i got a kitten a week ago and i think my cat hates her. the first few times they met i held the kitten while the cat was on the floor so the cat could get used to the smell/sight of the kitten then after a couple of days they met on the floor, and the cat just hissed at the kitten and the kitten backs away and lies down. but my sister told me that she accidentaly let them meet the first time and my cat licked the kitten but my sister was too nervous. every time they have met since the cat hisses at the kitten and she has even tried to swipe at her. when this happens i tell the cat off and pick up the kitten. the kitten is really good when they meet she'll take a few steps foward then wait to see the cats reaction beore she moves again. i don't know what to do. my cat has had kittens and one of her kittens had kittens but that was 11 and 9 years ago.
2007-08-22 05:23:26 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
You introduced them wrong. You shouldn't have held the kitten. That is the problem. You see, your cat now sees the kitten as competition, and you are fostering that competition by protecting the kitten.
Put the kitten in a room, and keep the room door closed. Let your cat sniff the kitten through the door. Give them a couple of days of this.
Meantime, shower your established cat with attention, love her up, do things for her that she especially likes. And YOU leave the kitten alone. Let your sister handle the kitten. After about the third day, let your sister go into the kitten's room, close the door, put a little dollop of softened butter on the kitten's head, and then walk out of the room. But this time, leave the door open.
STAY AWAY IN THE BACKGROUND, armed with a spray bottle or water pistol. No matter what, do not intervene personally. Use water if your established cat attacks or acts aggressive. Hissing is not aggressive. Hissing is a getting-to-know-you sound. Aggressive is hurtful behavior that can result in wounds.
Just leave them alone and watch without seeming to watch. The optimum scenario is that your established cat (who wanted to lick the kitten but you stuck in your two cents) will lick the butter off the kitten's head and thereby put her scent on it. And then take this baby under her wing. I suspect that, if you pull yourself out of this equation, that is just what she will do.
Trust your cat a little. She is a good mama.
2007-08-22 05:52:22 · answer #1 · answered by Mercy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course your cat seems to hate your kitten, since you pick it up whenever she hisses at it. She's the 'old cat' (and the Alpha cat) and wants to put the kitten into it's 'proper place' ... which is 'below her' in the pecking order. By you picking up the kitten every time, you are 'raising' the kitten to the Alpha spot, and your cat HATES THAT ... not the kitten, but you 'raising' the kitten. Next time the cat hisses at the kitten, try picking up the older cat and giving it a 'loving' while the kitten can 'escape' if it wants to. The kitten is 'trying' to become acceptable to the cat (it backed away and lay down) but your picking it up is 'interfereing' with that attempt. Leave the two cats ALONE ... even if your adult cat takes a 'swipe' at the kitten, it's highly unlikely that it has it's claws out ... it just wants to 'strike the kitten' for 'not knowing' and 'being picked up' all the time ... please remember that these are ANIMALS and that you and your sister are 'outside the pack' or are 'subservient to the Alpha cat' and you should both 'back off' and let the cat and kitten have TIME to make friends in their own way ... it will happen only when you QUIT picking up the kitten to 'protect it' every time ... but you can 'help it along' by giving them both 'treats' ... make sure that the older cat always gets the 'best and largest' treat, and the kitten doesn't get one sometimes, or gets a 'much smaller' (and more appropriate to it's size) treat ...
2007-08-22 05:35:13 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oh, no worries it can take awhile, same thing happended with ours and now they are best friends, try sitting on the floor to supervise, if you hold the other kitty, the Cat will feel jealous and may resent the other, stay close and let them look at each other...The Cat will hiss, if she screams at the kitty ..throw something in the middle or make a loud noise, try for about 20-30 min periods....after a little they will start to be close without the hissing. After this always reward the older Cat with a treat or extra TLC.
Good Luck
2007-08-22 07:33:30 · answer #3 · answered by Princess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will take some time, but they will work it out. You need to let the cat hiss at the kitten and show it who's boss to get through this stage. It might take two or three weeks. Monitor it, at least until the kitten is able to defend itself a little, but you don't need to keep picking the kitten up. They'll get through the hissing stage and will move on to the kitten trying to play and the cat swatting at it. They may wildly chase each other and play attack each other at times (especially in the morning). You may find that one has nipped at the other (a little ear or neck bite is not unusual when you have more than one cat), but you'll also find them eventually playing, sleeping together and grooming each other. Your kitten will get bolder and your cat will get used to it. Two cats are twice as much fun as one!
2007-08-22 05:35:06 · answer #4 · answered by Neonzeus 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have patience. Put the kitten in a carrier and let the cat have a good sniff without the kitten being able to retaliate. Swap their bedding. Try to keep them in separate rooms for a couple of days, then swap the rooms. Your cat doesn't see the kitten as a kitten, but as an intruder who has taken your love away from her. You hold the kitten, and scold her.
Feed the cat treats when the kitten is around. Let her see you still love her!
2007-08-22 05:42:17 · answer #5 · answered by Terri B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, they will eventually get along. Let them play rough, the old cat will need to beat the kitten up a lot until she teaches it some manners according to her agenda. Just make sure to separate them if it gets really dangerous and the kitten is crying for help. keep them separately, bring them together at feeding time and then more and more bring them together for longer and more frequent periods. After a week or two they will be able to stay together at least when you are there. Keep them separately when you are not with them, until the kitten has a substantial size to defend itself. In my case, it took about a month and now they are inseparable. At first I was sure the old cat would kill the kitten, but after he started licking her occasionally I knew they were going to be OK. So I know your cats will be OK, but there has to be a period of rough play.
2007-08-22 06:17:57 · answer #6 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats are very territorial and it can take sometime for them to welcome other cats (and animals). Your cat will grow accustomed to your kitten. It's so cute when cats like each other, they sleep together, groom each other...so cute.
I've had cats all my life I've seen them act out with new kittens. My one cat stopped using her litter box for a while..little punk. But they loved each other eventually. When one died the other searched the house for them and was very depressed when they couldn't find them =(
One trick I use that works well, is to pet them both at the same time. That way they will think that you are petting just them and there will be no jealousy. Also, don't yell at your cat when she hisses or swipes at the kitten. This will make her feel like she is being replaced and will continue to hate the kitten.
2007-08-22 05:26:32 · answer #7 · answered by Megegie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The kitten is in the other cats territory. The older cat is trying to assert dominance. If the older cat hisses or swipes at the younger cat tell her no and point your finger at her. They'll grow to like each other, eventually. It just takes time.
2007-08-22 05:30:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi, Your older cat may never get used to your kitten, just keep letting them come in contact with each other, as you know it will go one of two ways, first once your kitten has your smell your older cat may accept your kitten, secondly your older cat may never accept your kitten, your older cat may just tolerate your kitten and every time they meet they will hiss and swipe at each other. I have two cat's like this the older one tolerates the younger one.......but we all live happily together.
2007-08-22 05:50:21 · answer #9 · answered by kevina p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely not. In order to have your cat feel comfortable with your new kitten is to make sure that your cat has its own space where the kitten cannot go. It will make the cat feel like it has a place to escape as well as a stable place, a place it can call it's own. The same thing happened to me. Now the two are buddies.
2007-08-22 05:27:45 · answer #10 · answered by M. M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