how can I get cats to get along?

Question

I have a 7-month old kitten (female) and we recently toke in a 3-year cat (male) that almost died out in the cold. We put the cats in the same area and the kitten hisses and growls at the cat. What is the deal with that? Is it because she is still a kitten and we need to socialize her more or is that she is just that way; her personality.

Answer 1

Try separating them for a while. If you have a screen door that would be good. Something where they each have their own territory, but they are still able to see and smell each other. The kitten is probably jealous and feeling territorial. It's tough to bring in new cats to a household. Try lavishing attention on the kitten. The more secure she feels, the less threatened she'll feel by the new cat. Also, if you have any shelters that work with cats, they are good resources for advice on this topic.
Tree House Animal Shelter, in Chicago, will give advice. They are experts on cats getting along, since they have so many cats that are not in cages. Here's their website.

http://www.treehouseanimals.org/

You did a good thing.

Answer 2

You did a really nice thing by giving a cat a home. God bless you for that. Another cat has come into the kittens territory, Do not force them together. Pet the cat, and then go to the kitten and let it smell the cats sent on you,. and vice versa, so that both cats will get to know each other through you, do that every day. it will take a little time. they will probably become best of friends, Everything will fall into place. Do you know if the male cat is fixed?

Answer 3

The kitten was in your home first and she felt that she "owned" you - and now, from her perspective, you have betrayed her. Also, she may be afraid of the older cat.

Put the cats in separate rooms and keep them totally apart for about a week. Then, gradually let them be together, at first for very short periods of time. I did this with my two cats and it worked, although I almost gave up before there was peace!

Eventually the two cats became the best of friends.

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Answer 4

I had the same problem when I brought home a female cat that I adopted...to keep my boy cat company (he was a stray that just showed up one day). He would hiss and growl and swat at her and she'd defend herself, of course. They were about 9 mos. to about a year old and what I did to help them get along better is to feed them side by side. I had first fed them separately but one day I thought I'd put their bowls side by side and force them to be close and get used to each other. You would not believe how this worked. They learned to love each other.

Answer 5

She'll probably outgrow it. I've had lots of kitties over the years; and unless they're littermates or something, they're USUALLY not very happy with each other when they first start living together. They get used to each other, though, and generally even begin to be friends.

Answer 6

Don't do anything. Cats will form a "pecking order" and develop their own clutter. Yep, that is a proper term. Two or more cats is a clutter.

Answer 7

Sometimes it is the new introduction that causes it. Seperate them and gradually introduce them in time. Also get a different litter box for the second cat

Answer 8

Hmm....see we used to discipline our cat kinda like a dog...and she is so loving and well behaved now. I would actually pop her on the nose when she does it. Or pick up the older cat and show her attention and ignore the kitten to make her jealous when she does it.

Answer 9

You can't make them get along. Either they do or they don't. As long as there is no physical harm, let them be. Eventually they will deal with each other and possibly develop a bond.

Answer 10

Just leave them alone....never force them to be together. They will sort is out on their own, and either get along or keep their distance. Just like people :-)