brand new kitten vs my two year old cat

katherinegrace

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Okay so I've got a new kitten today and I knew my two yr old cat would be hesitant but didn't expect her to full on hiss and growl at our new kitten, it's a boy and I've only heard of two female cats acting this way. I guess I just need some advice on how to get her to like.him they are in separate rooms and separate everything. I tried using this trick when my.boyfriend first over.in which was rubbing a clean soft sock or washcloth on her face and on his stuff so she'd like him well that worked and I've tried doing that with the kitten. It kind of.helped for a bit she came into his room and just sniffed around no hissing. But when he walks.by the door she hisses. Sorry if any spelling errors I'm on my phone. Can anyone help? We have two dogs so I thought she be kind of ok with a new kitten. We are moving in a few weeks which is why I got the kitten so she wouldn't get lonely.
 

sharon budd

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Hi. I've got a 9 yr old female cat and two 14 wk old kittens - boy and girl. My older cat will tolerate Brodie boy cat. They even lay on the bed together but along comes Ella and Sophia hisses and snarls then runs.

I think its true to some extent that 2 females don't always hit it off but I'm not giving up and I'm going to let them sort it out like who's boss etc lol unless it turns nasty then I will separate them and try again
 
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katherinegrace

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Well my 2 yr old bolts into the room any chance she gets and was even laying on the bed with him but was making weird meowing and would start to hiss then stop. Not sure what's going on but she lays outside the door until I come out then follows me around and wants me to pet her and stuff. Trying to give equal attention to both of them. But a.little bit more to my 2 ur old
 

micknsnicks2mom

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@katherinegrace, it sounds like your girl and new lil guy are doing fine for their first day together. and you're doing exactly right by giving your 2 year old girl more attention than your new boy, she needs to be treated as the favorite right now. it may be that your girl is wanting to be reassured that you still love her, even though there's a new boy now that's she'll need to share you with.

many adult cats are uncomfortable with kittens. and integrations many times don't start out this well.

how old is your new lil guy? i ask because if he's really small (compared to your 2 year old girl) then i would separate them (after they're fully integrated) when you're not home to keep an eye on them -- just until he grows bigger. it's not that your girl would intentionally hurt the lil guy, but that there would be such a size difference that she could do that totally accidentally.
 
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katherinegrace

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Klaus is 7 weeks old so very small. I knew River (the 2 yr old) would feel this way so I was always hesitant to get another but now we are moving and she needs a friend. I've noticed when she able to get the door open she will lay down by him and meow until I pet her but then she bites me. (Usual for her she ruined all the toys I got her so she associates hands with toys occasionally) I'm hoping she,takes a liking to him after a few days.
 

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Here is a really good post by one of our Advisors, StephenQ, taken from another recent thread about how to do introductions.  I'm sure you will find a lot of good advice here, and there are also a few links at the bottom.

Ok so this is for everyone who is in this thread doing introductions: :-)

There are several steps to a successful introduction, the goal being BFFs, not enemies or angry at you (especially the resident cat).  A careful introduction raises the stress level in incremental steps, allowing both cats, especially the resident cat time to acclimate to the stressor before being introduced to the next level.  You are going to move the "bar" closer and closer to the resident cat until the final step, a supervised face-to-face, becomes  a fender bender and not a car crash.

Step one: Complete separation, putting the new cat is a small room like a bathroom with food, litter and water.  Do not let the cats see each other - too much stress too soon.  Give the new cat time to adjust.  Give both cats time (a week+/-) to get used to this.  They will know each other is there.  Start feeding the resident cat nearer to the door, adjusting daily until he is at the door eating. Do voluntary scent exchange by rubbing the new cat's cheeks on a sock and then offering the sock as a gift to the resident. Don't force him to smell the sock, don't rub it on him. Observe his behavior and allow it.   Rub a clean sock on his cheeks and offer it to the new cat.  Continue to do this but never force either cat to interact with the other cat's sock.

