Socializing deaf kitten with older resident cat.

I adopted a deaf kitten who is almost five months old. I researched introducing kittens to resident cats, but can't seem to find much about deaf kittens.  He is full of beans and obsessed with my older Calico.  She wants nothing to do with him, and hisses when he comes too close.  He can't hear her hissing and just barges in.  (A lot of their scuffles happen with her under the bed and him on the other side of the dust ruffle.  haha)  I have a one bedroom apartment, so, space is limited.  I do have two litter boxes in different areas, but the kitten stalks the older cat, especially in the litter box. This doesn't go over well.  I had them completely separated for a week, but am trying to introduce them, letting them both have free run of the place except when it's bedtime or I go out.  Then the kitten goes in the bathroom.

The vet tech suggested a good idea, which is to put a bell on the deaf kitten to warn the older hearing cat that he's coming. 

Any suggestions on how to better socialize them?  It's been three weeks now.

The good news is that today, for the first time, they touched noses and chirped at each other.  Then half an hour later there was another huge scrapping match.  I know it's going to take time.  I watch them as closely as I can and separate if the kitten doesn't back off. I'm not sure whether I should let them just sort it out.  The kitten just wants to play, but the older cat is just not feeling it.  I don't want to allow bad feelings to turn into a permanent thing in their relationship.

Oh yes...I have a feline pheromone diffuser to help promote good feelings.  I'm not sure if it's working.

I hope some of you with deaf cats see this post. 

After their 'moment' yesterday touching noses, things got very ugly today with the most aggressive encounter yet.  I feel the resident cat has had it with the rapscallion deaf kitten who will not back off when she hisses or growls.  I see an escalation in her reaction. She doesn't just growl now.  She swats.  He wants to play, but has started fighting back when she swats at him now.  Her ears go flat, but his are still upright.  I know she's objecting to his instrusiveness in earnest.  (She is fine if he keeps his distance, but he won't do that.  His eyes go wide and he gets that hunter wiggle everytime he sees her.)  This scares me, because I don't want either one to get hurt. I have them separated again today.  We're going backwards in the socialization and I'm not sure how to help them. 

I really would appreciate some advice on how to help them integrate. I have done everything I've read about cat socialization, but it doesn't seem to be working. We're going into our fourth week.  They have almost three weeks of supervised face to face contact now for several hours each day.  I started them off slow, in separate rooms with separate food, water and litter boxes.  After a couple of days, I opened the door a crack and placed food dishes on either side of it, letting them associated wet food with each other.  I wiped both of their faces with socks, and then rubbed those socks on the other kitty's body and face, letting them sleep with them.  I give them treats when they are nice.  I give them both lots of time with just me, reassuring both.  So, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.  Their temperaments are different. which is why I constantly try to distract the kitten when he gets that wild look in his eyes and starts stalking the older cat.  Occasionally, I will give him a 5 minute time out, but it's rare.  I've just started the time outs if he attacks or corners her and won't back off. 

He's teething, so, he's grumpy.  I think he's really uncomfortable.  She's just on new medication for hyperthyroidism, and is probably a bit out of sorts, too. 

Anyhow...if you can give me any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it.  I'm not sure how much of his bullish behaviour is because he's deaf, and how much is because he's a five month old kitten.  He is quite sweet tempered, but is also full of beans and very precocious.  She is very shy, and used to being around an older cat who ignored her for the most part, but occasionally would be aggressive.  (He passed away this past September.  I think she's still mourning him.)

 

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I don't think there is much difference between introducing a deaf cat or a regular one.  I introduced a blind kitten to my older cat and the issues were purely standard (but difficult) intro stuff.  I am going to give you my regular intro advice below.

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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/

Thanks, Stephen.  I appreciate the response.  I did all of those things in the suggested time frame. I've researched the topic left, right and centre, which is why I wondered if his deafness was playing a part. 

I've just started the process all over again. I don't know what else to do.

YoohooRa said:

 
Thanks, Stephen.  I appreciate the response.  I did all of those things in the suggested time frame. I've researched the topic left, right and centre, which is why I wondered if his deafness was playing a part. 

I've just started the process all over again. I don't know what else to do.

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The thing is, everything you describe could also be a description of a hearing kitten.  It's possible your adult cat may not like him.  How long have you been at this? Have you tried Feliway?  Did you do step 2, allowing them to see each other accross a barrier like a baby gate after your resident cat was tolerant of him across the door?

