When to introduce new kitten to other cats??

Hi all,

Rowan is 6 weeks 2 days old now, and I'm wondering when everyone might think it's safe for me to introduce him to my other cats? In my house we have Lola who is 10, Zoe who is 7 and Leto who is 11 months. Leto is the father. Leto and Rowan have already 'met' via the crack under the door which now separates them, and Leto is VERY sweet each time. Rowan bats at his paws through the crack and Leto lets him.

Any advice would be great. Babalon (Rowan's mom) is incredibly anxious to re-mingle with the rest of our loft and I am anxious too!

Thanks,

Scarlet  

So long as there is no indication of a health reason to quarantine the kitten at 6 weeks you are probably fine to start your introductions. Since you have 4 felines already I'm guessing you know that the secret to cat integration is to go super slow. Start by just carrying Rowan into the room where the others are and, holding him with his head facing you, let them each sniff and explore him. This is a great way for you to gauge their reactions and for them to get used to his scent. After you have done this some then start letting him walk around for a few minutes at a time and then returning him to his room. As they all adjust slowly increase the amount of time he is out. 

The good news is that cats tend to accept kittens quicker than they do other adults. The thing you really want to watch for is that they don't play too rough with him. Really only let him out for supervised visits until you are sure he can hold his own. If any of the adults react negatively boost the experience with treats and some extra affection. 

The only reason I would potentially wait is for Rowan to have his first deworming and first round of vaccines. But, if I am understanding the situation correctly you reside with both of his parents which decreases the likelihood of cross-infection. Determining if Rowan is healthy enough to freely integrate is a decision you can only make with your vet. If you have any doubts as to his health then you should wait on introducing. 

Finally, while I'm sure Babalon misses her clowder until she is spayed she needs to stay isolated. Until she or Leto is fixed (and preferably both should be) they will just continue to mate. She can (and will) get pregnant again even though she is still nursing. Also remember that Leto will still be fertile for several weeks after his operation so use caution! 

 Vibes for a safe introduction and a safe spay when the time comes!

P.S. Can someone please give me a virtual high five for correctly using the term clowder? Because that's pretty darn impressive if I do say so myself!