HELP - issues integrating a cat with a new kitten

JenStar

I am hoping someone can give me some advice about integrating a resident cat with a kitten. It’s been about 10 weeks and it’s not going great. Some background. Residence cat is female. She was approximately 7 months old when I use to a cage to rescue her. She was part of a colony of feral cats. It took quite a few months to domesticate her. She is very quiet and not very sociable (but adorable).

I didn’t have any plans to get another cat. A friend picked up a kitten from the motorway and brought her to me. The vet advised she was about 3 to 4 weeks old. I decided to keep her. I did everything by the book. Kept them apart for about a week, Shared scent with them by using a sock, Let them see each other but not touch. Fed them near each other and gradually have let them spend time together - first minutes, and gradually increasing the duration. Maybe too gradually. Kitten is fine. Really not a bother. She’s also a bit crazy- as kittens are. She really really wants to interact and play with resident cat. Resident cat does not like kitty. We’ve had no actual fights but existing cat hisses a lot and swipes sometimes. The kitten immediately resumes a submissive position but the second the cat turns away, kitty chases her. She’s once tried to curl up with her sleeping but Cat is having none of it. Kitty won’t give her a moments peace and it’s stressing her (and me) out. As Kitty grows, I can see this developing into full on scraps. Resident cat seems so unhappy and is spending more time outside and in rooms the kitten can’t get into.

Just to add to the fun, Kitty is not adjusting great to kitty litter. She has a dedicated room to sleep in. In one corner is her food etc. At the opposite side is where I have her litter. She always uses it to pee in. She rarely poos in it though. I now have 4 trays in the area she poos, and while she occasionally does, more often she doesn’t. I clean it each time and spray the area with a mix of vinegar and water.

Sorry for the long post. I’d really appreciate any advice. I feel like I’ve tried so much and things are getting worse instead of better. I really don’t want to have to rehome new kitty but I’m wondering if that’s the best option. I’m willing to try almost anything. Thanks in advance.

Nody

Well sounds like your resident cat is setting limits on the kitten so that part I'd not worry about; what I would aim for however is to get high level spaces for your resident cat to be on while the kitten is on the floor. This will help establish a safe area even if the kitten is around and make her feel more in control. In regards to not pooping where she should; have you put the poo in there for her to get the association going?

jimf

with regard to the pooing

just use ordinary earth from the garden instead of cat litter

if a success add cat litter gradually

JenStar

Thank you for the response. I’m glad you think it’s okay about my resident cat setting limits. It’s seems like it’s escalating. I’m not sure at what point to intervene. I try not to, and have never left them alone unsupervised. I think my presence is the only thing that stops my cat from full on attacking the kitten. I’ll persevere. I know it can take time to adjust. Kitty is getting big fast and is incredibly fast, agile and inventive. She’s like a spider kitten on speed. I do have a few places she can’t get to, but it won’t be long.

I’ve read that about putting the poo in for association but I retch enough cleaning it up (oh the smell) that I’d rather not. The fact she’s done it the odd time makes me hope she’ll cop on but I’ll give that a go �� ��. Thanks again

JenStar

jimf wrote: »

with regard to the pooing

just use ordinary earth from the garden instead of cat litter

if a success add cat litter gradually

That’s a great idea. I’ll give it a go. I’m not sure if she was dumped on the motorway or born in the wild. She was very comfortable with people but that might have been because she’s so young. She might be more familiar with ordinary earth. Thanks for that.

Graces7

Op how long have you had the new cat? it can take literally months! I brought 3 new rescues in to my existing 2 older cats last October and still the younger one will not tolerate the new ones.

As long as there are no overt attacks? Just continue taking care from a safe distance and make sure the older cat gets abundant individual attention from you

My lad decided to go awol for 24 hours last week! Since then I have let him sleep in my bed and he loves that. But he prefers not to go near the young whippersnapper.. there have been hisses.. but that is fine too

JenStar

Graces7 wrote: »

Op how long have you had the new cat? it can take literally months! I brought 3 new rescues in to my existing 2 older cats last October and still the younger one will not tolerate the new ones.

As long as there are no overt attacks? Just continue taking care from a safe distance and make sure the older cat gets abundant individual attention from you

Wow. That’s impressive. Fair play to you.

My resident cat doesn’t go out much, doesn’t go far and won’t stay out for long. Kitty, on the other hand, is dying to get out. So far I’ve only let her wander around the enclosed back garden for very short periods. At what stage did you start leaving them by themselves unsupervised? I work from home a couple of days a week, but when I’m not here I have to limit kitty to her room and she cries a lot. I don’t want to have to restrict her so much, and worry I’m actually taking it too slowly. There have been no unprovoked attacks at all. Just hissing and occasional swiping when kitty gets too close for resident cats liking. I don’t know if she’d be more aggressive if I wasn’t there though.

