My neighbour's cat has just had 2 kittens and I have agreed to take 1 of them. My cat and the cat next door do not get along. Will this be a problem? Also I know to swap their bedding and feed them on opposite sides of the door, is there anything else I can do? I don't want to introduce them too early, so how long do I wait? I am really hoping for my cat becomes like a surrogate mother to her but I know I may be in for a disappointment. Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Any tips on how i get my cat to love my new kitten?
Gently, gently does it. They may never get along or may get on like a house on fire.
Just be careful not to leave them together unobserved.
Maybe have the kitten in a carrier and let the older one sniff around for a week or so before you start feeding them together in ever increasing proximity.
I'd separate them at night time to start with until you are confident there won't be a bedtime massacre.
Just be careful not to leave them together unobserved.
Maybe have the kitten in a carrier and let the older one sniff around for a week or so before you start feeding them together in ever increasing proximity.
I'd separate them at night time to start with until you are confident there won't be a bedtime massacre.
Thanks Jackie. Think your right I don't want to mess it up early doors. My cat is a very loving but also rather spoilt, she loves me a lot(will get up and leave my daughters lap and come to me) so i'm going to hold back where the kitten is concerned (in front of my cat anyway).
The likelihood is your older cat will never like the kitten. The kitten will drive her crazy trying to play etc. kitten will be hissed and swiped at. You have to let this happen to a certain extent. Older cat will hopefully learn to tolerate kitten. A best, will completely ignore it, but stop attacking it...
Once kitten gets a bit bigger and a little less playful, there may be an amnesty. That's about it really! From first hand experience.
Once kitten gets a bit bigger and a little less playful, there may be an amnesty. That's about it really! From first hand experience.
Maybe try gradually bringing the kittens sent intot he home before you bring the kitten home so your cat will get used to it...take something like a blanket and let the kitten sleep on it or rub it on its fur and then leave it where your cat can smell it....
Ideally, you should have got a litter mate for the kitten, so the kitten has someone to play with. Older cats may enjoy the peace and quiet and take umbrage if a young upstart annoys them.
The personality of cats often clashes. They may never get on.
At least you know with litter mates that they all smell the same and have a bond.
The draw backs are:
They might ignore each other once they leave kittenhood.
They might ignore their owner.
Dominance issues
Illness can be harder to discover.
Please have a read about the benefits of having littermates on the web. They are some beautiful tales of the fun kittens and cats have growing up with their siblings.
The personality of cats often clashes. They may never get on.
At least you know with litter mates that they all smell the same and have a bond.
The draw backs are:
They might ignore each other once they leave kittenhood.
They might ignore their owner.
Dominance issues
Illness can be harder to discover.
Please have a read about the benefits of having littermates on the web. They are some beautiful tales of the fun kittens and cats have growing up with their siblings.
i dont think the age difference makes too much of a problem between cats, i have 3 cats ages 10, 4 and 1...my 10 year old and 4 year old are inseperable, the 4 year old hates the 1 year old with passion but they will eat together, it just depends on the cats...
my old tortie lived to be 19 and she never liked other cats, even though i had 2 others at that time too, she just didnt like the company of anything with more than 2 legs but she would tolerate them and give them permission to be in the same room as her
ive also had a 12 year male cat old and a new kitten who bonded instantly...he used to carry her around in his mouth like she was his baby, even when she way too big for him to do it.
Good luck with the kitten OP and dont worry too much about the hissing and growling that you will definitely be hearing im sure it'll all turn out fine.
my old tortie lived to be 19 and she never liked other cats, even though i had 2 others at that time too, she just didnt like the company of anything with more than 2 legs but she would tolerate them and give them permission to be in the same room as her
ive also had a 12 year male cat old and a new kitten who bonded instantly...he used to carry her around in his mouth like she was his baby, even when she way too big for him to do it.
Good luck with the kitten OP and dont worry too much about the hissing and growling that you will definitely be hearing im sure it'll all turn out fine.
Thanks everyone for all the advice it gives me a bit of hope that they will get along. Just hope they don't pick up on my nervousness.
My old boy Tigger was absolutely horrified when i got two kittens when he was around 7 yrs old and i despaired of them ever getting on. He was actually terrified of them and refused to be in the same room as them.
I was advised to play with the kittens in front of him, getting them chasing some string round and, sure enough, little by little, he could not resist joining in and within about a year he was devoted to them.
