New kitten, older cat

The Young Wan

This may sound trivial, but any help at all, idelivery really appreciate it.

My family got a new kitten yesterday. We already have a nine year old ginger tom, can be a little aggressive. He was one of a litter born to us, his mother passed away at Christmas time, and a sister cat from the previous litter died last June. He's very much become used to his title of Master of the House.

I know that introducting a new kitten to an already established cat can be a little tricky. I'd looked on the Internet for advice, and asked a friend of mine who took in a new kitten to a home with an already established cat. Both said to do it slowly and carefully, start with smell, then sight, etc.

I did try. I really did. I rubbed new kitten with an old sock and tried to have older cat get used to his scent that way.

My problem is, my mother refused to listen. I was "just being stupid", and new kitten and older cat were placed in the same room today. There wasn't fighting, thankfully, but there was definitely hissing, raised backs, and animosity. Older cat refused to stay in the room.

Older can has gone out now for the night (he comes in for an hour or two, then has some food and goes out for bedtime.) I'm afraid this will be the last of him and that we have frightened him away from the only home he's had.

Long winded. I know. But is there ANYTHING I can do?

Ms Doubtfire1

yes. relax. Mr.Tom will be back.Is he neutered? if not, tend to that asap. Than, sit your mum down and tell her if she doesn't do it slow the Mr.Tom 'might' ( i'v never seen it happen) hurt the kitten and to give them a few days apart until the kitten has taken on the smell of the new house. You should be fine after that....

kathleen37

I have to say, when you're into dealing with rescue cats - the "take your time, separate rooms etc" doesn't tend to work in real life.

They've had first contact so I think you just need to keep an eye on both of them. Hugs for your older boy to make sure he doesn't think the new arrival is getting special attention and make sure you are within reach if there is any aggression.

(Needless, if your older boy isn't neutered then that needs to be a priority)

The Young Wan

Older cat is neutered (I'm naive but I'm not thick ) older cat has come to the house for food this morning, then he headed off on his travels. Little one is asleep in the corner. Older cat came into the room, watched kitten for a while, then went back out again.

Ms Doubtfire1

it will be fine so...:-):P

kathleen37

Yep. Sounds good. Like I say though, keep an eye on big boy when they are together.

frillyleaf

Hi op, I had to do this recently with a kitten and older cat. My older cat can be quite aggressive and territorial so needed to do it properly as I didn't want to stress either of them out as that wouldn't end well!

I introduced them gradually and always fed the older cat a treat (bit of chicken) when she met the kitten for the first week or so😊 she's quite aggressive and this seemed to distract her from the fact a new cat was moving in on her territory😊

I thought this would make her associate the kitten with something good and it seemed to work! In terms of introducing more I did it gradually...eg they would both sit up on high area ( back of couch) and would stare at eachother for hours.

Eventually the kitten started tormenting the older cat and they play together. The older cat still hisses every now and then and I won't leave them unattended unsupervised until the kitten is big enough to defend herself. It's all worked out pretty well although I do worry how things will work out when the kitten starts going outside.

Shenshen

I could be wrong, but if there wasn't any actual fighting the first and second time they met, there probably won't be any (serious) fights in future. I've only ever had two cats who didn't get along, and they were trying to kill each other right from the outset.

And who knows, some neutered toms really take to being a "daddy" to a kitten. One of ours absolutely adores it. Sure, they will hiss and growl and make themselves look big the first time they see the new faces, but once that's out of the way they can become really sweet and caring.

The Young Wan

It's been a week and still nothing positive.

kathleen37

If they haven't attacked each other, then that really is positive.

