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Having a new kitten in the home with older cat

post #1 of 4
8/18/09 at 12:34pm
Thread Starter 
I have an 18 year old cat. I've had him since I was 7. He's my baby and my best friend. I was fostering feral kittens for a few months. About a month ago, I got this black and white feral who I immediately fell in love with. After a couple weeks, he was roaming the house as if he was part of the family. The problem is, my older cat hates him. He hisses and growls when he sees the kitten. The kitten loves him and tries to play with him, but the older cat will swat at him to make him go away. This has been going on for a few weeks now. My older cat (Potpourri) wasn't always an only kitty. His sister passed away a few years ago. Plus, we have two smaller dogs who have been in the house for 7 years. Why is he acting this way towards the kitten? Is he always going to hate the kitten (Boots)? I know you are supposed to slowly introduce new kittens to older cats, but I didn't think I would end up keeping him.

Also, Boots is afraid of men. He runs when he sees my father. My father is having a hard time accepting Boots into the home because of this. I love Boots and want to keep him but I can't if my father and Potpourri are not happy with him. Any advice about either of these two problems would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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post #2 of 4
8/19/09 at 7:36am
The problem old cat - kitten is not unusual. It get usually better with time.
A possible solution may also be to get a playing pal for the kitten / lively cat. The newcomer should be a friendly cat, so he dont comes into conflict with the old resident...

Of course, make sure they have food, water, litter at separarate places, so they dont need intrude on each other.
But try to give them sometimes traits when they are near each other...

Is there some play the oldie likes to play with you? Try to play it with them both simultaneously.


Another advice you should try with is a Feliway-diffuser. This could help both of your problems: the oldie feeling more comfy with the young, and your young with your dad.


Good luck!
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post #3 of 4
8/19/09 at 10:38am
Thread Starter 
Unfortunately, my old boy doesn't play anymore. He's either sleeping, drinking, or eating. I try to get him to play and he doesn't want anything to do with it. They both have their separate food/water/litter. But the old cat has no problem going to eat from the kitten's food and vice versa. My old guy has very high blood pressure that we are trying to control with meds. I'm afraid this kitten is going to get him so stressed out that he has a heart attack or something. Does it always get better? Or could it be possible that my old cat will hate the kitten forever? I just looked up that diffuser thing. Maybe I'll try that too.
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post #4 of 4
8/19/09 at 11:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by frost1375 View Post
Does it always get better? Or could it be possible that my old cat will hate the kitten forever? I just looked up that diffuser thing. Maybe I'll try that too.
Yes, usually it gets better. In not for other reason so because the kitten grows up and is no longer so needy to play - thus less of a nuisance.

And yes, I think Feliway diffuser should be an substantial improvement. If you have a big house, perhaps even 2.


Btw, giving them treats together is not only for mixing their smells, but mostly so they are doing something pleasant together...

Although, them both eating from each others food and dont minding, is a good sign.
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