Got a second cat (kitten) How will our first one adjust?

Question

Hi every1. I have had a kitten (now 8 months old) that I adopted from the shelter, and my girlfriend brought home a new 6 week old kitten. Do cats normally adjust? Is my first cat going to be ok? He plays with her, but he's used to playing rough and he seems to want to bite her (we've had the new kitten for a few hours now). Anyone have any advice. comments, suggestions?

Answer 1

Well- It sounds like your older cat is adjusting well. But you will want to watch him and, as you say, make sure he doesn't play too rough. One thing that might help with that is having him neutered, if it isn't done already. Now- if he's biting her on the back of the neck, it might be that he has decided to take a sort-of paternal interest in the baby. That's what an older male cat I used to have did when I adopted a little female, about the same age as yours.

Most times, cats hiss and spat when they first meet, until they settle dominance issues. It's nothing to be concerned about.

You might want to feed the little cat somewhere where the older one can't get to readily, at least until you are sure he won't bully her away from the food bowls. But it looks to me like you're well on your way to being one big happy family.

Answer 2

LOTS of great advice from other folks answering .... but I have to say that we have two cats that still don't get along after 6 months. The one we got first is 6 years old, and then we got a 5 week old kitten about 3 months later. The older one doesn't like the youngin' at all. In fact, she's started getting quite aggressive with the kitten, so it is very exhausting!! I am reading lots of books right now, trying to learn what I can to make it better. The best book in the world for learning about cats is called "Think Like a Cat," and it is by Pam Johnson-Bennett. I've read it twice now, and I'm learning SO much!

Answer 3

If they're not hissing or growling, or if their ears aren't flattened back with their backs arched I'd say they're getting along fine. Both cats are young enough that I think you'll be ok. Also, what looks like rough play to you is probably just normal interaction- although you should still keep an eye on them when they're together for the next day or so.

I brought home an 8 week old kitten, and my 4 year old and 2 year old adult cats wouldn't stop growling or hissing at him, when all he wanted to do is play. You're lucky that they're young because it should go smoothly.

Answer 4

Any normal 2 young cats in the same house should play a lot once they get used to each other. That adjustment period will most likely take a few weeks, if not a month or so, in total. In the end, they will get along fine. Just let them define their own "relationship" and make sure that they don't seriously hurt each other until then.

I have 5 cats and raised 2 of them from birth. I have seen the same process with bringing each cat into the family.

Answer 5

If they are already playing together then you had a very smooth integration already. The fact that they play rough is only an indication that they get along fine and that they practice their fighting skills.

Just for fun, try to identify which one dominate the other by looking at which cat gets on his back more often (contrary to what people thinks, the cat that is on his back is normally the cat that dominate the other since the best fighting position for a cats is by having his four claws ready to welcome the other cat) and by which cats leaves the fight first more often. You will then know who is the boss of the two. This position might change over time and it is interesting to see if that cats gets the best spots of the house! That doesn't mean that the dominated cat is unhappy, it's just their way of establishing order! Please do not intervean and let them decide it.

Answer 6

Cats are strange creatures! If they fight, it's probably just playfighting. We had the same problems when we adopted our second cat :-)

Don't leave them unsupervised until you trust that they won't hurt each other. Even then, make sure that you're still in the house to listen out for them. Eventually, they'll start to get on! Kittens are naturally playful, so it's also sometimes a good idea to buy some 'cat toys', like fabric mice and string. This should distract them enough that they won't tear each others' fur out!!!

Answer 7

not to good in the beginning. when you introduce the 2nd cat, put her/him in a carrier and let them get aquainted for a couple of hours this way and then your cat which was already there will display dominance and territory over your new cat and hopefully they will share the space nicely. we had gotten 2 cats from different sources and my first cat hissed and hunched her back and swatted at my new kitten through the carrier door and after a couple of hours, I let my new kitten out of the carrier and they fought for awhile and now they are the best of friends and are also 4 years old. we had gotten both of them when they were each 6 weeks old. they are a month apart in birthdays.

good luck.

Answer 8

I've just adopted a 4yr old cat and I already had a 8month old kitten, They are getting on fine.
I have only had my new cat for a week and they have only had i small argument but they adapt they well.

Give it a few days and they will be fine,they are both very young which will make it easier.

Good luck with double trouble lol

Answer 9

They'll be fine.. He won't hurt the baby. It's a VERY good sign that he's allready playing wth her even though you've only had her a few hours!!

They'll be fine.. Watch them and keep an eye out.. but mostly just let them work everythign out.. He'll figure out how to play with a baby that tiny...