One of them died last year
but he and Hicks are great friends now, Tigger is now 15 and Hicks is 8. Hicks snakes up to Tigger on his belly and gently head butts him until tigger pins him down and gives his head a good wash, they both seem to thoroughly enjoy it and once they have had enough it usually turns into a play fight.
I often find them asleep together, Tigger is rather overweight and Hicks likes to rest his head on his belly. It took a long, long time and i never thought they would get there but with patience and perseverance they have ended up really close. Far closer than Hicks and his deceased twin Ripley ever were, they hated each other and used to fight a lot!
I was advised to play with the kittens in front of him, getting them chasing some string round and, sure enough, little by little, he could not resist joining in and within about a year he was devoted to them.
One of them died last year
but he and Hicks are great friends now, Tigger is now 15 and Hicks is 8. Hicks snakes up to Tigger on his belly and gently head butts him until tigger pins him down and gives his head a good wash, they both seem to thoroughly enjoy it and once they have had enough it usually turns into a play fight. I often find them asleep together, Tigger is rather overweight and Hicks likes to rest his head on his belly. It took a long, long time and i never thought they would get there but with patience and perseverance they have ended up really close. Far closer than Hicks and his deceased twin Ripley ever were, they hated each other and used to fight a lot!
Originally Posted by sleepybelle:
“Thanks everyone for all the advice it gives me a bit of hope that they will get along. Just hope they don't pick up on my nervousness.”
“Thanks everyone for all the advice it gives me a bit of hope that they will get along. Just hope they don't pick up on my nervousness.”
Be very patient !!! And try not to be nervous ......
I went through this last year. The most important thing I found was not to get cross or angry with the older cat when he lashed out at my kittens .... but giving him extra praise and treats. Trying to make him feel extra special and included. It also helped not to hover when older cat and kittens were interacting. Of course stay close by with an ear and eye open, ready to intervene if needed but I found if I wasn't in the same room, older cat would be less compelled to fight with them.
They may not become the best of friends but the older cat will in time learn to tolerate them and space and boundaries will be set.
My older cat now gets more annoyed when the kittens don't go running all excited to him to make a fuss. It's taken a year for him to get to the stage where he's accepted they are here to stay, and tolerates them. So do be patient
Good luck
Cats are highly territorial animals, and predominantly solitary.
If an adult cat has had the run of the whole house for a long time, it is not going to take kindly to an interloper. So many people believe they can simply mix up as many as they fancy, and wonder why there is friction.
I used to have 2. They came together from the sanctuary, and they told us they were sisters (believable, given markings and apparent age). Totally different in character, they were a complete pain and forever at each other. Continual battle for territory in the house. Would sleep as far away from each other as they could manage. A year ago, one had kidney failure and had to be put down, and peace immediately descended. The remaining puss blossomed, already eccentric personality became outrageous, and we adore her more than any we've ever had. Never met such a character, and much, much happier than when she was at loggerheads with the other. Frankly, I would not attempt a multi-cat household again. It does work for some, but it's not fair on the cats when it doesn't.
I would go very, very carefully with the kitten, and don't push it if it doesn't work.
If an adult cat has had the run of the whole house for a long time, it is not going to take kindly to an interloper. So many people believe they can simply mix up as many as they fancy, and wonder why there is friction.
I used to have 2. They came together from the sanctuary, and they told us they were sisters (believable, given markings and apparent age). Totally different in character, they were a complete pain and forever at each other. Continual battle for territory in the house. Would sleep as far away from each other as they could manage. A year ago, one had kidney failure and had to be put down, and peace immediately descended. The remaining puss blossomed, already eccentric personality became outrageous, and we adore her more than any we've ever had. Never met such a character, and much, much happier than when she was at loggerheads with the other. Frankly, I would not attempt a multi-cat household again. It does work for some, but it's not fair on the cats when it doesn't.
I would go very, very carefully with the kitten, and don't push it if it doesn't work.
This worked for us...
Over a couple of weeks rub a towel over your cat to pick up it's scent, and then rub the towel over the kitten so that the scent is transferred to the new cat. That should help to destress your existing cat towards the newbie
good luck
Over a couple of weeks rub a towel over your cat to pick up it's scent, and then rub the towel over the kitten so that the scent is transferred to the new cat. That should help to destress your existing cat towards the newbie
good luck
If u can get hold of a 'pen' like cage (with no floor) for the kitten to stay in for a few days (4 by 4 foot at least ideally)....(obviously with water and litter tray in it and some toys) ....so it gives the chance for them to see each other and interact without the danger of the older one having a swipe at the kitten......
it might also be worth clipping the nails of your older cat so they arent sharp so if it does swipe at it not much damage is done.....it wont hurt as much....