Chances are they will never be friends - but that's no problem. That's just how cats are. They don't need chums. We have 4 cats that come into the house during the day. They all ignore each other (with the occasional swipe if one walks too close)

loveisdivine

Our 2 have been together now for about 7 months. They don't cuddle or groom or anything like that. For the first 6 months the only interactions they had with each other were chasing each other (playfully) or swiping at each other (not exactly playfully!) During this time they did start to slowly tolerate sitting near each other, never touching, but the might both sit on the bed for a few minutes. Or sit in the window together for a couple of minutes. But it took about 8-12 weeks for that to happen.

The last month or so they've started wrestling. It's the most they've actually touched each other so far and it can look quite vicious, but no blood drawn or hissing so I think they're just playing.

So I really wouldn't worry about your 2. If they're not viciously attacking and injuring each other, or causing one or the other to constantly hide and not eat etc, then they will be fine. I'd love to come home and find mine sleeping together or grooming each other, but it's not gonna happen anytime soon!

Graces7

Agree totally that not to worry.
I have twins who have been curling up together since they were in the womb. 12 years now and they still curl up together. My new boy, a bumptious 3 year old, is gradually learning boundaries and it is slow work. He gets hisses and occasionally my girl boxes his ears. But has been seen recently licking him Has taken two years but never any blood shed or harm done.

They can work these things out as long as you know they are not going to inflict injuries. NB New boy NEVER retaliates. Only just realised that! so he knows the reality. He just moves and tries again later...

jenn1984

We have the same problem in our house except we have had 4 kittens since the day they were born (almost 12 months ago) in our house by their stray mammies. We have a neutered male 9 year old cat in the house that we have tried to introduce to them regularly but he just growls or swipes at them. He came face to face with the 11 month old unneutered male a couple of days ago (who is booked in for the snip tomorrow) who made the most ferocious wailing noise (the kitten) - luckily there was no contact made. Hoping when he is neutered, it might diffuse the tension a bit!

The Young Wan

Tonight, the elderly cat got aggressive and swiped for him.

DogLover33

I'd say give it time but try to build up the relationship slowly. You should put the new cat in an isolated part of the house where he can't really explore too much but the new cat can visit (like a kennel) and SLOWLY introduce them. Over time I'm sure they'll be friends. Cats can be fickle though, and it will take 2-3 weeks for things to go back to roughly normal.

DogLover33

I'd say give it time but try to build up the relationship slowly. You should put the new cat in an isolated part of the house where he can't really explore too much but the new cat can visit (like a kennel) and SLOWLY introduce them. Over time I'm sure they'll be friends. Cats can be fickle though, and it will take 2-3 weeks for things to go back to roughly normal.

mymo

A few warning growls and the odd slap are not to serious.
I have taken in many stray or orphan kittens, even feral ones, to try and rehome, one of my cats hates kittens, but I keep them in a bathroom to let him have some peace.
Intros on keepers have been tough, 6 months of growls, swipes, full on hiding once or twice, refusing to look in the direction of the interloper, or acknowledge their existence is normal. (only from one of our cats, the others varied from "oh, another one" to "I WILL KILL YOU!" For about a week then refusing to look at new kitty) everyone is friends now.
Don't leave them alone until they reach a kind of peace, sleep in separate rooms, interaction is ok, give them both a place the other isn't allowed, to feel safe.

Graces7

The Young Wan wrote: »

Tonight, the elderly cat got aggressive and swiped for him.

Claws in or out? A huge difference. Remember a cat has claws which it will use if really aggressive.

Jacob. my newest boy, gets swiped when he gets bold... Never a claw out and never any real aggro.

My big boy gets a horrific sounding growl occasionally from boss-cat.

How did the little one react? They have to learn boundaries and this is how they are taught. Watch the interplay?

loveisdivine

See my two do wrestle and swipe with their claws out. Well Ripley does for sure because sometimes we see bits of Bunks fluff about the place afterwards.

But they do seem to be playing. They happily share space now and if we get the laser or another toy out they will share. Plus they both instigate the wrestling.

Graces7

Just had a full on "explosion" from my older twins. Growls, leaping apart.. Maybe a bad dream from one... no harm done.