how can i make my old cat like my new cat?

Question

i have just brought a new kitten into the home where i already have a 1 and a 1/2 year old cat. the 1 1/2 year old is like a wild tiger.

Answer 1

stuff it

Answer 2

Try not paying any attention to the kitten while the 2 are together (be on the look out), don`t place the kitten in high areas (sofa, chairs) let the older cat know where each one has their place.. he can go up, the newcomer stays on the floor. Do not display attention to the kitten when the 2 are together because it all comes down to jeolousy. Plus keep the kitten in a bathroom for as long as it takes, and with you present open the door a little, enough for the older one to look and smell inside and kitten canno`t come out. Keep this going for a while and never place the little one close to the other one by force. You are at serious risk of the kitten getting really hurt by the older one. And no food together at all, give special treats to the older one when the kitten is present and do not give the kitten (and you shouldn`t either), this should work. And if nothing after a month, then maybe find a new home for the kitten. Bad relationships with cats in a house is bad news, since they are very strong on territory.

Answer 3

Got to say I agree with 'evawf' about ensuring the elder cat gets attention while both are with you, also not to risk them being left together as it will be quite a while before the kitten will stand up to the elder cat.

I'd also go along with 'Feather_B' that the older cat does need to understand the kitten is part of the family, but I suspect right now the elder cat is not getting 100% attention from you and that's the cause of the current anger. It will probably take a few weeks...

I really do hope they get on but if they don't (and there's no guarantee) then finding another home for the younger cat is probably the fairest thing to do, for both of them (the elder cat will have your attention again, and the younger taken out of harms way, as well as being able to adapt more easily to another home).

Answer 4

I think that thenew cat will turn like the old cat but maybe if you give them both love and a good wash it might rub off some of the new onto the old? What do you think? failing all other things try to keep the old cat outside for a while when you let it back in eventually then notice what happens.

Answer 5

I had the same situation. I just let them sort it out for themselves. I did feed the two separately for quite some time. Avoiding the fighting over food, but that was really the only intervention I did. After a few months, they were playing and getting along quite nicely. They will figure out the "pecking order" on their own.

Answer 6

Introducing Your New Cat To Your Other Pets

It’s important to have realistic expectations when introducing a new pet to a resident pet. Some cats are more social than other cats. For example, an eight-year-old cat that has never been around other animals may never learn to share her territory (and her people) with other pets in the household. However, an eight-week-old kitten separated from her mom and littermates for the first time, might prefer to have a cat or dog companion. Cats are territorial and need to be
introduced to other animals very slowly in order to give them time to get used to each other before there is a face-toface confrontation. Slow introductions help prevent fearful and aggressive problems from developing. PLEASE NOTE:
When you introduce pets to each other, one of them may send “play” signals that can be misinterpreted by the other pet. If those signals are interpreted as aggression by one animal, then you should handle the situation as “aggressive.”

Confinement
Confine your new cat to one medium-sized room with her litter box, food, water and a bed. Feed your resident pets and the newcomer on each side of the door to this room. This will help all of them to associate something enjoyable (eating!)
with each other's smells. Don't put the food so close to the door that the animals are too upset by each other’s presence to eat. Gradually move the dishes closer to the door until your pets can eat calmly, directly on either side of the door.
Next, use two doorstops to prop open the door just enough to allow the animals to see each other, and repeat the whole process.

Swap Scents
Switch sleeping blankets or beds between your new cat and your resident animals so they have a chance to become accustomed to each other's scent. Rub a towel on one animal and put it underneath the food dish of another animal.
You should do this with each animal in the house.

Switch Living Areas
Once your new cat is using her litter box and eating regularly while confined, let her have free time in the house while confining your other animals to the new cat’s room. This switch provides another way for the animals to experience each other's scents without a face-to-face meeting. It also allows the newcomer to become familiar with her new surroundings
without being frightened by the other animals.

Avoid Fearful and Aggressive Meetings
Avoid any interactions between your pets that result in either fearful or aggressive behavior. If these responses are allowed to become a habit, they can be difficult to change. It's better to introduce your pets to each other so gradually
that neither animal becomes afraid or aggressive. You can expect mild forms of these behaviors, but don't give them the opportunity to intensify. If either animal becomes fearful or aggressive, separate them, and start over with the
introduction process in a series of very small, gradual steps, as outlined above.

Precautions
If one of your pets has a medical problem or is injured, this could stall the introduction process. Check with your veterinarian to be sure that all of your pets are healthy. You'll also want to have at least one litter box per cat, and you’ll probably need to clean all of the litter boxes more frequently. Make sure that none of the cats are being "ambushed" by another while trying to use the litter box. Try to keep your resident pets’ schedule as close as possible to what it was
before the newcomer’s appearance. Cats can make lots of noise, pull each other's hair, and roll around quite dramatically without either cat being injured. If small spats do occur between your cats, you shouldn’t attempt to intervene directly to separate the cats. Instead, make a loud noise, throw a pillow, or use a squirt bottle with water and
vinegar to separate the cats. Give them a chance to calm down before re-introducing them to each other. Be sure each cat has a safe hiding place.

When To Get Help
If introductions don’t go smoothly, seek professional help immediately (see our handout: “When the Helpline Can’t Help”).
Animals can be severely injured in fights, and the longer the problem continues, the harder it can be to resolve. Conflicts between pets in the same family can often be resolved with professional help. Punishment won’t work, though, and could
make things worse.
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Answer 7

I am in a similar situation, after just bringing a Shih Tzu puppy into our home, and we already have a 13 yr old Pom mix.
At first, my Pom mix seemed jealous of the puppy and didn't seem to like her very much, but I did not shower the puppy with any more attention than my first dog.
I still gave my first dog alot of love and attention and now, 2 months later, my first dog gets along with the puppy as if they're sister and brother!

Answer 8

I had the same problem, you have to get the older cat onto a sofa and then keep it calm and with some help slowly bring the kitten forward and keep both calm. Eventualy they will get on as normal.

Answer 9

You just have to give them time to get use to each other.Show your 11/2 year old that this kitten is part of the family too.This worked for us and ours are the best of friends.
Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Just give it time the older cat thinks the house is all his and it's gonna take a little time for him to get used to the fact that it's not only his territory anymore.

Answer 11

You can't, but the older one will finally end up tolerating the new one better. He may never love the new tyke but they can live comfortably together. Be sure to pay tons of attention to the older cat who is feeling pretty displaced.