The Cornell School of vet medicine has a behavior consult service, follow this link:

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/camuti_service.cfm

Yes.  I did that, Stephen.  I do have a feline pheromone diffuser as well. 

It's possible my resident cat might not accept him, but I hope they will come to like each other. 

I've been at this for a little over three weeks now.

YoohooRa said:

 
Yes.  I did that, Stephen.  I do have a feline pheromone diffuser as well. 

It's possible my resident cat might not accept him, but I hope they will come to like each other. 

I've been at this for a little over three weeks now.

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Ah thanks for the time frame.  You are very early still in this process and while I was able to start a face to face intro with my cats after about a week, it took a year for them to become friends and 2 years to become good friends, but even as friends they will have a spat, at least one almost daily, although minor.

The only thing I have done which might create resentment in the older cat is keeping her in the bedroom during the day, but that is her favourite room.  (I let her out at night and lock up the kitten.) Before the kitten arrived, she spent 90 percent of her time in there and I thought locking her out to create the kitten safe room would be stressful for her  But that means I have to lock her in to keep the kitten out.  She knows I'm with the kitten during the day and at night. She doesn't have free access to me anymore, and she likes to spend time with me.  I do go in and pet her frequently. I leave the door open a crack and routinely ask her if she wants out into the main apartment.  (One bedroom.) I do not have a screen for the door, so, the crack is important.  She refuses most of the time.  When she does come out, the kitten is there.  I have tried putting him in the bedroom during the day so she could roam the house and be with me, but she really doesn't like that. The bedroom is her safe place. She waits outside the door and runs under the bed when I open the door.  Eventually she comes out when she feels safe, and that mean no kitten in the room.

I can't keep the kitten in the bathroom for long  when he is awake because the only window is way out of his reach.  I used to keep him there overnight and let PI have full run of both the bedroom and the apartment at large.  With a full tummy, the kitten would sleep.  But now he wakes up and complains. The last three nights, he's clawed at the door.  Even with a room full of toys, he's lonely and bored.

So, last night for the first time I took him into the bedroom with me overnight and let Pi out in the main apartment, closing the bedroom door.  I'm not sure if she'll like this arrangement, but I can't have him destroying the bathroom.  He's calm with me in the bedroom. Pi seemed OK, but immediately went in the bedroom when I opened the door in the morning. Because he's teething in earnest, I can't risk him running around the living room.  He needs constant supervision at this stage. He gnaws on everything in sight, and doesn't like the chew toys I've given him. Plus, he's climbing up my curio cabinets.  He has an elaborate cat tree that is quite high...but I'm still trying to acclimate him to that.

So, that's it in a nutshell.  I'm doing my best to make both kitties feel safe and loved.  And I am limiting their contact for now until things settle between them.

StephenQ said:

 
Ah thanks for the time frame.  You are very early still in this process and while I was able to start a face to face intro with my cats after about a week, it took a year for them to become friends and 2 years to become good friends, but even as friends they will have a spat, at least one almost daily, although minor.

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Yes.  Perhaps I am rushing it a bit.  I need to be more patient.  Thanks so much, Stephen.  It helps to talk this through.

Here is another article on introductions from Jackson Galaxy http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/    It does take time, a lot of time for some kitties.  Kittens are notorious for not paying attention to the signals to back off, they are still babies and don't know better.

How old is your older kitty?  If she is a senior kitty a rambuctious kitten may be too much for her to handle.

Denice said:

 
Here is another article on introductions from Jackson Galaxy http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/    It does take time, a lot of time for some kitties.  Kittens are notorious for not paying attention to the signals to back off, they are still babies and don't know better.

How old is your older kitty?  If she is a senior kitty a rambuctious kitten may be too much for her to handle.

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She's 14, Denice, but looks and acts like a much younger cat.  But I do think the kitten's high octane energy is overwhelming for her.  She's used to another senior cat.  (He just passed away in September.)

Denice said:

 
Here is another article on introductions from Jackson Galaxy.  It does take time, a lot of time for some kitties.  Kittens are notorious for not paying attention to the signals to back off, they are still babies and don't know better.

How old is your older kitty?  If she is a senior kitty a rambuctious kitten may be too much for her to handle.

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Ra (the other senior cat who just passed) and she had established rules that the kitten knows nothing about. Ra used to bully her on rare occasion even though I adopted them both at the same time as kittens.  So, she might be mistrusting because of that.  But Ra would back off after pinning her.  I think he was asserting dominance, but he was twice her size and much stronger.

