I brought a kitten to my 11 year old cat and I'm in love with it now!?

Question

My male cat has been alone with me all his life. I volunteer at a cat shelter and have taken one of the kittens home yesterday. I thought it would be temporary but this kitten deserves a home and not to go back to the shelter. My older cat hisses and growles. I am torn now between the two. Did I do wrong by the older cat. He has been my boy for so long and now I find I have to divide my love for 2. I don't know what to do. Help!

Answer 1

Most of the time, they will sort it out. If not, maybe your house is big enough that they will avoid each other. If not, get rid of the kitten, not the older cat.
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Answer 2

Heres something you can try. Try and keep the new kitten in the bathroom or some other room where its closed off but the older cat can still hear and smell it (under the door). Keep the kitten in there for about a week or so and slowly introduce them to each other but reassure your older cat that hes still man of the house lol. Pet him if hes behaving while the kitten is out. In time your older cat will get use to the idea of having a new play mate. It will take time, you just can't throw them together.

Now if that doesn't work it may just be that your older cat doesn't want another cat around. In time though they will learn to at least ignore one another lol

Answer 3

My older cats do this at first to newbies, too. Give them some time together. They may become buddies once the kitten grows out of his kitten stage (about 1 year old). Or they your older cat may never grow to like the kitten which is fine.

The cat's attitudes toward each other are mixed in our house. Our 17 year old female doesn't want anything to do with any of them and she finds places to be alone. The 3 year old female only likes her 3 year old male companion who is friends with everybody (a real crowd pleaser). The 2 year old female used to beat up our dog, but once she knew he was harmless, calmed down and I've even seen them sleeping together.

So, basically I would say keep them both. If they don't like each other, they'll avoid coming in contact. If one is a bully there are other things you can try. . . (make that another question if you have that problem).

Don't get rid of your 11 year old just because you've found a new friend. The kitten does deserve a good home, too and it looks like he's found it with you!

Good luck!

Answer 4

I'm up to six cats now and introducing a new cat or pair of kittens to the older ones takes some work but in the end everybody is getting along pretty well. Your old cat has ruled the roost for a while now and his territory is being shared with your new baby. You did not do a wrong thing, you did a nice thing, but you need to do some work to smooth things out. Does each cat have a favorite area? Do you make sure to pet and talk to your older cat enough? The new baby is lots of fun and really cute right now but it's really important that your big boy doesn't get neglected, especially since he's probably kind of cranky. Do your pets have enough toys? They may need to be kept apart while you are not home for the beginning weeks or months. Can you observe their interaction without them seeing? Think how you felt or would feel if you got a new baby brother or sister and then try to imagine how your cat is feeling. Love them both, fuss at the older one more and I'm sure it will work out in the end. Don't be alarmed if they get into a few kitty arguments since that's normal! Good luck!

Answer 5

Hi Catdncer

I think you may have done the right thing. It all depends on how you introduce them. A bad introduction can lead to a lifetime of problems.

You should keep them apart in seperate rooms for a few days and swap their bedding over regularly so they get the scent of each other.

Then on the big day when you introduce them have some cooked chicken to hand ( no bones). Then hold on to the kitten and throw peices of chicken over to the resident cat and give small peices to the kitten. Dont let go of the kitten as it will run after a peice of chicken you are throwing and it will all go off then.

Gradually throw the peices nearer to you and get the older one to come a bit nearer.

The resident cat is more likely to accept the youngster if he things he brought his kill home to share with him.

Then its just a case of holding your breath and see what happens. Dont leave them alone together until you are sure you cat trust the older cat. Also dont confuse playfighting with the real thing.

I think this will be a good companion for your older cat, but give them time to adjust.

Well done you for helping out at a cat shelter and for adopting a rescue kitten.

Bless you and your cat and kitten and I really hope it works out for you.

Answer 6

Give it some time. The reaction of your older cat is perfectly normal. You may need to separate them and gradually introduce the new kitten a little more slower. Try bringing her into the room a few minutes at a time then gradually for longer periods. It is going to take your older friend awhile to accept having to share a space that they have not had to share previously as well as sharing your attention. The best thing you can do is give it time and be extra affectionate with your previous cat. It is common for a kitten to over shadow another pet in getting most of the attention so your older pet needs your love now more than ever!! Good luck

Answer 7

As you should know from working at a shelter.. ALL cats hiss at strange cats.. That is totally normal. BUT adult cats usually will accept a kitten within a couple weeks.

Just introduce them slowly.. within a couple weeks, your older cat will be used to having the kitten around..

You don't necessarily have to get rid of either.. In my experience, they will learn to get along.. or at LEAST tolerate each other's presence..

You didn't do wrong by the older cat. Most cats (once they get past the hissing/growling phase) ENJOY the company of another cat.. BUT.. yours is so old that he may never become FRIENDS with the kitten, but I'm sure he'll ajust to the kitten's presence, and his life will be just fine.

let them work it out.

Answer 8

You can ease the situation by keeping them separated them for a week or two. Keep the kitten in the bathroom with a cozy bed, food, litter box, and water. They'll be able to smell and hear each other while the whoo hoo! period passes.

When your home spend some time with the older guy, then hold him in your lap while you let the kitten out. Give them both treats and attention. When the older cat gets too grouchy, put him in the bathroom for one minute. Let him out and start over with him in your lap, etc.

He might not ever like the new guy, but the hissy fits will subside, and they will probably be able to make a truce.

Always seek out the older guy and give him love. The new one won't notice the difference, but the older one will.

Answer 9

when my two sisters came home at six weeks old after being fostered I thought my older cat was going to come out of her skin. She completely terrorized them for two years, now they are bigger than her and not taking it anymore.
Mostly, they all get along just fine. Don't worry. Don't let the older cat hurt the kitten. As the kitten grows, they will sort it out.

Answer 10

Youv had this older cat for 11 years, he has decided you are his master and no one elses! Then theres this little thing, who is all energetic and jumps around and wants to play all the time, and you play with him but he jsut aggravates the older cat. It's kinda like two kids with a jealous older child, after a while he will get us eto the kitten, just give him some time. And when you are with both of them make sure that you are petting the older one just as much as the younger one!! Iwouldn't give up and give the cat back, just give it time!

Answer 11

Don't worry honey, and NO - you don't have to "divide" your love - LOVE GROWS... it doesn't divide!

Just make sure, you still give your older male cat the attention it deserves. Do not favor your new kitten more than your old boy...

As far as the hissing & growling... it's normal. Your older cat just needs to get use to the fact that he is now sharing your love with another kitty.

Make sure, you aren't feeding them from the same bowl, or making them share the litterbox & toys.. not for now. Eventually, your older cat will WELCOME this new kitty into its life.