Graces7

JenStar wrote: »

Wow. That’s impressive. Fair play to you.

My resident cat doesn’t go out much, doesn’t go far and won’t stay out for long. Kitty, on the other hand, is dying to get out. So far I’ve only let her wander around the enclosed back garden for very short periods. At what stage did you start leaving them by themselves unsupervised? I work from home a couple of days a week, but when I’m not here I have to limit kitty to her room and she cries a lot. I don’t want to have to restrict her so much, and worry I’m actually taking it too slowly. There have been no unprovoked attacks at all. Just hissing and occasional swiping when kitty gets too close for resident cats liking. I don’t know if she’d be more aggressive if I wasn’t there though.

There is no such thing in this as too slowly.

I am home 24/7 in an unusual situation in that I live on a very small island with only 2 other cats on the whole place. They cannot get lost as nowhere to go.

Last October I lost my dog and one of my older cats the same weekend and was ordered by my family to go and rescue three cats! They know me very well,

I set up the big dog crate in the kitchen with food water tray and put the carriers therein. They started seeking out in about three days and as they had been young street cats I let them loose. Heart in mouth the first few nights. But they knew where the food lives.

There was no interaction with the two older ones. Avoidance! Snooty noses in the air... :rolleyes:

and just let them take it at their own pace which they have done. The three newbies eat and sleep in the kitchen, my older 2 in my bedroom where I am much of the day.

they now curl up TOGETHER at times!
Not the middle aged one. lol
THE VERY IDEA!

and they all come for walks with me; I have posted photos of this!

Interesting that neither of the older ones will prevent food thefts from them. Even as they are actually eating.

I think that if cats are going to fight they will launch into it very early on. Yours have not done so so I think they will not now do that. They are just adjusting rank. Keeping the wee kid in its place!

Agree re confining the little one; have you tried her on a lead though? The day will come when you feel able to let her explore outside. It will!

Graces7

JenStar wrote: »

Wow. That’s impressive. Fair play to you.

My resident cat doesn’t go out much, doesn’t go far and won’t stay out for long. Kitty, on the other hand, is dying to get out. So far I’ve only let her wander around the enclosed back garden for very short periods. At what stage did you start leaving them by themselves unsupervised? I work from home a couple of days a week, but when I’m not here I have to limit kitty to her room and she cries a lot. I don’t want to have to restrict her so much, and worry I’m actually taking it too slowly. There have been no unprovoked attacks at all. Just hissing and occasional swiping when kitty gets too close for resident cats liking. I don’t know if she’d be more aggressive if I wasn’t there though.

PS you do not come into this equation! it is between them...

ldy4mxonucwsq6

Well done so far, you've done everything that you're supposed to do at the initial stage of introduction in terms of the scent mixing, then visual access and taking it slow before allowing them to be together.

Have you tried feeding them jointly, like at the same time/same area and what about games, what happens if you try play with them together with cat toys/treats etc?

ILoveYourVibes

JenStar wrote: »

I am hoping someone can give me some advice about integrating a resident cat with a kitten. It’s been about 10 weeks and it’s not going great. Some background. Residence cat is female. She was approximately 7 months old when I use to a cage to rescue her. She was part of a colony of feral cats. It took quite a few months to domesticate her. She is very quiet and not very sociable (but adorable).

I didn’t have any plans to get another cat. A friend picked up a kitten from the motorway and brought her to me. The vet advised she was about 3 to 4 weeks old. I decided to keep her. I did everything by the book. Kept them apart for about a week, Shared scent with them by using a sock, Let them see each other but not touch. Fed them near each other and gradually have let them spend time together - first minutes, and gradually increasing the duration. Maybe too gradually. Kitten is fine. Really not a bother. She’s also a bit crazy- as kittens are. She really really wants to interact and play with resident cat. Resident cat does not like kitty. We’ve had no actual fights but existing cat hisses a lot and swipes sometimes. The kitten immediately resumes a submissive position but the second the cat turns away, kitty chases her. She’s once tried to curl up with her sleeping but Cat is having none of it. Kitty won’t give her a moments peace and it’s stressing her (and me) out. As Kitty grows, I can see this developing into full on scraps. Resident cat seems so unhappy and is spending more time outside and in rooms the kitten can’t get into.

