How long will it Take for our 1 year old cat to warm up to our (new) 3 month old cat?

Question

We just recently got a new kitten from the pound. She is about 3-4 months old and was fixed about 2 days ago.
We've had 1 cat for a little over a year now (she was about 3 months old when we got her). We brought the young kitten home yesterday and have kept her in our extra room at night. When we put these cats together, the older one stalks the younger one as if she was prey. She swats and hisses at the younger cat. Occasionally, it'll appear as if they're playing..but that doesn't last very long. Our older cat gets mad when we try and pet her and seems jealous towards the younger one. Will this end? The younger cat crys LOUDLY when we lock her in our extra room; I'm assuming that's just cause she's young and is scared/lonely.
Our older cat's eyes get really wide (and dialated) when she watched the kitten walk around..obviously the kitten is afraid and folds it's ears back and hisses when approached by our older cat.
Please help!

Wow. I appreciate all the input in such a short about of time! Thanks! Everyone of these questions will help immensely.

Answer 1

I have 30 cats and have been through this same experience many times. This hissing, swatting will go on for a while. Eventually this will slow down and stop all together. Your first cat feels the newbie is an intruder and is doing only what comes natural. Don't scoll your first cat, love them both equally. You'll be amazed how soon they will be sleeping and cleaning each other.

Answer 2

It will go away, might take awhile though. Once your older cat realizes that the new one isn't going to go away, they normally become accepting. But as of now, your older cat is defending its territory; cats are very territorial animals. I wouldn't lock your new kitten in the room because you want the older cat to get used to it. Spend time with the kitten and show your cat that you care for the new one. Once your cat sees that you are warming up to the kitten, it doesn't take too much longer for the hissing and fighting to go away. Just make sure that after you pet your kitten you pet and give attention to your older cat. That way the older cat know that the new one is on its same level (that its territory isn't being taken over.) Hope this helps!

Answer 3

We got 2 kittens not too long ago, they were 3 months old, and we have 2 older cats that we've had for about 3 years. Our old cats do the same thing to the kittens and one of them just trots away. We've had them around 2 months now and they still haven't stopped, so I also need an answer to this question. Sorry I didn't have an answer!

Answer 4

The worst case scenario any of my pet owners have experienced is about 8 weeks of fighting following a new adoption. Keep the kitten confined and give them small visits together, always ending a visit before it goes bad. Ignore the kitten. Let the older cat think that the adoption was her idea. Bath them in the same shampoo so they smell the same.

Answer 5

Here's a suggestion that might help. Take a dry towel and rub it all over the older cat then take that towel and rub it all over the kitten, With the scent of the older on the younger it might help the acceptance along.

Answer 6

I would give it a little while, let them see each other a couple of times a day, maybe give them treats together or something!! But do keep in mind that they older cat may not ever like the new one, and it may just be something that you will have to deal with!

Answer 7

Cats can take a really long time to get to know each other. One of three things will happen: They will become friends, they will learn to tolerate each others presence, they will never like each other and there will always be conflict. You may have to give it several months and let them figure it out.

Answer 8

They will be fine. Let them get used to each other without your being around. It should not take more than a couple of weeks.

Answer 9

Casual introductions.Go easy at first so they check each other out.