Introducing new kittens? when is enough, enough?

Question

just got 2 kittens and my 1 1/2 yr old spayed female isn't dealing so well, can't relax/ is very afraid whenever they're around. we had an older cat when we got her and they got along within a 3 days. this doesn't seem to be so this time. i have them seperated and allow the kittens out into the house for about 15 min every few hours. they make their way to her sight and she growls and will either give them a few good swats until their on their backs cowarding or she'll run away. when and how will i know if it's not going to work out?? i know the chances are slim but i don't want to go on with my older cat in complete distress for too long, if it's not going to work out.

Answer 1

Hi. It'll work out. I have been in this situation more times than I can even tell you and I have never seen it not work out. There are a few things you can do to help, but mostly you just have to let them go through it.

Cats have a social system and part of that is establishing rules with each other. I know it can look scary, but your cat is acting on instinct and doing what is right and natural. If you had someone move into your home, you'd have rules they'd have to follow. Same thing. The best thing you can do is to not separate them and just let them be. The kittens expect your cat to do what she is doing.

Try not to show extra attention to the kittens. If anything, your cat should be getting extra love. Especially if she seems scared. She needs to be reassured that you still love her and her home is safe. At least, keep it even. For example, if you pet one, pet the others. And if you pull the kittens away you will probably make her resentful. She doesn't understand why you think she is doing something wrong. Certainly, never scold her. If you get scared and take a kitten away, pet your cat and speak nicely to her. In the meantime, you could get the kitties some toys so they can play without using your cat's stuff.

Bottom line, everything you describe is actually normal and good. She might see kittens as more of a threat than an older cat, as they are younger and will be stronger. Cats are like that. When she feels that she has made her point, she'll settle and they'll be friends. I know you want to do the right thing for her, but in the end, getting her two playmates is a great thing.

However, now that I've said all that... If she is still really badly freaked out for more than, say, a week and a half or two weeks, you might want to keep them separated part time to give her a break. I've really never seen that happen, though.

I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

Why don't you try some gradual exposure? It may be that 15 minutes with two new strangers showing up periodically is too much for your older kitty. When we got a new kitten we kept it separated from our older cat at first and only allowed some very gradual contact. We kept the kitten in a bathroom (Fortunately it's a large bathroom because we didn't leave the kitten alone much, usually one or the other of us stayed with her.) The big cat would come to the door and sniff. Then we would open the door just a wee bit, maybe an inch or even less, so they could get some inspection time with limited contact. At first this was mostly hissing and maybe even some swatting. Since they could not actually touch each other, no one got hurt. It's helpful if someone can be on each side of the door, so both the new kitty and the older one can have someone there to comfort them. It helps if you can talk calmingly and pet your older cat during these get-acquainted visits. As you continue to provide brief encounter moments you can make them longer and allow more contact when that seems appropriate. We had excellent success in using this technique with our last two kittens. BUT some cats just aren't able to accept a new cat in their home. If you try this for several days and your older cat is not adjusting, it could be that she isn't going to. When we consider adding a new pet to our household we always first consider what it will do to our current pets' relationships with us. You need to think about the possibility that adding a new pet may destroy the equilibrium and the relationship you have with your current pet.

Answer 3

Go to http://spiritessence.com and read about using flower essences with cats and other animals.

Under Cat Behavior I found the ingredients in Dr. Jean Hovfe's "New Beginnings". It does contain the five-flower remedy for fears and Walnut for adjustment. You can get a bottle for $16.95, no shipping or handling charges.

You shake the bottle well and put three to four drops on your cat's fur between her ears. You treat your cat intensely for about a week - four times a day.

It will help her make a good adjustment and reduce her anxieties around the kittens. It doesn't sound as if you have had the kittens very long so be willing to give the adjustment some time. Keep limiting the interactions among the animals until you get the remedy to use.

Answer 4

Here is what a Vet did for me(not all will do this though) He gave me a prescription for Valium. Said to quarter a 10 mg and give it to my male cat every 4 hrs. Well that didn't work. To make a long story short I ended up shoving the whole pill down his throat and it knocked him down. Every time he started to come around I did the same thing The female kitten I got would play with his tail and sniff around him and after 3 days of this I quit giving the male cat anymore of the pills. Course he was woozy for a couple more days . And when he finally straightened up BINGO! They got along after that. See he acted like he wanted to kill the little female kitten and for 2 days I had my hands full till I took him to an old fashion Vet and got them. Course ya could see if any of your friends might have some and do the same thing. Just start out with a 1/4, go to a 1/2 and if need be use the whole 10 mg valium to knock her out. Then let her start to come around and do it again for at least 3 days,maybe 5 days. Whatever it takes

Answer 5

It will work out! Her reaction to them is normal. My reccommendation is that you take your big cat's biscuits away, so that she won't have anything to nibble on in the day, this will keep her peckish. There's nothing like a well honed appitite to make kitties put up with quite a bit!

When you bring the kittens out, have a few pellets to give to her if she stays in the room as a treat. Also, bring the babies out at dinner time, and have them near her when she eats (don't let them try steal food) - do this for a few days, this will help her associate them with something good, ie, biscuits, or breakfast/dinner.

Remember, she's a lot bigger than them, and when they get annoying, she can always jump up somewhere out of the way. Pretty soon they will all be friends.

Answer 6

Don`t worry i think your older cat will be fine. Sometimes it takes awhile to get the older cat used to the younger ones. Leave them out with her for more like 30minutes rather than 15min. And make sure she does not get to ruff with them. If possible try letting them out 30min every 2 hours which will equal to about 5 times a day. After about a week of that then try for 45minutes and leave them together longer and longer. When you lock the kittens up make sure there not in a room the older cat likes.
Good luck. I`m sure it will work out.

Answer 7

This is very normal cat behavior for an adult cat dealing with young "whippersnappers." She's showing them that SHE has the upper hand in your household.
You did the right thing by adopting a pair of kittens...eventually, they'll leave her alone because they have each other. (right now they're curious about your adult kitty.) Provide them with plenty of toys, and a cat tree would be fun for them too.
And be sure to show your adult cat plenty of extra love and attention and provide her with one-on-one time, so she knows she hasn't been displaced. I think it will all work out; I've never had cats that didn't get along eventually!
Good luck!

Answer 8

Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks, depending on the cat and how much the cat is spoiled and how territorial the cat is (females are worse). It took my cat about 2 weeks and it took my sister's cat about 3 weeks. Just be patient and show everyone love. Some don't get along, they just learn to tolerate each other. Hang in there!! They sense our emotions, the less you stress about it , the less they will.

Answer 9

When we brought our new kittens in, we just let them loose together and they became friends within a week or two. I know you don't want her to be even more distressed but complete immersion worked really well for us. Give it a couple of weeks, if it doesn't work out and she still doesn't like the new kitties, take them to a new home...

Answer 10

some time it just takes time I have a new kitten for almost a month now and my other cats still hate her and say who are u some time female cats take longer to get to know other cats & have a even hard time with kittens& u have 2against1 it will work out when your cat see their are not going away