How can I get my new cat to not be a punk?

We got a kitten about a month and a half ago. Shes pretty cool. The trouble is we already had another girl cat who treats the new one like crap. We've tried just about everything to stop the older cat's behavior, but it seems like the younger cat's submissiveness promotes the older cat to act like a bia bia. I say this because the very very few times I've seen the younger one stand her ground and just hiss or swing claws, the older cat backs off. The problem is that between fight or flight, the younger cat chooses flight 100% of the time, and in doing so keeps promoting the older cat's evil behavior (she sees it works so she keeps doing it)
So my question is this: Is there a way to make the younger cat choose to stand her ground more often? Is there any kind of exercise or play that can increase her aggression just enough that she doesn't get walked all over????
Thanks
Taylor

You shouldn't be asking how to make the younger cat more aggressive, you should be asking how to calm down your older cat. Her living space and environment was disrupted here. She is the one that needs to realize everything is alright. But she will most likely remain alpha cat in the home and she needs to make the younger kitten realize this. As long as there is no blood shed, this is something they need to do. So don't worry about it and don't interfer unless there is bloodshed. Also I wouldn't leave them alone unsupervised either.

Originally Posted by Jen

You shouldn't be asking how to make the younger cat more aggressive, you should be asking how to calm down your older cat. Her living space and environment was disrupted here. She is the one that needs to realize everything is alright. But she will most likely remain alpha cat in the home and she needs to make the younger kitten realize this. As long as there is no blood shed, this is something they need to do. So don't worry about it and don't interfer unless there is bloodshed. Also I wouldn't leave them alone unsupervised either.

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I have to agree 100% with Jen, I was actually discouraged by the impatience with the older kitty. If someone suddenly forced a 2-5 year old in your home, 24 hrs a day you had to except, how would you feel?
The younger kitten has no right to swing or hiss and growl at the alpha cat, if she did you would have a much more serious problem on your hands......just have patience and keep an eye on them. It wouldn't hurt to give your older kitty some attention and encouragement of still being loved.

Okay. We just don't want the kitten living in a hell of an environment. If this weakling behavior is normal, then I'm not going to worry as much. Theres nobody we know who could take her off our hands if the situation gets too crazy, so we're counting on them eventually getting along...

I wake up sometimes and see them together on a window sill without a problem...and usually when I come home the little kitten is out in the open. The older cat seems to only want to generate a 'tude when she knows I'm up and around.
But then again who knows, since I'm not here to see them alone.

It could be a competition or defense for your attention. If there is more tension between them when you are around and active, it most likely has the 2 battling for your attention. Do you have a daily play time with them? I know with my Maia, who is the only kitty, when I am up and about, she is persistent with the "give me attention", yet if I am lounging, watching TV and want her to cuddle with me, forget it, she would rather curl up some where she can watch my every move!

Did you keep the new kitten in a separate room when you 1st broought her home so the resident cat could get used to kitties smell, then slowly introduce them under supervision. If you just bought home the kitten & put them together, I think this is part of your problem.
Read the Sticky at the top of this section on Behavior problems - look here 1st - introducing old cat to new cat.

Hemmy chases Friday around our house on occasion. Hemmy is the alpha and Friday cries if Hemmy stares at him for too long. Since Hemmy knows he gets a reaction he teases Friday. They've been together for several years now so it's not a safety issue for us anymore. Now it's just the normal ins and outs of having a multi-cat household. Since Friday is never so much as drooled on I ignore it and let them sort it out. You may find something similar with your cats. Chances are you're past the worst of it.