Taking kitten back?

Question

I've been asking this question on here before. About returning my new kitten (6 months) to the rescue centre. My older (4 years) cat still keeps hissing and slapping the kitten. It's been over two months since I've got kitten. Now I have a scar on my face from my older cat's attack and she's been very agressive recently, doesn't greet me, doesn't come on my lap, hisses at me, which never happened before. She is so nervous now. The kitten is lovely and very friendly. I keep thinking about returning her to the rescue centre where she could be adopted by a nice family. But it is cold outside and there is no heating whatsoever in the cat house in the rescue centre. Will she be cold.. Other cats being there seem to be alright with cold, but they have been there for a while.. I wonder how long would it take her to be adopted. Do you think 6 months kitten is very adoptable? I worry about my older cat going mad or just being fed up and leaving us if I keep the kitten, I worry about kitten too

No no, they don't put cats down there without very serious reason. Unfortunately my cat behaviour getting worse..

cykessa, I've been asking around for a few weeks now, asked vet today, too. Nobody wants kittens :(

Hot_Pink, I live in Sussex, UK

Answer 1

Not all cats will accept a new kitten in the house. I am lucky and have a male cat that just adores the new little kitten.
A 6-month old kitten is not too old and will be easy for the rescue center to find it a new home. It sounds like your 4 year old cat is extremely pissed off at you for bringing this other "thing" into "her home". Once your take the kitten back to the rescue, your cat will realize that her palace is all her's again and will eventually go back to her normal self.
Do not count on the older cat accepting this new kitten if it has been two months. Two months is a long time to give the new baby a chance and most rescue places prefer that you take the animal back to them if there are any type of issues.
The kitten will be fine outside, it will have the other kitties to snuggle up to to keep warm and it will learn at the shelter that it is okay to be next to other cats... if that makes sense :)
Sorry it did not work out for the little guy :(

Answer 2

A rescue center with no heat? Poorly run it seems. Try this. Your older cat is mad but believe me with the right attention for both he will get over it. Pick up your older cat, and give him good rubs. Have someone else pick up the kitten and do the same. Switch cats. Then after some time hold both or put them on either side of you and talk and pet them both. The older cat needs to know that he has not been replaced. If he hisses tell him no in a stern voice. He needs allot of attention. If this does not work, find a friend or relative who shows interest in the cat and give it to them

Answer 3

I recommand you try the different options that were mentionned by other users, those that recommand you cuddle with your older cat. Do not punish your old cat as he/she is showing her emotion. She is upset and showing her emotion is not a reason to punish her. I recommand you introduce them slowly and spend lots of time with old cat, talk slowly nicely and explain that you still love him/her, etc.

I had a cat and took an abandonned cat from my vet. Unfortunately she did not want nothing to do with my older cat (they were both adults and fixed). I tried everything and kept her for over a year and a half. She was about three years old when I brought her back to the vet. She was overwight too. It took a while but she found a family that already had a cat and they get along well. The vet gives me news from her all the time and she is happy with her new family and the other cat. Animals have their own personalities and we cannot force them to like one another, just like with humans. Have you ever seen a reality tv show? Have you ever noticed how some people will just seem not to be able to get along no mather what? This is just the same. Adding the new kitty in older kitty's territory creates a similar effect than (lets say Big Brother for a reference).

Please attempt every possible resource, remember not to punish either cat as it is not a valid reason. And if you see that it is not going to resolve, then find another home for baby kitten. Good luck.

Answer 4

Sounds like your older cat is jealous. You probably inadvertently paid so much attention to the new lil kitten, that you offended the older cat. I don't know how cold it is where you are, but I'd be reluctant to return the lil kitty to a cold cage too!!! Can you separate them in your home, and only re-introduce them in doses? Also, this might work if its not too late... pay no attention to the new kitten when you're around the older cat and give your older cat lots of attention intentionally when the kitten is around. When they are separated, play with the kitten so he isn't neglected, then wash and change clothes so the older cat does not know you've played with the younger one (she'll smell it on you). This tells your older cat that you still love her and no one crouching in on her. Also, have separate food dishes, water, and litter sources for you cats. They can be VERY territorial sometimes too. Finally, are your cats the same sex or opposite? Could have some impact as well if they're not fixed if one is in heat or ready to go into heat.

Finally, if you decide to give the little one back (I'm assuming you can't find a new home for it on your own?), I think a well adjusted 6 month old kitten still has a good chance of finding a home (depending on the damand where you are).

Best wishes

Answer 5

The proper way to introduce a new animal into the house hold is to have the new addition (I will call him newbi) in a crate place the crate with the open end facing the wall. Allow older cat to sniff crate and get used to the smell. Then after an hour or a little more. Turn the crate around and allow them face to face contact never leaving the area while they get acquainted. After doing this for a few hours. Take Newbi to a room and allow him to get out of the crate. Bring some food and water with him into this room. now allow him to and the old cat to sniff at each other under the door. after doing this for a few hours slowly introduce newbi to current cat. Cats can and will fight they are not pack animals like dogs. So expect some hissing and slapping around they are jut working out who is boss of who.

I hate to say this but I think you might need to return the kitten it sounds like they are not going to get along at all. It is good that they are a no kill shelter. You might try a cat of the opposite sex as well. There will be less to fight about then.

Female cats are just like female humans you put more than 1 in a room together and they are going to fight.

Good luck in your endeavor to bring a playmate into the house.

Answer 6

Part of this problem is .....they're both female! A lot of times an older female will let you adopt a male kitten, or an older male will let you adopt a younger female. Even males will accept another male before a female will another female! Talk about territorial........females are the worst! I have both, and some of the females hate each other and fight (even bring blood), but the males don't fight w/each other OR the females! My suggestion would be....ask your vet for some anxiety meds for your older cat, and if that doesn't work, try finding a home for the younger one, either thru the newspaper or an ad at the pet store! They sometimes have people looking for pets on their "message" board. Good luck.

Answer 7

Go to: http://spiritessence.com and read about using flower essences on your older cat.

I think maybe Dr. Jean Hovfe's New Beginnings might help the cat to adjust better to the kitten.

That blend of remedies will be mailed to you for under $20. You just shake the bottle well and put three to four drops on the cat's fur between her ears. Put it on her four or five times a day for the first week, then less (two, three X) if the behavior improves.

The remedies are entirely harmless and if you will use them intensely for a while you really have very little to lose and a possible solution to your problem so both cats can remain in your home.

Answer 8

I have three cats,they each have territories and jealousy issues.they will continue to be aggressive to each other but after time it subsides,One of them has to be the dominant one.If your not going to keep it,may I suggest that you give it away yourself to a family,as most shelters do put cats down just like dogs.
If I can tell you a story....
One night working the graveyard shift in Burbank Ca. a car drove down the street as i was hooking up my rig.The car slowed and threw something out.I thought it was trash.It had rained that night and in the middle of the street was a puddle.Minutes later what I thought was trash in the puddle,started to meow,I took the kitten on my deliveries that night and she was just happy to be warm and dry.I took her home and my cats didnt like her.It took a week and a half but I found her a home(and shes still called puddles) but my conscious and I feel better that we made an effort to find her a loving family.

Answer 9

Instead of taking her back to the rescue center have you thought about finding a family to adopt her. Maybe a neighbor, a co-worker, a friend, etc. You can talk to your vet about how the older cat is behaving. Maybe they know someone who is looking for another cat.

Answer 10

they will be ok in time i got a kitten when my cat was 14yrs old it took about 5 months for them to get on now the kitten is 1yrs old and they both sleep togarther they are males but both had the op when they were young