We also have an article about deaf cats, which you may find interesting - 

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-deaf-cat

Great Article!

I recently went through this process introducing a 10 week old kitten to my 2 year old cat.  I did the scent swapping thing and let them meet face to face after about a week which didn't go well - the kitten nose bumped the cat and the cat ran outside and then chose to spend most of his time outdoors away from the kitten.  The kitten either didn't understand or chose to ignore the signals that his advances were not appreciated i.e. hissing and growling.  He used to ambush the cat every time he walked across the room for which he'd get a slap.  I used to put the kitten upstairs sometimes to give the cat a break but mostly the cat would go outside to get away or jump up on the back of a chair out of reach.  He would give the kitten a slap sometimes but was never aggressive.  I think the kitten just wore the cat down with his persistence and eventually the cat let him nap in his bed.

It's been nearly 4 months now and they have become good friends, they play with eachother and groom each other often. The kitten is still a little hyper for the cat from time to time but things have settled down a lot, you just need to give it time.  The kitten is 6 months old now so he's calmed down which helps. 

I bought two sets of baby gates and stacked them together in the doorway. I had to put nails along the door frame because they weren't a tight fit.  I was worried the kitten would just knock them over.  So, after considerable effort, I sat down to watch what would happen.  The kitten just climbed over it.  haha  So I taped Saran wrap over it, thinking it would be slippery for him.  He climbed over that, too.  haha 

I've ordered another baby gate, but I know there will still be a little room at the top.  I'll have to find a way to secure it.  I have no doubt the kitten will easily climb up the three gates.  haha  Wish me luck.

I do feel I need to give my resident cat lots of breathing room when it comes to the rambunctious kitten.  I think she's quite depressed about it, truthfully.  It just might take them longer to acclimate because of the kitten's deafness. 

The ironic thing is that now I can't close the door because of the nails, and the gates aren't keeping the kitten out.  I guess I'll have to pull out all the nails until the new gate arrives.  I ordered it online.  haha

I really don't think that pheromone diffuser is working at all, either.     I feel quite badly.  My resident cat Pi is just overwhelmed with it all.  And poor Minchin doesn't get why she won't play with him.  I guess this is quite normal, but it still is uncomfortable to watch.

My resident cat is even more stressed out with the hyperthyroid treatment.  I'm using the gel now, but she's totally spooked out by my touching her ears, which means she has less patience with the kitten.  And he is constantly stalking her when I let them out together.  He won't back off with her growls, hisses and slapdowns.  She is very angry about it all.  Still waiting on the third gate.  Once i have that, I'll install it, and hopefully it will let them get to know each other in relative calm.  If Pi will come out from under the bed to interact with him. 

I know this is going to take a long time.  I just hope I'm not pushing them too hard.  My female just hates him.  And he's getting desperate and frustrated, too, although I think he just wants to play.  Trouble is, he's turning up the volume. 

I don't want to just "let them settle it themselves".  I do think I need to intervene when he won't settle down and leave her alone.  I keep waiting for her to stand up to him, but she runs and he chases her until she's cornered.  Then she fights back.  She will not assert dominance, even though she's bigger than him.   

Am I worrying too much about this?  I just want them to tolerate each other at least.

YoohooRa said:

 
My resident cat is even more stressed out with the hyperthyroid treatment.  I'm using the gel now, but she's totally spooked out by my touching her ears, which means she has less patience with the kitten.  And he is constantly stalking her when I let them out together.  He won't back off with her growls, hisses and slapdowns.  She is very angry about it all.  Still waiting on the third gate.  Once i have that, I'll install it, and hopefully it will let them get to know each other in relative calm.  If Pi will come out from under the bed to interact with him. 

I know this is going to take a long time.  I just hope I'm not pushing them too hard.  My female just hates him.  And he's getting desperate and frustrated, too, although I think he just wants to play.  Trouble is, he's turning up the volume. 

I don't want to just "let them settle it themselves".  I do think I need to intervene when he won't settle down and leave her alone.  I keep waiting for her to stand up to him, but she runs and he chases her until she's cornered.  Then she fights back.  She will not assert dominance, even though she's bigger than him.   

Am I worrying too much about this?  I just want them to tolerate each other at least.

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Honestly it sounds like this introduction isn't working.  They don't always succeed.  You may want to consider starting over, 100% separation for a couple of weeks with a slow re-introduction.