I recently got a new kitten. she's only 5 weeks. i have an older cat that ive had for a long time now. the older cat wants nothing to do with the little one, she doesnt try to attack the little one, but she does hiss at her and meow. is there anything i can do to get the older one used to the little one?
2007-10-27 11:28:56 · 6 answers · asked by Beckiie 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
It will just take time....don't try to force them to be around each other and don't scold them for hissing....that's just what they do. And in time they will get along.....And they will probably get along sooner when they think no one is looking. I have 6 cats all brought into the home at separate times and when they thought I wasn't looking they would get close to each other and smell each other but as soon as I walked in the room one would hiss at the other....that went on for about a week and a half. Then when I got my two boys neutered the older one started hissing again....until he got used to their "new scent" I know it can be frustrating but just give it time and love them both the same. Good Luck
2007-10-27 11:59:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't mention how old your "older" cat is. Usually cats don't have much of a problem with kittens, as they typically don't find them threatening. I've been fostering kittens for the past 5 years, and have had over 50 kittens/cats go through here and I have 5 of my own. Now, granted.. my five are very used to have little ones around... 3 out of the five, and very tolerant of any new kittens... my 2 females are a different story. However, they don't get very aggressive with the little ones, and the newbies learn very quickly who they can and cannot approach.
You can use a method I use often when needed. Take a clean towel and wipe down the kitten with it.... then take that same towel and wipe down your cat with it. Do the same with your older cat, to the kitten. Cat's identify more with smell than visual. Also, initiate play with both cats in one room... If you're older cat does nothing but watch... that's cool... let her do what she needs to do. Never scold her for hissing or meowing at the kitten... it's perfectly natural for her to do that. Only intervene when you see dangerous aggression. Best of luck!!
2007-10-27 18:41:03 · answer #2 · answered by Racer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes--but, 5 weeks is just too young to take a kitten from its mother, unless it was an emergency situation. If you just got the kitten from the litter, try giving her a bath with diluted Johnson's Baby Shampoo. Your older cat is picking up the scents of several cats on this kitten, so she's confused. Now, when baby-kitten is dry, rub her down with something that your older cat likes to lay on--a pillow case, towel, bedspread, etc., to remove any remaining odors, and to make the kitten smell as much like your older cat as possible. Then, leave them alone and watch. You may want to have a spray bottle filled with plain tap water handy in case your older cat gets a little too rough with the baby, but I don't think you're going to need it. This is perfectly normal. Your older cat is going to be a great benefit to this little kitten. She's only doing what ALL mother cats do when they are training their young--yes, they hiss at them, they swat them, and they meow at them. Your older cat is trying to be "Mommy" to this little one--and I think it's cute. You're fortunate enough to have an older female around to properly "raise" this youngster to be a NORMAL cat. These 2 are going to be fine--just get all the various scents off of the kitten so that the surrogate "Mommy" will be more accepting, and I'm sure she will.
2007-10-27 19:16:24 · answer #3 · answered by sharon w 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like what happened at my house when we tried introducing a new kitten to an adult cat that was already living there. The older cat would hiss and growl when she saw the kitten. At first, we kept them separated but when it became obvious the older cat wasn't going to attack, we started allowing them to mix freely. If you listen closely, you will notice the hissing isn't as loud or as strong as it would be if your cat encountered another adult cat. Basically, what the cat is doing is telling the kitten who is boss. They'll get used to each other and the growling and hissing will stop. What happened in our house was that it was the kitten that had the more dominant personality and now she is the top cat and bosses the older cat around.
2007-10-27 19:02:46 · answer #4 · answered by RoVale 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only time will help the older cat adjust to the kitten. Just be patient and she'll come around. Depending on her personality, she may never be buddy-buddy with the little one but will at least come to accept her. :)
2007-10-27 18:38:40 · answer #5 · answered by KittyChick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will probably happen on its own. Just be patient. It is not too likely that the older one will play, however.
2007-10-27 18:38:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