Just to add to the fun, Kitty is not adjusting great to kitty litter. She has a dedicated room to sleep in. In one corner is her food etc. At the opposite side is where I have her litter. She always uses it to pee in. She rarely poos in it though. I now have 4 trays in the area she poos, and while she occasionally does, more often she doesn’t. I clean it each time and spray the area with a mix of vinegar and water.

Sorry for the long post. I’d really appreciate any advice. I feel like I’ve tried so much and things are getting worse instead of better. I really don’t want to have to rehome new kitty but I’m wondering if that’s the best option. I’m willing to try almost anything. Thanks in advance.

Use Pheromone Products.

I know a few people who asked the vet for a VERY VERY mild sedative for the adult cat for a week.

Cats become friends through playing. Supervise some play games that you initiate.

I would only feed them separately .

It takes time. Don't feel bad.

Also try this. Keep them separate but once every day introduce them all over again. Then separate them. Keep doing it each day until they start to get along. Separate reintroduce. Separate reintroduce.

If its not working keep your cats in separate rooms for a few days or even a week. Then re-introduce again but always following the same steps as you did in the beginning with scents etc pheromones etc.

Don't be worried if it takes a few months or even a year. They can still make friends.

aonb

I have 2 cats, both ex-ferals.
Cat 1 arrived as a tiny kitten, shes been here about 4 years (what?!?!?!)
Cat 2 arrived as a half dead adult about 2 years ago.
Cat 2 is now much bigger (fatter) than lightweight Cat 1

We're rural, and both cats come and go. Mostly indoors though.
Cat 1 is in the house most of the day, then tootles off late afternoon, comes home in the middle of the nght for food and bed (through out bedroom window)
Cat 2 is in the house most of the day, and is then put into her workshop bedroom with food and window open so she can come and go in the night

Both females.
They have never been friends. They never will be friends - EVER!!
Cat 1 hisses and runs at Cat 2 on practically a daily basis
Cat 2 couldnt give a hoot! She just sits looking at Cat 1 as if shes nuts
Now and then Cat 1 comes out of nowhere and gives Cat 2 a fright but thats the extent of if.
The dog acts as referee (I kid u not - he goes between them if theres any aggro )

So my point is. If they are living in the same house, rules will have to be set by resident cat. She either avoids the kitten, or puts her in her place by exerting her strength/experience/age over the kitten - hopefully the kitten will have the sense to back off and stop trying to irritate the older resident cat. They will either eventually get used to each other and become friends, or tolerate each others presence, or just simply avoid each other.
My two will sleep on seperate chairs in the same room, but mostly sleep in other rooms - with the door open in most rooms they can wander at will. There are always a few windows open if one of then feels the need to go out too.

Its stressful for you to worry about the kitten, but that kitten is so fast that it will soon get the heck out of the way of the older cat if she gets a wallop and a telling off. Maybe let the older cat put some discipline on the pesky kitten, with your supervision, and see how that goes. If you're stressed its certainly not helping - horrible feeling.

Airyfairy12

My two cats where the same, had my oldest one 7 years before the new kitten was discovered in the back garden, we took him in and the older cat was not happy about it, kitten followed him around, wanted to play with him, would run to the door everytime he heard the older cat outside trying to get in, he loved him but older cat hated the new kitten, hissed and growled at him, swiped for him but surprisingly never tried to attack him or hurt him in anyway. Older cat stopped coming into the house and was fairly grumpy for along time but he got over it, they'll never be best friends, older cat still growls and hisses at the younger cat who couldnt care less, thinks its a game or just walks away, annoys the older cat by jumping up beside him to give hi a fright and then runs off or gives him a playful swipe to get a reaction but they get on ok, the younger cat still adores the older one, the older one tolerates the younger one, theres been no big fights or anything and after 5 years older cat has just started to occasionally playfully chase the younger cat.
They have established rules amongst themselves, usually both cats are fed seperatly but if theres a plate of food left out the younger cat will stand back and allow the older cat to eat first, will happily move out of the way if the older cat pushes him away from the food bowl and will wait patiently until the other cat is done.
Theyve both had scraps with other cats in the area but never once turned on each other.

It will take time for her to adjust to the new cat and she'll sulk for awhile but she'll get used to the new cat around the place eventually.

Graces7

as we are all saying, the cats are in charge...I still feed my two groups separately but the new ones are thieves.

The only time I have ever in over 40 years of cats had a straight out fight happen was when I had two entire toms in the house. .. I saw the LEAP happening and foolishly stuck my hand out to prevent and got accidentally badly bitten.

Oh and the time outside stray feral tried to muscle in on the resident outside feral! They rolled over and over, fully locked, for a long time, screaming blue murder, but never a scratch..

Your two will sort it