teaching an old cat to love a new one?

Question

i have recently found a little 8 month old stray kitten and as we are in the middle of storm season I want to bring her inside of a night (she has no problems with this she WANTS to go inside, also she has been living in my backyard for 3 or 4 weeks,) but my problem is that my parents own another cat (they are both female and my parents cat is desexed the kitten is not, don’t worry im going to get her desexed but am slightly worried as she might have owners somewhere looking for her) anywho the older cat always hisses and makes other such noises whenever she sees my kitten and this annoys all of us. We try to get them used to eachother but the other day the older cat charged her didn’t attack though just charged but I cannot leave a kitten out in the midst of cyclone season either there is no way they can avoid eachother all night?
Please help
Also the older cat was adopted from the pound (not sure if that makes a difference)
Thanks heaps
Angil

Answer 1

Hello there,

How kind of you to take in the cat, I think the owners should be ashamed, have you seen any posters for the cat?
Maybe if you are worried that they might be looking for them put a few notices around and some posters, and you can just look after it in the meantime there is nothing else you can do really.
The other cats are just peeved that a 'newbie' has invaded its space, if the new member of the household is going to be a permanent thing the oter cats will just have to accept it - and they wil eventually when they know that things will not change. Its just a temporary behaviour thing.

Hope this helped feel free to email me at any time and I wil do my best to help you!

Kindest regards,
Amanda.

Answer 2

Ya know oddly enough I have a similar problem, I have a cat that's getting older, and recently I got a kitten, now my cat hisses at this other cat and snarls when the other cat gets to close.

All I can suggest is well you try to let them get use to each other, though that doesn't always work, I mean my cats sorta starting to get use to the other one, but I don't think she'll ever completely be use to having another cat around, but she doesn't hiss as much as at first, and she mostly just ignores the other cat now.

You can try letting them spend time close to each other, while you watch them closely to make sure the older cat doesn’t do anything, but well other than that I don't know, sometimes these things just take time.

Answer 3

I have had a 13 year old female cat and I got a kitten witch was male My female cat hissed and stuff and even swotted once but she was showing who was boss that is her house and she was there the longest she is showing the baby her spot in the house she should not hurt her and she will leave her alone in a few days it is like siblings one is older and shows it .

Answer 4

The older cat is just showing the younger cat who's territory the house is...she's the alpha cat and probably will be alittle mad at you for bringing in a new element into her home...2 females may never get along..as with 2 males that weren't raised together. They have to work it out between themselves..i would try to get the 2 of them to play...you in the middle with one toy..playing encourages socialization between the 2 cats. also..do not feed them together untill they are comfortable around each other..one may feel threatened when it comes to another cat taking her food. you may want to get a carrier and keep the kitten in there untill they can sniff each other and not feel threatened...it takes time with cats..they do what they want to do..not what we want for them. they make a feline hormone diffuser you can plug in and it puts calming pheremones into the air that the cat reacts to..they sell it at petsmart..i know there is one called feliway..but its way expensive..i think they sell an off brand of the stuff..but it works with my 2 males when i bring in my male stray when it rains...cats are so silly! good luck though!

Answer 5

well, i work at a pet store, and what we always tell people to do is one of two things.

first, you can buy a cheap carrier,like a cardboard one or something, then put the newer cat in that one, let the old cat sniff around, and get used to the fact that theres a new cat there, this way the new cat sees whos boss, and the old cat knows that its his house, but another cat will be coming in

or, you can buy pheromones, which help to relax cats,they have plug-ins or spray and you just put it in the area where they're both at and it releases pheromones into the enviornment, you can buy them at almost any pet store, but they're more costly ranging from about $20-$60...

hope this helps!

Answer 6

No reason to put that poor kitty back out in the cold. I've had a few occasions to introduce cats to each other in the same home and I can tell you that contrary to popular belief, they eventually get used to each other and will even snuggle up to each other over time. What you are seeing is a natural reaction. The original cat is just trying to maintain his territory. Over time though, he will realize he the other cat is there for good and will begin to chill out about it. You'll just have to let them have their space to work it out. Don't try to interfere, except if they are acting really hostile, you'll want to separate them when you are not home. Just put them in separate rooms with the door shut. It should not take longer than a month for them to get used to each other. Good luck!

Answer 7

Comfort Zone With Feliway For Cats & Kittens: this stuff is great l us it when i bring in a new cat/kitten to my home and this is what it does...............
Reduces or completely stops stress-related behavior including: urine marking, vertical scratching, loss of appetite, reduced desire to play or interact and other stress-related behaviors. Helps comfort cats in stressful situations such as: being alone in the house, visitors to the home, new pet or family member, moving to a new home, adjusting to a new environment, multiple cat households. Feliway mimics a natural comforting facial pheromone produced by cats. but the cost it $35.00 But belive me it is worth it

Answer 8

My experience is that they learn to tolerate each other. There also may be fighting as the younger one will try to upset the pecking order.

My two came to blows most everyday, but not hurt. Sounded like it at times, but after a few months they both calmed down, when the younger learned he wasn't going to be top cat.

Queen Jacleene still rules. lol

Answer 9

They should work things out between themselves in short order.
You could give the old cat some of its favorite treats while the kitten is nearby. If he comes to associate the kitten with treats, he'll take to it sooner.

Answer 10

I have the same problem with my older cat and my younger one. They will eventually get used to each other but just try to keep them together. Eventually they will get along.

P.s.
It's probaly that the older cat is jealous b/c the younger one is recieving the attention.