My indoor cat is very territorial and I'm thinking about bringing home an new kitten, but what if they fight?

Question

My indoor cat is very territorial and I'm thinking about bringing home an new kitten, but I am afraid that they may fight?
What do I do if they do?

Also, what is the best age(months) the kitten should be?
My cats 1 year old and 1 month old?(I think, I don't know his exact b-day)

I'm pretty positive that my cat would try to hurt the new kitten, because I brought him out for an walk on an leash beofre in our frontyard. And there was an old cat sleeping in the bush(didn't know there was). And all of an sudden he started growling and hissing, his tail kept on moving. Then he ran in and tried to scratch the poor cat, but luckily I stopped him.

Also, does anyone know what I should do at first when I bring the new kitten home?

also, what should i prepare?
should i buy an seprate scratching post or seperate toys?
should i bring some of the older kittens toys in the get him use to them scent?

Thanks

Answer 1

I used to worry about that too with my older cat who would fight with neighborhood cats. But it always worked out fine and they adjusted to each other eventually. I would recommend if the kitten is really small to keep it in a different room from the older cat while you're away. When you're home you can always stop the older cat before it hurts the little one.

Answer 2

First off the age difference shouldnt be too much of a problem, younger cats usually have an easier time adjusting and accepting new animals into the family. I have been fostering cats off and on for 4 years now and I have 5 cats of my own, I suggest when bringing the kitten home to keep him in a separate room for a few days,like your bedroom keep him locked in there so he can get used to the house and his new surroundings later you can open the door and put baby gates up across the door so that your cat can meet the new kitten face to face without there being any fighting. They will probably hiss at each other, keep the gates up for a few more days or until you think your cat is ok around the kitten. It may take a while but I think within a week he will stop hissing and will accept the kitten into the household, they might not be buddies right away but they will atleast be able to live in harmony.

Answer 3

Before getting a new cat, check your current Cat out at your vet. Make sure he is not sick. Some cats become very territorial if they are sick or injured. It is always better to be safe than sorry.


Introducing a new cat is easy if you do it right.

If your cat is male, get a female cat of the same age. If your cat is a girl, another girl would be good or a male will be fine.

When your new cat comes home, keep him or her separate from your current cat. Another room would be great. the cats should sniff one another through a door for at least week before meeting.


When they do meet, pay close attention to them. both cats should have their nails clipped to prevent eyes being scratched. If they fight at first, it is OK. Break them up but DON'T hit or scold. You do not want your cats to associate negative feelings when they see each other.

Give both cats some separate quality time and happy together time. Contrary to what people think, cats are social. They like to be in a pack and have company.

My cat Ollie, is like a BIG dog. He rolls over on his back, licks everybody he sees and growls at people as they walk by. Needless to say, he is the most territorial cat there is. He does not like other cats on his turf... be warned!

When we got a kitten Emma a few months ago, I thought he was going to Freak for sure! After I released her from the separation room, I waited for Ollie's actions. He chased her a bit and stole her toys, but no hissing or fighting. Now when she goes outside, He watches over her like a good little Brother/Husband. Oliver licks her head and nips her toes. She is His property... weather Emma likes it or not.


Cats will surprise you.

Answer 4

I also have a very terretorial cat and 5 months ago i brought home a puppy. Aslong as u let them get familiar with each other your kitten with think of your cat as a second (mother or father.) Your kitten should not have a problem with your cat but usually terratorial cats might hiss a little bit but in time when your cat realises that the kitten is here to stay your cat is most likely to given and stop hissing and maybe even purr around your new kitten. I hope my advise will help you. All the best. P.S: I think you should probaly get your kitten at around 3 to 5 months, when its still a little baby and can think of your cat as a mother/father.

Answer 5

Well the best idea would be introducing them to each other outside of the home.

If they react well together then there is a good chance they will get along inside the home. Be cure not to over react too much. Let them show each other dominace and argue it out for a while.

If you really want the kitten, and they don't get along too well, you can try to get them de-clawed. But by doing so you much take on the responsibility of keeping the cats in the house. This way if they do get out, they will have a fighting chance.

Answer 6

Orion has reached sexual maturity and is now becoming concerned about territory. Do NOT let them outside, he will run o ff seeking a female and may never come back. Its good that he is getting fixed soon, and its not a bad idea to keep them separated when you aren't home. Males can hit sexual maturity as young as 4 months, 6 months is more the average. Its going to be tough going, but getting him neutered will help a ton. Make sure they remain separated when you bring him home from the vet too, it takes some time to heal up and for all the testosterone to leave his system. Best of luck!!!

