My 2 kittens right now are a little over 3 months old. I am considering getting another kitten, so how old should they be when i introduce the new kitten for them to get along well? i have heard that it is best to introduce while they are still young, so how young is young enough? If they are 1 year old when i introduce another kitten, is that young enough for them to get along well?
2007-02-23 07:15:56 · 8 answers · asked by Miso 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
The younger is normally the better, but older cats get along with kittens just fine. It doesn't really make all that much of a difference.
2007-02-23 07:20:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Naturally, it's best to introduce strange animals to each other while they're young. That way they'll test each other and establish their "chain of command" as they become adults. If you wait until your current cats are 1 year old, they have already established their territory and hierarchy which could be dangerous to a young kitten. If this is the case, introduce them slowly allowing the adults to investigate the kitten while you hold it. There will probably be hissing and an attempt to slap but it will eventually subside. NEVER allow the kitten alone with the adult cats and, until the kitten is old enough to defend itself, watch over it closely. Cats will usually grow to tolerate each other, however, they will fight on occasion and the "alpha" cat will continue to defend his/her authority.
Let me relate my experience with multiple cats... We adopted a semi-stray female cat when its owner moved away. She became pregnant and had 4 kittens. We gave 2 of them to friends and kept the other 2, a male and female. When the kittens grew to adults, the female kitten became the "alpha" cat, the male was #2, and the mother was at the bottom of the hierarchy. They got along with only sparotic slaps and hisses but it was the mother who was always ducking. We kept 2 more females from mother's 2nd litter and all three adults loved and played with them as they grew up. Now with 5 cats, the original female kitten remained as "alpha", but the two new females took the #2 and #3 positions while the lone male was stuck at #4 (even though he was about twice the size of the others) over the mother at #5. Realize that this is a "pride" of cats and each of them have their own place within its structure. They'll tolerate each other and sometimes play with each other but there will always be the occasional spat with those at the lower rungs getting the worst of it. In fact, if the #1 "alpha" female picked on one of the others, the rest would stay out of the spat. However, if two of the lower level cats got into an argument, the "#1 "alpha" would jump in and assist the higher ranked cat.
Last, but not least, please spay or neuter them as soon as possible. That will reduce some of the agressiveness between them.
2007-02-23 08:05:15 · answer #2 · answered by shaboom2k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the younger the better. I wouldn't wait till one year old or even too much longer. If a cat is alone or even just with another cat and is used to that then when another kitten or cat comes in to that house they will get jealous and it will be bad. I have a cat now and i tried to introduce a kitten to her then but by the time i tried (which was about 5 months later) it was too late and my cat would attack this kitten so bad that i had to get rid of the kitten.
2007-02-23 07:24:38 · answer #3 · answered by sballgirl16 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Age dosen't matter cats have personalities like humans and sometimes they just don't get along. The issue with them arguning in the early stages has nothing to do with the cat but rather with the fact that another animal is entering their territory. Ideally you would put the kitten in a room by itself and let it out for a few minutes at a time over the course of a week to help the cats become more adjusted to it then allow it to assimilate into the group. But I have three cats and I always just threw them in togeather, the new cat would get hissed at for a bit but then they got over it.
2007-02-23 07:26:05 · answer #4 · answered by Icarus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the event that they're concerning to an identical age it may paintings, yet cats over the age of a few million year hardly get on with others they have not been reported with, and is the reason why your different cats do no longer liek the kitten. you may desire to be careful concerning to the way you introduce the recent kitten, gain this in a community that would not have any territorial attachments for the two - a room interior the domicile that neither flow in. Cats are not dogs, you won't be in a position to easily take your kitten around on your buddy's domicile and anticipate her to handle it. she would be particularly under pressure via this and a quick creation won't do lots good.
2016-10-01 21:07:36 · answer #5 · answered by balok 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We introduced a new cat to ours when the kittens were 7 months. They hated him and totally ignored him like little stuck up eliteists. If you want to do it, you should probably do it soon. Then again, if you want to wait, cats usually eventually get used to each other although it could take even up to a few months, depending on your cats. It's just easier when they are younger because their little personalities and their boundaries haven't been so rigidly established. By one year, you have a full grown cat with a developed personality and all that comes with it.
2007-02-23 09:11:49 · answer #6 · answered by ineeddonothing 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had 2 cats then found a kitten they got along pretty well. Then when the older cat died, the two others get along better. Just watch the older cats might try to act like it's mom. My kitten was dragged around by it's scruff by the older jealous cat.
2007-02-23 07:31:01 · answer #7 · answered by mary k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it doesnt really matter because if the cats are playful then they will all join in. my 5 year old keeps my kitten amused for hours
2007-02-26 22:19:01 · answer #8 · answered by juejua 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