My Older cat does not like a new kitten, seems scared?

Question

I have a 6 year old female cat, she is spayed. A few weeks ago possibly a month I brought home a 6 week old kitten. After a week or 2 my dog was fine with it but my older cat just growls at the cat and hisses because the little one chases her around (I assume trying to play) My older cat stands her grounds for a while then runs outside. How should I help them start getting along? Am I doing anything wrong and if so what? The kitten isnt spayed.

Answer 1

i had the exact same situation. I would suggest DO NOT force them to be close to each other. When they are fighting or growling at each other, don't freak out or yell, it will just excite them more and freak em out, just let them growl and sniff. Only break them up if they are for real brawling. Feeding them in separate rooms or corners is a good idea too, they shouldn't feel like they are competing w/ each other. ALSO, this sounds weird and gross, but I know it works w/ dogs... hold the younger one backwards in front of the older one for a while and let it sniff the younger ones behind. Other than that stuff, just be patient,I think it took my kitties over a year to stop hissing all the time at eachother :O

Answer 2

Anytime you introduce another animal to your cat, there's gonna be some "getting used to" time. The older the cat, the longer it'll take. You say you've had your cat for 6 years, so bringing in your new kitten has interrupted your cat's 6 years of routine. I'd also bet that when you're not around, your adult cat is a little more lax around the kitten. For some reason I've noticed that cats act totally different when we arent around. I just saved 3 kittens and brought them home to my cat. Every time we'd walk into the room we'd see our cat sniffing the kittens or swatting playfully at them, but once we were spotted she'd hiss or run off. You may also notice your cat watching the kitten intently when she's playing with the dogs or going near you and your family. She's just making sure the kitten isnt out to hurt you. My cat guards my fish from the kittens...its too cute!

Answer 3

I had this same problem. Except both were spayed. I would get that kitten spayed as soon as possible. This could cause problems.

My cat didn't like the kitten. The tiny kitten came in and was bossing my full sized cat around. The cat turned out to be the less dominant of the two cats. The kitten grew up and is still smaller but dominant. It took them awhile to adjust but now they sleep together and play. I would slowly start forcing them to spend more time together (over months) and watch their interaction. Eventually they will associate each other with their home and safety.

My cat hid under the bed and pooped in my closet when I first got the kitten. I had to move a second litter, food, and water into my bedroom for a few months until she adapted. When I took them to the vet in separate carriers, they climbed into one carrier together on the table to get away from the vet (who had just clipped their nails and given them shots). Then, after that, I started locking them in the bathroom at night together (with food, water, and litter) when they were playing too loud at night (the apartment was very small). Now, they sleep next to each other and get very upset if they can't find each other (our new place is huge). It just takes time.

Answer 4

I have a similar concern. My six year old female spayed cat did not get along at all with my mom's 15 year old female spayed cat when we moved back home. The two would hiss and fight and after three years of living together, they never adjusted to each other. In all fairness, it was mostly my cat (who was 3 when we first got there). She wasn't used to other animals, so that is certainly a disadvantage. She acts the same way when my brother comes to stay for holidays and brings his cat overnight. However, you have the advantage of having a kitten who perhaps poses less of a threat to the adult kitty. I have seen many cats and cats fighting, but I have also seen many loving, harmonious multi-cat households. Because the baby is still a baby, just wait it out. If things get too terrible, you might want to ask your vet for a more personalized solution for your needs and your cats' needs. Good luck, though. You haven't done anything wrong! If your situation works out, I'll have hope for my cat getting along with a possible kitten in the future!

Answer 5

I have noticed that adult animals give baby animals a wide berth until they are sure that its OK to be near them. I think this may be instinctual becuase baby animal means big mad mama animal nearby that can chew their head off. My aggressive 8 yr old neutered male that will attack a dog unhesitatingly would not approach our new kitten when we first got him. Like your cat, he hissed and growled and would scurry away when the kitten so much as took a few stept in his direction. So what I did is this. My adult cat sleeps with me in the bedroom. I wanted the kitten to get used to being with me in the bedroom as well. So I put him in the cat carrier at night and partially covered it with a towel. He'd meow a bit but soon came to the conclusion that this was where he must sleep for the night. Anyway, with the kitten confined, my older cat was able to sniff sniff sniff him to his heart's content without feeling threatened at all. After about 5 days of this, I let kitty sleep out - but of course he'd sleep and then play. By then my older cat knew that the kitten was no threat and just ignored him or watched him. Now, several months later, they sleep and play together, and my older cat even grooms the new comer.

It just takes a little time.

Answer 6

Spaying the kitten won't help. You've probably had the older cat since she was about 6 months or maybe even younger. She thinks you're replacing her. She thinks you're getting rid of her, and she knows it's her territory. my cat did the same thing. Just ignore and eventually they will get used to each other. If not, let them stay away from each other and don't hold your older one when the younger one comes around.

Answer 7

Our 8 year old cat took about three to four months to just start tolerating the new kitten. We made sure we gave her plenty of one on one time, and tried to include her when we played with the kitten. Remember it's hard to get used to someone chasing you around all the time when all you want to do is lay down and rest.

Answer 8

Don't let them alone together unsupervised. Give them time, but make sure there is no danger for the kitten! They will become used to each other at some point!

Answer 9

Give them time. They will learn to love one another. Just be sure to love up your older cat a lot right now. With the "newcomer" in the house , she is starved for your attention & needs you now more than ever!

Answer 10

I'm not an expert in the field, but it sounds like jealousy to me. Or anxiety.... Give the older one some more time to adjust. I've got a dog that reacts to her own puppy the same way. It's weird....