When they are reasonably calm with everything in step one go to:

Step Two:  Allow the cats to see each other.  Two baby gates stacked on top of each other in the open door is a great way.  Cracking the door open and blocking it into position so they can't get through the door is another way.  With many cats the stress of this will make them revert, but it would have been much worse if you had started with this step.  Continue as if this was step one, but now with them seeing each other.  When they are both calm, no hissing or growling, you can go to:

Step Three: After eating meals and feeling satisfied (full stomach = less aggressive) and trimmed nails, you can start to do brief supervised introductions face to face.  Watch their body language and reactions and increase their time together until you are confident that they can manage on their own.

In General, treat the resident cat like he is King.  Don't do things to make him jealous. Don't discipline either cat for showing aggression, punishing them for what they feel is a normal behavior (and is normal for them) just raises the stress.  And follow your cats' lead on the speed of the introduction, there are no rules other than to listen to them.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

Stephen


~~ Many medical problems can be treated more easily and with less $$ if dealt with sooner rather than later.~~
 

MoochNNoodles

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Cat's need to be introduced slowly; and some more slowly than others.  Red Top Rescue's post above can get you started on that. 


Good luck! 
 
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katherinegrace

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Thank you so much! I guess my last question is that I moved my two yr old cats stuff into a different room that she usually is always in and moved the kittens stuff into our room so we can watch him and he can't get out since our door is the only one our other pets can't open. Is that a good idea . Or is it bad. My two yr old knew where her litter box and food was and seemed fine but I still feel unsure and a little sad to do it since this is the room she grew up in
 

micknsnicks2mom

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Thank you so much! I guess my last question is that I moved my two yr old cats stuff into a different room that she usually is always in and moved the kittens stuff into our room so we can watch him and he can't get out since our door is the only one our other pets can't open. Is that a good idea . Or is it bad. My two yr old knew where her litter box and food was and seemed fine but I still feel unsure and a little sad to do it since this is the room she grew up in
i thought i'd check and see how river and klaus (btw, i just love his name) are doing.  are they becoming more comfortable with each other?
 
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katherinegrace

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i thought i'd check and see how river and klaus (btw, i just love his name) are doing.  are they becoming more comfortable with each other?
I think hey are doing quite well


River does not hiss at him anymore when she sees him only once hissing at him about his food she races me upstairs to see him they play together and get along quite well so far. I'm always watching them when they play just because she's so much bigger than him but I really think getting klaus was a good idea he keeps up with her when playing which she needed because the dogs get annoyed. Sometimes I catch her grooming him. He really loves to meow so she comes up to him then will sneak attack her. Kinda funny. I'm still nervous about them though. Thanks for checking up! :D
 

micknsnicks2mom

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awww........they look like they have such fun together! klaus will grow bigger soon enough, and i'm sure he and river will become equally matched as far as rough housing goes. awwww...river grooms klaus too!
 
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katherinegrace

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Yeah she does she sometimes holds him down when their playing and starts grooming him it's so cute I only just noticed it . NBut klaus has proved to be a giant handful. When I got river she always just chill until she got older but klaus is always wanting to rough house lol
 

micknsnicks2mom

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Yeah she does she sometimes holds him down when their playing and starts grooming him it's so cute I only just noticed it . NBut klaus has proved to be a giant handful. When I got river she always just chill until she got older but klaus is always wanting to rough house lol
"she sometimes holds him down when their playing and starts grooming him"   it sounds like river is thinking something like, "ok, klaus. i'm just going to groom you 'cause i love you". it's good river and klaus have each other, to wear each other out! many times it's suggested to adopt two kittens (if possible), because they have such high energy and they'll be able to keep up with each other and wear each other out. but your river seems to enjoy stepping in and becoming klaus' friend and play buddy.

it's so wonderful to hear about cats who take to each other, become friends quickly.
 
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katherinegrace

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Yes it is I'm just happy river doesn't hate him
 
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