Hi,

I know it's quite a common problem and from what i've read, the only real solution is to give it time, but does anyone have any tips to help my 8 month Siamese accept my new kitten?

My Siamese is the softest cat i've ever known with people. Recently I looked after a 2 year old Oriental for a fortnight - the first couple of days they hated each other but by the end of the fortnight they were best friends and my Siamese was pining for him! This confirmed my decision to get another cat, so on Saturday I brought home a 9 week old Bengal kitten. My Siamese won't take to him at all and is hissing / growling much more than he did with the oriental. I've bought one of those Femiway diffusers and put it in the living room. I've tried to get them used to each others scent by stroking them both, and i'm currently keeping the kitten in the living room with his own food / water / litte tray, and my Siamese has the rest of the house. He's got really grumpy with me and he's although he's litter trained he's had a couple of accidents for the first time, so I think he's a bit distressed. I keep trying to bring him into the room for small periods to introduce them, but he gets so aggressive I put him out again. Should I be telling him off when he does it?

I should point out they're both boys (as was the oriental) and my Siamese is booked in to be neutered but currently hasn't been...

Thanks in advance

I think you're rushing it a bit. Keep them separate but try introducing each cat to something (blanket) with the other cats scent on at first.
I wouldn't 'tell off' a cat for having an accident - thats not going to help, if anything it will stress him out more. Is his tray in a private place? Maybe with the extra stress he will appreciate more privacy.
Not sure how to make them friends, maybe they just never will, though they should reach some sort of accommodation eventually.

Yeah, i've rubbed a cloth on the kitten and put it where the other cat spends a lot of his time.

I wasn't referring to telling him off for the accident, it was more whether to tell him off when he hisses and growls at the kitten. Currently i'm just putting him out of the room, and when i'm at work I'm keeping them in separate rooms until the kitten is big enough to defend himself. Hopefully they will have learned to get along by then anyway.

His tray is in a private place and he has been using it, which made me think that his accident (which was on my bed!) was a sign of protest because I usually sleep there with him but i've been sleeping downstairs with the kitten for the first few nights.

Thank you for the reply

Sometimes they never will become friends but they learn to tolerate each others presence.

Siamese cats can be very jealous...I say that as some one who has a half Siamese (she's more Siamese than not though in temperament)

She is spoiled rotten, 13 years old & objected greatly to the introduction of 2 rescue cats last year. I gave her lots of time & lots of reassurance that she was still No1 & eventually she has come to accept that the other cats are not going anywhere.

She still blocks their access to me whenever possible & gets incredibly jealous if she thinks they are getting anything she's not, but she is learning to be nicer to them...slowly

The looks she sometimes give me if she sees me stroking one of the other cats are complete death glares though

I also think you are rushing it slightly. You are keeping them separately but he can only sense a big change and the fact you are sleeping with the kitten and turfing him out of what he might see as the main area of the house in favour of the newcomer has probably put his nose right out of joint. Th

Telling him off is unlikely to help (it rarely works with cats). Take it slowly, don't expect miracles, reassure Siamese he is still firstborn and maybe see if there is anything you could play with them or that might interest them both that could get them in the same room but not concentrating just on each other.

I've had cats for all my adult life.I'm in my sixties . Rescue cats, foster cats when I worked for animal rescue,you name it and and often many at a time. The most I ever hope for is aloof tolerance, IN TIME . Anything else has been a bonus. They are very territorial creatures.Just reassure your first cat and introduce them slowly as you are doing. Don't tell the cat off, he doesn't know what you're saying or why and you will only make him more insecure..Give them time that's all. Good luck!

Thank you Pleased to report they are inseparable now! They both sleep on my pillow curled up together and they play together so much they knock virtually everything over but I wouldn't have it any other way =D x