Why is Jasper so afraid of the kittens?!

De's kittens are 2 weeks old now, and we are trying to slowly introduce them to Jasper (he's very territorial (?sp) so we wanted to get it done early). The problem is he is totally petrified of them, he fights to get away from them and hisses and yowls (not in an aggressive way, he wont even look at them so it's pure fear). He's quite a nervous cat anyway, and hates change of any kind, but his reaction to the kittens is severe to say the least!!

Does anyone have any ideas?

(PS I've posted this in pregnant cats and kittens too so sorry if you see this twice).

I had a cat who did this with a litter of kittens. He wasn't a very skittish cat though, but he was territorial (we actually had problems with him spraying - and he was fixed). When we first introduced him to the kittens, I don't think he realized they were cats....that, or the little mews freaked him out on some instinctual level and he reacted with hissing and backing away. When they got a little older and started acting like cats, he was fine. So, maybe that will happen with yours too?

yeah, i agree with Mycherona.
This is quite common with cats, especielly male cats: many ARE afraid with small kittens, and dont know what to do.
but it gets usually better when the kittens become more cat-alike with time. The chance is good he will be a well wishing uncle with them.

Some other cats are more or less indifferent.

Openly hostile and dangerous istnt common. Not with homecats where the male is otherwise pal with the mom. But of course keep watch the first times they meet. Always. And let the mom decide.

Foreign cats CAN be dangerous, especielly male, but also female may be.

And some males are acting an extra mom. Quite common with neutered males, but even some fertile studs have been known to do so if they are pals with the mom.

Thanks guys that puts my mind at rest a little bit, will just have to wait and see :-) otherwise he is much more cuddly than normal, usually he stays out of our way during the day but since the kittens have arrived he never leaves my side, which is nice :-)