Answer 7

The older cat will kill the kitten. the first thing you should do if you know the person you are getting the kitten from maybe they could bring the kitten over a few times before it is there permanently. or you can hold the older one shower it with lots of love while you put the kitten in a different room just go slow and every thing should be fine I had the same problem

Answer 8

The older cat will try to mess with him, but he? will get over it. We currently have 4 cats at our house, and have gone through this many times. And at times when the youngest one gets a bit wound up and wants to play the older ones will put him in his place with a little rough play. As a tiny kitten you will want to watch the kitten just to make sure its alright. But they grow really fast and soon enough the kitten will be able to handel itself and the older one will learn to deal.

The most important thing to get is a separate food bowl. The litter box, toys and stuff they won't get fussy with, but food they might...

Plus,1 month is a bit too young to be from the mother. Usually 8 weeks is the normal time to get a kitten. The kitten needs to nurse and and be too little to feed on its own, which could lead to problems

Answer 9

Since your cat is so territorial I don't think it would be fair to him or the kitten. If he doesn't kill it he may start urinating around the house. Most cats would rather live alone. They are not pack animals. Think about it some more. He would probably have no problem with a puppy. Good Luck!

Answer 10

Congrats. Cats are social animals, and enjoy friends.
Prepare as you did for your other cat, it will need it's own scratching post (the more is merrier) as well as bowls, and litter tray.

The Steps to Take

Set up a comfortable "safe room" for New Cat. Put her food, water, litter box (not near the food), scratching post, toys, and bed or other sleeping mat there.
Expect a great deal of "hissy-spitty" behavior through the closed door from both cats.
This is natural and normal; they are just starting to explore their "pecking order."
Scent is very important for cats. Let each of them smell the other indirectly, by rubbing a towel on one and letting the other smell it. They will soon accept the scent as a normal part of the house.
Once or twice, switch roles. Put New Cat in the normal living quarters, and let your resident cat sniff out the new cat's Safe Room.
After a day or so, let the two cats sniff each other through a baby-gate or through a barely-opened door. Gauge the rate at which they seem to be acclimating to each other.
When you think they're ready, let them mingle under your supervision. Ignore hissing and growling, but you may have to intervene if a physical battle breaks out. Again, take this step slowly, depending on how quickly they get along. If they do seem to tolerate each other, even begrudgingly, praise both of them profusely.
Make their first activities together enjoyable ones so they will learn to associate pleasure with the presence of the other cat. Feeding (with their own separate dishes), playing, and petting. Keep up with the praise.
If things start going badly, separate them again, and then start where you left off. If one cat seems to consistently be the aggressor, give her some "time out," then try again a little bit later.
The introduction can take from two hours to six months, so don't be discouraged if your cats don't seem to get along well at first. Often the case is that they will eventually be "best buddies."

Factors to Consider

If you are thinking of getting a kitten to keep an older cat company, you might want to consider two kittens. They will be able to keep each other company while the older cat learns to love them.
If you already have more than one cat, use the "alpha cat" for preliminary introductions. Once he/she accepts the newcomer, the other resident cats will quickly fall in line.
Lots of snuggle-time and attention is indicated for all cats concerned during this period. Remember, the prime goal is to get them to associate pleasure with the presence of each other.
If possible, ask a friend to deliver the new cat to your home, in her cage. You can act nonchalant, as if it's no big deal, then later let your resident cat(s) think it's their idea to welcome the newcomer.

Also:

follow these steps:

1. Confine the resident cat to a room (door closed) while the new cat explores the rest of the house. Then switch their places. This allows them to become familiar with each other's scent.

2. Keep the cats in separate but adjoining rooms for several days, continuing to switch places every day. You'll need separate litter boxes at this stage, and depending on the cats' preferences, you may want to continue to maintain two litter boxes for them after the introduction is completed.

3. After a few days, crack open the door separating the two cats. Prop it open a couple inches so they can see one another but can't make full contact. Once they tolerate this limited contact, open the door a bit wider. If they start to backslide, go back to step 2.

4. When the two cats seem comfortable with limited exposure, try feeding them on opposite sides of the same room. Then return them to their separate quarters. After a few days of common mealtimes, they may be ready to share the same living space. Remember to let them set their own pace and never force them to be together. Keep them separated when you are not home to supervise until you're certain they can tolerate each toher's presence. It may take 2 or 3 months before they reach this stage.