My neighbours have just got 2 beautiful kittens ! we're in two semi-detached cottages, and their garden has always been one of my two girls favourite places to hang out - they have trees for climbing etc. I'm anxious to ensure that these two new feline additons to the neighbourhood don't get bullied by my two, as mine were by other neighbourhood cats when they first arrived. I know one of mine is territorial, and really don't want to be trying to defend the indefensiable. Does anyone have any advice on how to try to make sure they all get off to a good start ? My two are spayed girls, I'm not sure what the kittens are , but I know they're not spayed yet...

I don't really have any advice (sorry) but this reminds me of my kitten. Next doors two tom cats were always in our garden, sitting on our windowsill etc. Then we got Winnie...the two cats will not go out in their own garden. they're terrified of her I don't know why, she is tiny in comparison

something similar happened with us. our other neighbour had a beautiful cat who used to come & sit on our kitchen window & chat to us. This is how OH decided we should get cats as he wasn't a cat person until this little angel arrived ! She used to pop in for a chat while I hung out the washing & keep him company while he had breakfast. When the two 8 week olds arrived, OH decided to organise the big meeting and lo & behold, the smallest one grew to twice her size & hissed. that was the end of it ! She'd pop by to the kitchen window every now & then, but seemed so hurt that she'd been replaced !!! I can get over my cats hurt feelings, but not if they're the ones who inflict injuries on them as ours had happen - a bitten ear & paw

I know this sounds kinda wishy washy but I think you'll find that they'll kinda sort themselves out. You should only really need to intervene if you have on-going kitty fights. I think you have many hours of watching cat chess ahead of you until they come to an accord.

I agree, there is very little you can do. They may become friends, they may hate each other, you have to leave it to them really. Most cats will settle down to tolerating other neighbourhood cats, but it can take months before they get used to the 'newcomers'. If they're going to fight, you can't stop them, but I have not myself ever experienced an adult cat fighting a kitten (and I've had a lot of kittens!). They may shout and hiss and get the hump, but as long as the kittens get the message and retreat, they shouldn't actually get physically hurt. It's much more difficult introducing new adult cats into a neighbourhood than kittens, as kittens are not seen as a 'threat'. And by the time the kittens grow up, an 'understanding' should have been reached. Obviously it doesn't always work out that way, some cats are very aggressive and won't tolerate other cats on their territory, but there is little you can do about it either way.

And yes there will probably be a lot of games of cat chess

thank guys, I'm more concerned about making sure my cats now realise that this isn't their territory anymore... I get on well with the neighbours and really don't want to fall out with them over anything like cat fights. that said,my two scaredy cats have learned their lesson since the agressive tom in the neighbourhood battered the two of them, so they'll more likely run than stay...

I agree about the cat chess, and look foreward ! I love watching the slow motion stealth of the furries !!

No I agree. It's nature. Until the sorting out happens there will be some put out cats but it will happen

It won't necessarily work but you could try some scent introductions before your cats & your neighbours' kittens meet "in person". If you know your neighours well & if they wouldn't mind, perhaps you could swap some cat bedding with them. This way both the kittens & your cats can get used to each others' smell before any meeting. If you do this several over the next few weeks it may "soften the blow" when any face to face meetings take place. Similarly if you visit the kittens & handle them, & if your neighbour does the same with your cats, you can transfer the scent between your cats. It may just make the shock of finding new neighbours have moved in next door a bit less stressful for all the cats.

Female cats generally have smaller territory requirements than males plus they can learn to time share overlapping territories. When your neighbour first decides to let her cats out, ask her to let you know so that you can keep your cats indoors. That way the kittens can explore & leave their scent around her garden, plus pick up your cats' smells, then the scents of all the cats starts to mingle & become one communal scent. Also your cats are likely to know the sex & age (as in they are only kittens, not sexually mature adults) of the kittens & not be so worried.

This may help with the introductions & smooth the path to amicable sharing arrangements. This is what I did when my neighbour got a kitten & I had 4 large male cats. It worked really well & the neighbour's kitten ended up running rings round my 4 who got hours of entertainment watching the kitten catching butterflies.

I agree with the scent thing, that's what I've always done when introducing a new kitten to my resident cats. The kitten would initially be kept isolated from the other cats, so they could possibly smell each other at a distance, but couldn't see each other. After a week or so, I'd let the kitten out to wander around the house when the other cats were out, so it left its scent all over. Kitten was then returned to its room, and other cats came in and sniffed around. Eventually, controlled face-to-face meetings took place, with older cats allowed to enter the kitten's room. A certain amount of hissing and paw-smacking was permitted (to get the pecking order sorted out), but it never progressed to anything more, as the kitten usually learned pretty quickly what was allowed, and the older cats also learned that there was enough room for everyone, and they could escape if the kitten was being too annoying!

^ this may be why Winnie never took to next door's cats. we just let her out.

Some cats just don't take to each other, and others do (like people, really). There are some cats who are widely accepted by others because they have an assertive but friendly vibe, others whose first priority is to beat up everything in sight in a bid for world domination, and others who are constant victims.

I never made 'special arrangements' when letting my cats outside, it wasn't practical because there were half a dozen other households nearby with cats, so mine just had to get on with it. My boss cat was very sociable and became good mates with next door's two cats and used to hang out with them, I sometimes looked through their window and saw him asleep on the sofa. He would also tolerate - and was tolerated by - most of the other neighbourhood cats - but there were a couple who really got his goat.

It's very considerate of you OP to be concerned but you may just have to see how it pans out.

You say your cats use the neighbours garden - I assume the neighbours have always been OK with that??? Why don't you have a chat with them? Chances are they wont be letting the kittens out until they have been spayed / neutured?

On a similar topic my neighbour has canaries that they leave outside in sunnier weather (in a cage of course) and my Amber is just dying to "meet" them - I've only been letting Amber out under supervision as I don't want her to terrorise these birds - but its not a long term solution really?

They're both out under supervision at the moment - I saw them hanging upside down off one of the trees yesterday !! They're bigger than I thought, but still kittens ! The neighbours love cats, so have met mine and don't have a problem with them , I guess I'll just wait until they're spayed and talk to the neighbours about a plan !! I'd definately love to try the scenting, but I have a feeling the girls already know there's something up !

Not sure what to advise about your neighbours canaries !! Odd one ! Ask the neighbour to build a moat !!! I know one of my cats spends hours , literally, staring down our goldfish but never does anything about it, but then again, she's not a great hunter and I think she does it for show...