Older cat having serious trouble adapting to new kitten.

Hello everyone. 

I'm in a fairly difficult position when it comes to introducing my older cat to my parent's new kitten.

Firstly, my older cat is Simba, 2 years old, male and neutered. He lives with me at my university apartment where he gets along exceptionally well with mine and my roommate's other cat, Molly (male, 5, neutered as well). They didn't even have a proper introduction, they just got along really well from the start and are always together. (I've noticed however that with dogs, Simba gets quite scared and defensive). 

At my parent's house, where Simba spends the weekends with me, he's always been ok with the resident cat, Nemo. Nemo was 6, mostly outdoor, and he wasn't neutered. He was very territorial but never attacked Simba, he just ignored him. 

Unfortunately, Nemo has recently passed away. My parents missed the companionship so they decided to get a new kitten, Pipoca, a male as well, who is too young to be neutered yet. Since Simba has gotten along well with the previous cats, we introduced them directly to each other. That was a big mistake. Simba constantly hisses, can't even stand the new kitten's meowing or his smell on us. He hisses at us (but he lets us pet him, he hasn't attacked) and often hides when he senses the new kitten's presence. He is feeling seriously threatened even though this isn't his usual territory.

I am currently keeping them separate and trying to give Simba some objects with the new kitten's scent but he mostly ignores them. My problem now is that Simba is going away with me for the week and they'll only be near each other during weekends over the next two months.

I now have two options: Should I keep bringing Simba every weekend and try the scent exchanging/slow introduction every weekend? Or should I only bring Simba again over the summer, when they can be near each other every day and the kitten will already be a bit bigger and able to defend himself? I'm not sure if the slow introduction will work if it's done only a few days per week. But I'm also afraid that introducing them when the kitten is older and presents a bigger threat is better either :/

Some kitties, just like some people, don't care for each other.  I don't think a young kitten not being neutered would make a difference, he isn't producing testosterone so he doesn't have the scent that would be causing an issue.  I wouldn't try introductions again until the summer because it could be a long process.  If you take your kitty home on the weekends I would keep them in separate rooms.  Of course they will smell each other just by being in the same house but I wouldn't try any intro steps, a weekend just isn't enough time.

The most you might be able to accomplish is peaceful co-existence.

inesm said:

 
Hello everyone. 

I'm in a fairly difficult position when it comes to introducing my older cat to my parent's new kitten.

Firstly, my older cat is Simba, 2 years old, male and neutered. He lives with me at my university apartment where he gets along exceptionally well with mine and my roommate's other cat, Molly (male, 5, neutered as well). They didn't even have a proper introduction, they just got along really well from the start and are always together. (I've noticed however that with dogs, Simba gets quite scared and defensive). 

At my parent's house, where Simba spends the weekends with me, he's always been ok with the resident cat, Nemo. Nemo was 6, mostly outdoor, and he wasn't neutered. He was very territorial but never attacked Simba, he just ignored him. 

Unfortunately, Nemo has recently passed away. My parents missed the companionship so they decided to get a new kitten, Pipoca, a male as well, who is too young to be neutered yet. Since Simba has gotten along well with the previous cats, we introduced them directly to each other. That was a big mistake. Simba constantly hisses, can't even stand the new kitten's meowing or his smell on us. He hisses at us (but he lets us pet him, he hasn't attacked) and often hides when he senses the new kitten's presence. He is feeling seriously threatened even though this isn't his usual territory.

I am currently keeping them separate and trying to give Simba some objects with the new kitten's scent but he mostly ignores them. My problem now is that Simba is going away with me for the week and they'll only be near each other during weekends over the next two months.

I now have two options: Should I keep bringing Simba every weekend and try the scent exchanging/slow introduction every weekend? Or should I only bring Simba again over the summer, when they can be near each other every day and the kitten will already be a bit bigger and able to defend himself? I'm not sure if the slow introduction will work if it's done only a few days per week. But I'm also afraid that introducing them when the kitten is older and presents a bigger threat is better either :/

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I think a part time intro is not the way to go.  It sends lots of mixed messages and could just make things worse. Sometimes its harder to introduce a kitten (too much energy etc) to an adult cat so you might actually get a benefit in waiting. Below is my guide to doing introductions:

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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/

Thank you both! I have left Simba with my roommate over the weekend and will continue to do so until the Summer. Hopefully Pipoca will be a bit bigger and less energetic and I'll be able to introduce them then.

Thank you for the introduction steps, I will follow them!

inesm said:

 
Thank you both! I have left Simba with my roommate over the weekend and will continue to do so until the Summer. Hopefully Pipoca will be a bit bigger and less energetic and I'll be able to introduce them then.

Thank you for the introduction steps, I will follow them!

Click to expand...

OK when you do the intro, don't skip anything and remember to take it at the pace the cat sets, not your pace.

I will!