, noisier, and more crowded than other homes). However, kittens are most likely to successfully adapt to a new home, with less stress, if the following arrangements can be made prior to introducing the cat.
1.Find a room the kitten can use as its "home-base" for the next several days. The room should have a door, or some other way to "privatize" the room and kitten from the more active hustle and bustle of daily living (including infants and other pets).
2.In a corner opposite the door, place the kitten's litter box, preferably with sandy, clumping-type litter. If the kitten has already established a preference for a different type litter, use it.
3.In a separate corner, or as far away from the litter box as possible, place fresh water and food. You may wish to place a plastic carpet runner beneath both the feeding area and the litter box for purposes of cleaning.
4.Select another corner (or area away from the litterbox) for kitty to sleep; you will probably have to change this location to Kitty's self-proclaimed sleeping area later (how many kittens actually sleep where you want them to?), but that's okay.
5.Place the kitten in the room with you, with the door closed. ALLOW THE KITTEN TO DISCOVER WHERE EVERYTHING IS. DO NOT take the kitten to the various locations. DO NOT place the kitten in the litter box. You may wish to place a little soiled litter (from the kitty's previous home) in the box so it can tell where its supposed to go.
6.Be passive. Allow the kitten to discover the room's strong points, like window ledges to look out of, a comfortable couch or bed, tables to jump up on, and anything else in the room that might be used as an "escape route," should one be needed (from the kitten's point of view)
7.You may wish to leave the kitten by itself when it appears its ready to take a nap, or when kitty appears relaxed and confident in its new surroundings. If kitty chooses to nap in your lap, consider yourself lucky. Of course, you can always try to place kitty in the sleeping area you've selected, and then leave the room.
8.Your new companion animal will let you know when its ready to take on the rest of the house. Its important that you allow the kitten to do this at its own speed. A cracked door just large enough for kitty to enter or exit from its room is a good starting place.
9.Keep other pets and family members from kitty's room. Introductions to these individuals should be well controlled. Again, allow the kitten to approach and withdraw (back to its room if necessary) from people or other pets that remain passive. You'll need to control "The Dog" -- Kitty will eventually establish the house rules with "The Dog, but young felines will need help at first.
10.Once Kitty has become familiar with its new home and household members, you'll become aware of its preference for playing, eating, sleeping and other activities. At this point (anywhere from a few hours to a few days), you may begin to gradually change the location of the litter box and food bowl to areas preferred by both you and Kitty (hopefully the same areas!)
IN GENERAL: The litter box should always be placed away from other motivationally important areas, such as sleeping, feeding, and playing areas. The box should be placed in an area that affords the kitten both PRIVACY and ESCAPE POTENTIAL. NEVER punish the Kitty for missing the box by rubbing its nose in it, shaking it, or placing it in the box while upset (you or the kitty). In stead, think about what might have made the box an unattractive place to use, and what made the "wrong" place a more attractive location, from Kitty's point of view. Make the necessary changes. Call your local certified animal behaviorist if you think your kitten needs professional help!

Answer 2

Deal first with whether you're gonna keep her. If not find a good home and that will be that. But if you keep her, the important part is introduction. The kitten should first be introduced by smell. Take items that the kitten is wrapped in...like a blanket and let the other animals smell it first. Let the kitten do the same. Take he/she to places in the house where your 18 year old cat sleeps, etc. After the smelling, then hold kitten up while in the presence of the older cat, let them check each other out from there, then allow them to meet on their own through the house. The greet/meet would be better. The dogs would be easier if they are already used to 18 year cat. Use the same smell, see from afar technique on them and they'll be cool. Try to distribute affection evenly to all animals so they don't get jealous. Feed older cat first.....its a territory thing. Oh and little kitty will adjust well (like stop hissing), after using this techique.

Answer 3

Make sure your dogs don't feel left out or jealous. You or you mom, who ever plays with the dogs the most might sit down with the dogs while the other one brings the kitten in close. Then you can let them sniff each other being sure to give the dogs plenty of praise for looking but not being too rough. If your animals do accept kitty and you find her a new home in a couple of weeks they won't be heartbroken. It will be more like they had a houseguest for a while. I introduced a kitten after my dog had been an only animal for approx a year and they became best friends. Since a 6 week old kitty is still clumsy, probably should not leave them alone until she's old enough to jump to safety if she needs to.

Answer 4

It is great that your mom rescued the kitten and very good that you are trying to find a home for the kitten. In the meantime I have had success introducing new kittens or dogs into my other animals by giving a lot of attention to the older animals so they don't see the new kitten as a threat to losing your attention still giving the new kitten attention also. If all the animals get your attention then they will usually adjust to each other. Also don't let the older animals get away with intimidation of the new kitten--as long as they know that you do not approve of that behavior they should quit because they want to please you. Hang in there, hope this helps, good luck

Answer 5

The kitten should be introduced to the others carefully. The adult cat should adjust to the kitten the easiest, although at first it may hiss at the kitten. Adult cats usually recognize that it's just a kitten and will take care with it. I had an adult cat & brought home a kitten. The kitten was so playful it used to chase the adult cat around the house - the adult cat actually ran from the kitten! Then they would wrestle and tussle a bit but after a while they got along just fine - best buddies!!

Answer 6

I had a dog that hated cats. I brought a kitten home in a carrier, and my dog attacked it. I got a water pistol and every time the dog attacked the carrier, i would squirt him. A little later, I let the cat out and kept it in my lap on the couch. Whenever my dog would come over to kill the kitten, he got another squirt. Pretty soon he got the message and within a couple of days, he learned to peacefully coexist with the kitten, even letting it climb on him. Dogs HATE water guns, because they dont know where its coming from. Works every time, for everything with dogs!

Answer 7

Start out by keeping her in a seperate room, and then slowly letting everyone adjust to the new family member. You'll probably have some catfights at first, but they'll get over it. Just make sure the kitten is big enough to handle herself before you leave her alone with the other critters.

Answer 8

Lots of good answers here...

Introduce them slowly, don't leave them alone together. Usually in time they will bond, probably first the older cat, but then the dogs as well (cats normally "rule").

Most important, aside from safety, is to give your current animals LOTS of praise and attention so they don't feel as though your little newcomer is a threat to your loyalty to them.

I personally would take the extra time and effort to keep this new little one, but only if you can assure his safety.

Good Luck! :-)

Answer 9

They will all get used to each other if you do keep the cat...but they may never like each other. I have had a dog for over 2 years now, and my cat still hates him. If you want the cat keep it...it will all work itself out.

Answer 10

you must get her away from teh other animals!! designate a room where NO OTHER animal goes into but her. dont let her out and dont let the others in. do this for a aslong as it takes. the cat and dogs will smell her on you and get use to her. and they'll hear her in your room, aswell as try to get to her under the door. but dont let them get to her. she'll be fine in your room for a few months or so and then introduce her to the pets slowly. mainly by carrying her as you walk thru the house. so they can see her. GOOD LUCK