Depending on the older cat their are occassions when whatever you do they dont accept the younger one so its worth keeping that in mind too.....and maybe have a full back option of someone else willing to take the kitten on....
it might also be worth clipping the nails of your older cat so they arent sharp so if it does swipe at it not much damage is done.....it wont hurt as much....
Depending on the older cat their are occassions when whatever you do they dont accept the younger one so its worth keeping that in mind too.....and maybe have a full back option of someone else willing to take the kitten on....
Thanks again everyone. I have told my neighbour that I will take the kitten on a trial basis, if it all goes horribly wrong I have someone who will take her. I would love them to get along (my cat seemed so fed up during the winter months) but if they don't then that's that, i'm a bit more relaxed about it up now that I have the back up plan. I will put everyone's tips
into action first (even the duct tape
).
into action first (even the duct tape
).
Well the new kitten has arrived and my poor cat is terrified of her, She won't come into the house and has stayed out the last couple of nights. I have to put her food up on the counter where the window is so if the kitten makes any kind of advance down the kitchen she can make a quick getaway. The other night she did try to come down from the counter but the kitten hissed and away Buffy went again. I feel terrible, she will hardly look at me.
just got 2 kittens, my 9 year old cat not impressed for about a week, hissing spitting etc, all ok now though, they all slept on my bed last night so things are OK. I'm glad I got two from the same litter as they play together and leave Garfield alone. I kept kittens separate from the cat for a week, but they could see each other through glass door, then Garf had supervised visits, introducing them slowly worked really well
The best advise I was given with my 2 boys was let them spend time together but WATCH them closely!!! When the older one shows dislike (which he/she will) pick them up and give them attention, not the new kitten. It took less than a week for my boys to become 'brothers' but there's only a month between them in age so bigger age gap may take longer.
Unfortunately it didn't work out with the kitten, I daresay with a bit more patience it would have been ok but I only had 3 weeks to try to get them comfortable with one another. I had to go back to work and was just worried about leaving them alone together unsupervised(although my daughter would have been in the house but if it doesn't come with a remote control she's not interested). I found her a home with a lovely lady and she also took her sister.
Originally Posted by sleepybelle:
“Unfortunately it didn't work out with the kitten, I daresay with a bit more patience it would have been ok but I only had 3 weeks to try to get them comfortable with one another. I had to go back to work and was just worried about leaving them alone together unsupervised(although my daughter would have been in the house but if it doesn't come with a remote control she's not interested). I found her a home with a lovely lady and she also took her sister.”
“Unfortunately it didn't work out with the kitten, I daresay with a bit more patience it would have been ok but I only had 3 weeks to try to get them comfortable with one another. I had to go back to work and was just worried about leaving them alone together unsupervised(although my daughter would have been in the house but if it doesn't come with a remote control she's not interested). I found her a home with a lovely lady and she also took her sister.”
It was for the best. I have a mother and son (Siouxsie & Gonzo, respectively), with a 3.5 age gap. they get on fine, with the occasional squabble. I love to watch them groom each other, she's tiny compared to him, but, he starts the fights, and she finishes them!
She's half his size now, but boy, she rules the roost!
When I bought Jasper home last year, Harley wasn't happy at all, and we did the supervised visits ect, but while Jasper was quite happy to just play, Harley would just snarl at him and run.
It has gotten much better, but even now, with Jasper a year old Harley seems to tolerate him at best, and we have had some wonderful 2am fights between them. Jasper now deliberately winds Harley up.
The do eat side by side though, something they have done since Jasper was about 10 weeks old. They never try to take each others food at the first 'sitting' once they have gone away and come back, Harley considers Jaspers bowls as his and will eat the remains of Jaspers food then the remains of his own.
It has gotten much better, but even now, with Jasper a year old Harley seems to tolerate him at best, and we have had some wonderful 2am fights between them. Jasper now deliberately winds Harley up.
The do eat side by side though, something they have done since Jasper was about 10 weeks old. They never try to take each others food at the first 'sitting' once they have gone away and come back, Harley considers Jaspers bowls as his and will eat the remains of Jaspers food then the remains of his own.
