Help with new kitten/resident cat intro!

I have a four year old male Korat mix named Asher. My SO and I have had him since he was 5-6mos old and he's been the only cat since.

About 2 weeks ago my SO found a stray male gray and white kitten about 7 weeks old. We brought him home and kept him in a separate room for a week (and got him checked out by the vet) before we let he and Asher interact.

They got along surprisingly well the first few days but then Asher started chasing the kitten meowing the whole time until he caught up with him. Then he would pin the kitten to the ground with his mouth. Asher chases the kitten down every single time it runs or gets out of his sight.

As for the kitten, he jumps on Asher every chance he gets especially when Asher turns his back on him. They roll around and bite and swat at each other. Never is there hissing or growling, just Asher's meowing.

It's been just over a week since they've officially met and I still keep the kitten in his room away from Asher and only bring him out for short periods of time a few times a day due to the chasing, biting, etc. I don't want either to get hurt.

Does it sound like things are going as well as can be expected? Is there anything else I should be doing? How long should I expect this behavior to go on? I know it's only been a week but I'm the one who's stressing! I want them to get along so badly.

Any advice/information/tips, etc. are greatly appreciated! This is my first time introducing cats.

Dear Asher and family :

It sounds as if Asher is play-chasing and play-fighting with the kitten, though it is good that you're supervising them and separating them at night/when you're not around. Asher's meowing is unusual; experts claim cats don't meow to communicate with other cats, only with humans! so is Asher trying to call your attention to his chasing, and is he trying to tell you he's doing a good job of chasing strangers? I don't know the answer to that one, but it doesn't sound as if Asher feels hostility toward the kitten, only playfulness, which will even out in time, and as the kitten grows, he'll be able to hold his own better. Don't be surprised when you see them curled up together sleeping -- it will happen, and probably sooner rather than later! Keep us posted, okay? And we'd love to see any pictures you'd like to post...!

Originally Posted by Tarasgirl06

... experts claim cats don't meow to communicate with other cats, only with humans!...

Click to expand...

Well, that's not entirely true. Cats do vocalize to other cats. However, you're correct if you're saying most of cat-to-cat communication is non-verbal. You may be correct about this cat's meowing to call attention to himself. And I agree that there's nothing in this situation that deserves concern. They seem to be getting along with each other just fine.

Thanks, Coaster! Appreciate the informative answer. And btw, those are some cuties you have there Do we get to know their names and all about them, or do we just get to admire their cameos?

Thanks to the both of you for replying so quickly! I feel much better knowing that this beahvior is normal. I don't know if Asher is trying to call attention to himself when he's meowing after the kitten...I found this behavior a little strange as well.

I don't yet feel comfortable leaving them alone so I will continue to supervise their time together for a little while longer.

I'd love to share some pictures of my boys.

Here is Asher. He's my handsome four year old Korat mix and weighs in at 15.5 lbs! He's really just a big baby but ssssh! Don't tell anyone!





And this is the newest addition. I think I've decided on Jack as his name. He looks like a tuxedo kitty but gray instead. He weighs in at a whopping 2.3 lbs!

Originally Posted by Tarasgirl06

... Do we get to know their names and all about them, or do we just get to admire their cameos?

Click to expand...

Ha ha....ya, proscrastination will get me every time. I had a better sig up with names then put this old one back up and never got around to adding the names. From left to right that's Rocket, Mellie and Twinkie, all adopted shelter cats 3-4 yrs old. Thanks for the nice comments....I'll pass them along.

Missourigirl -- love the pics of your handsome and cute boys!!

Well, Rocket, Mellie, and Twinkie are some fine cats, and thanks for adopting from shelter! We think all the nicest cats come from rescue...!