I have a 1.5yr old neutered female, I have recently (3 weeks ago) acquired a now 15 wk old female kitten.

My older cat spent a lot of time hissing and sulking, teeth have been bared and paws have been swiped at the kitten.

I think things are getting better, they can sit it the same room and not hiss or growl, they share litter trays and eat each others food, they are quite happy with that, they sit and watch each other on the tray or eating each others food.

I have spotted some different behaviour in the last few days, they will touch noses, I have always seen this as a sign of affection when they do it toward me, is it in cats?

The older cat let the smaller cat sniff her bum when she was eating, the kitten was pestering her.

Are these good signs, I know from spending all day with them that its better than it was 3 weeks ago, but if anyone can explain this behaviour I would be interested.

Thanks

ewo choc!

Yup, that's normal for cats when you introduce a new one into the fold and current behaviour means your older cat has excepted the kitten as part of the family.

Mine do exactly the same but, having more the time span is diminished to around a week (in fact we had a lost cat come in a couple of weeks ago for food and shelter and apart from the very oldest (who had a hiss and swipe a few times) the rest were so laid back they allowed it to eat and come into the living room to sit and sleep for a few hours. Luckily the owner was found).

So all should be ok. Kittens can be a bit cheeky so there might be a few swipes still to be had to keep it in line (or, as one of mine used to do.. sit on the kitten) but that's normal as well

Good grief you've got off lightly there! My cat still likes to beat the proverbial out of the 'newcomer' we've had for 8 years. Not regularly mind, and only when my sister's cat acts very provocatively.

My girl had pneumonia earlier in the year, and we were very relieved when she started fighting the other cat again.

Thanks for the replies,

Badcat - I think the swipes are when the kitten is getting on the older cats nerves, she is trying to get her back in line!

Fairydandy - I suppose I have got off lightly, the 1st few days were awful,I was really regretting getting the kitten which I feel a bit guilty about now

I darent leave them alone for too long, it would be nice if they would be able to sleep in the kitchen together overnight but that might come in time, older cat is normally very outdoorsy but she hates wind and rain so she isnt having any of the going out lark at the moment so they are stuck in together at the moment, older cat sleeps up stairs with us atm and kitten is in kitchen. I would prefer older one not to be with us upstairs as she gets bored and bites me when Im asleep. She is a moody little madam.