my new kitten is being attacked by my other baby kitten?

Question

I just got a new baby kitten from the humane society- she is 13 weeks old but only 1.9 lbs. I brought her home to my other kitten who has been in the house alone with me for 2 months. She is only about 4 weeks older though but much bigger (maybe 5lbs now) and she keeps attacking the new one. The new one doesn't fight back much cuz she is so small but will ocassionally cry or whine a bit. My older kitten gets her in a head lock type move...just want to make sure that she won't hurt or kill her. Is it okay for her to bite this new one so much? I don't know if she is just proving that she was here first or what...I am just worried about the tiny kitten becuase she is so petite and underweight...any advice is helpful! Thanks

Answer 1

You need to let them get used to each other slowly. Cats, like people, can have different temperaments & can get jealous of a new addition to the family.

Keep them in separate areas unless someone is with them. They need separate food/water bowls & litter boxes. Use a small litterbox until each kitten is a bit bigger.

They need time to get used to each other & supervised play times can make is easier on them both. The older kitten is defending its territory & the newer kitten is probably overwhelmed by the whole situation.

There is a site called catchannel.com that is a part of the Animal Planet website. It has some great ideas for socializing cats.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

Kittens, especially of that age, LOVE to play fight. I would let them do it for a little while each day because it's the only way the older kitten is going to learn when she's being too rough. She'll know by the younger kitten's cries.

However, I would give the young one a "break" so that she doesn't get stressed out. Put her in another room for a while to rest. Kittens of this age need a lot of sleep and the older one may be disturbing that. (Make sure both have access to water and a litter box while they're separated).

You'll also want to feed them separately because the older kitten will overpower the younger one and take her food. Make sure she is getting enough nutritious food, especially during the first couple months.

Good luck!

Answer 3

IT'S ENTIRELY NATURAL BEHAVIOR... I HAVE 16 CATS RESCUED AT VARIOUS AGES AND VARIOUS STAGES OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS. WHAT WORKED FOR ME WAS THIS... THE NEW COMER I WOULD PLACE IN A SPARE ROOM OR A SPARE BATHROOM WITH FOOD, WATER AND LITTER BOX AND TOYS AND A LOT OF CARTON BOXES THAT ARE CARVED OUT AS TUNNELS FOR HIDING PLACES... (MAKE SURE ALL CATS NEW COMERS AND OLD ARE FREE FROM ANY DISEASES AND HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IF OLD ENOUGH) AS I WORK MAINLY AT HOME, I AM ABLE TO VISIT 5 TO 6 TIMES A DAY TO PLAY WITH HIM IN THE BEGINING. THEN I START AT INTERVALS INTRODUCING HIM TO THE OTHERS... ALWAYS UNDER SUPERVISION. AS SOON AS THEY GET USED TO EACH OTHER'S SMELLS, IT GETS EASIER... BUT KEEP IN MIND, THERE IS ALWAYS THE HIERACHRY... AND THE FIGHTING IS NORMAL TO DECIDE WHO IS ON TOP... IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHO CAME FIRST.. BUT WHO IS THE GOING TO BE THE BOSS...SOME OF MY CATS PLAY FIGHT DURING THE DAY AND CUDDLE AT NITE( FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS ;) JUST USE UR JUDGEMENT AND WITH A LITTLE TIME AND PATIENCE, EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT TO THE BEST ... MY CATS TOOK ABOUT 2 WEEKS TO GET USED TO EACH OTHER... WHICH IS MORE THAN WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT MY NEPHEWS... WHEN THE 2ND WAS BORN, WE HAD TO WATCH THEM FOR A YEAR CUZ THE ELDER WOULD ACTUALLY CUDDLE UP TO HIM AND SMILE AND THEN TAKE A BITE AT HIM :( GOOD LUCK WITH UR KITTY AND DON'T GIVE UP...

Answer 4

It is normal, just don't leave them alone together for a while, when you are away, so that you can intervene in case of emergency. However, since they are both so young, I don't think there will be a problem, if your older one stops biting when the little one starts whining. This is how they socialise, they learn when to stop biting, they establish a hierarchy. In about a month they will both be of similar size, so there will be no problem. Make sure to spay/neuter them both when they turn 6 months old, or there may be a problem when they are adults.

Answer 5

I had the same problem once. They just need to get used to one another, once they do, they will b life long friends, i would however, lightly spank the bigger one on the bottom and tell her NO bad kitty. That will help alot. Good Luck.