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New kitten meeting older cat?

post #1 of 4
2/2/11 at 4:49pm
Thread Starter 
Yesterday I adopted a 6 month old kitten and tried to bring her into our home with a 4 year old cat. I might have guessed the older cat might have had issues accepting the addition but the complete opposite is true. The new kitten acts fine and is super affectionate until she comes in contact with the old cat. She constantly growls and hisses while the older cat makes no noise at all and only seems curious about the new kitten. I was hoping people on this forum had any suggestions. Let me know if you need any more information.
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post #2 of 4
2/2/11 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 
Right now we are keeping the newcomer in a separate room with all the necessities. But do you think I ruined the new cat by introducing her to the resident cat already?
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post #3 of 4
2/2/11 at 5:25pm
We adopted a 6 month old kitten this past Saturday and have 2 other cats (ages 2.5 and 1). Walt (the new guy) is being quarantined in our office but we let them sniff each other for a while from the carrier when we first got him home and today we took him to his initial vet appointment and did the same when we got home. There was a ton of hissing the first day but very little today. They have been batting each other under the door and my two slightly older cats have taken up residence outside of the door. It is driving them nuts that he is in there. We're going to spring Walt on Saturday.

Just take it slow. Even when you let them get together it would be extremely unusual if one or the other wasn't hissing. They will sort things out.
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post #4 of 4
2/2/11 at 6:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mehring View Post
Right now we are keeping the newcomer in a separate room with all the necessities. But do you think I ruined the new cat by introducing her to the resident cat already?
Don't worry. It takes a little time is all. That six month old has just been through a frightening change, suddenly finding herself in a strange place with strange people and a strange cat. Do you know anything about her history?

Keep them separated for a week or so and do a scent exchange daily by rubbing a shirt you have worn on your kitten, then the older cat. Bring the shirt back in and let kitten smell the blended scents, yours, hers and other cat's and give her a treat, then put that shirt under the kitten's food dishes.

This helps her associate the other cat's smell with good things. Scent is everything to a cat.

Do that every day, and wait a week before trying another face to face introduction.

Eventually you will just have to let them sort it out for themselves, but doing it slowly makes it easier.
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