Reintroducing Littermates

Hi! My friend's cat had kittens in late February... I immediately told her I wanted one... and picked her up a couple days shy of 8 weeks old.... We've had her for 18 days now. 

One of the people who was supposed to take another of the kittens backed out and said she didn't want one anymore.  We decided to take her on... I had seen lots of pictures of our current kitten cuddling with her... they seemed to really bond.  Today we went to get the new kitten... and I stupidly thought they'd just remember each other... it's only been 2 1/2 weeks!  They HATE each other... it's hissing, and swatting.... I have them separated right now with new kitten in a bathroom with food, water, bedding, and a litter box and current kitten has run of the house... 

I don't know if this matters, but kitten 1 is very playful, kind of small, and extremely friendly.  Kitten 2 is giant and pretty timid.  How can/should I reintroduce them?  Will they always hate each other? I want to see them play together, not just tolerate each other.  To clarify they are both now 10 weeks old.

UGH!! Also kitten 1 just peed on a towel in the floor instead of her litter box... which she's never peed outside of. 

She is stressed and marking her territory. Feed them on opposites sides of a door until there is no reaction. You can also rub a piece of fabric on each cat and give it to the other to sniff. I bet this will be a quick reintroduction. You just have to go at their pace. And you did the right thing by getting a buddy!

talkingpeanut said:

She is stressed and marking her territory. Feed them on opposites sides of a door until there is no reaction. You can also rub a piece of fabric on each cat and give it to the other to sniff. I bet this will be a quick reintroduction. You just have to go at their pace. And you did the right thing by getting a buddy!

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Thank you!! That's reassuring to hear because my family (parents, husband, and his family) all thought we only needed the one kitten... i wanted her to have a play mate... I did try rubbing the sock all over each of them but they payed the other's sock no attention. I will try feeding them later tonight because I just fed them apart. 

I think one just wants to play so badly and the other doesn't want to play at all.... so it's putting a strain on their relationship! Hopefully it'll get better soon!! 

They just need a bit of time to reacclimate. Remember not to rush them. And we'd love to see photos!

Do you have plans to get them fixed, vaccinated, and dewormed?

talkingpeanut said:

They just need a bit of time to reacclimate. Remember not to rush them. And we'd love to see photos!

Do you have plans to get them fixed, vaccinated, and dewormed?

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Of course. One is already fixed, vaccinated and dewormed. Once they get along I will take pictures of them together. My profile photo is the first one. Gypsy.

Day 2... They're still not getting along. Gypsy keeps stalking and pouncing Mysti... Mysti keeps hissing and growling at Gypsy... which then makes Gypsy hiss at Mysti... I thought since they were so young and only separated for 2 weeks this would be a lot easier... They are using each others food bowls and sniffing each others litter boxes... not sure if this is a step forward or a sign of aggression. 

They need to be completely separated. There should be no opportunity for anyone to be stalking. Feed them in separate rooms on opposite sides of door and do the scent swapping.

Every bad interaction they have is a step back. They need complete space. Only allow a reintroduction when they have adjusted, which I believe will happen quickly.

whoa whoa whoa, did you not take any advice?  they said dont let them interact for a few days at least, maybe even up to two weeks.  feed them at the same time with the bowls on either side of the door, let one out at a time to inspect the others area, give them each time for the whole house by themselves.

you can't rush this.  and please, take the advice people give you, especially when you ask for it.

i've successfully introduced my crazy orange cat to two separate cats and separate times, so i feel this is the one area about cats i know about right now.

It's not too late to start over. Just separate them and only reintroduce at their pace.

I had them separated all night.  I tried re introducing them this morning... Sorry for the confusion. When I reintroduced, Gypsy would jump at the new kitten. 

My main living areas are all open so I'm having to keep the new kitten in the tiny bathroom and she meows extremely loudly and claws from under the door. 

I keep reading conflicting advice online. I tried having them eat close to each other, and that worked while they were eating, but after eating they started acting up again. 

It's not that I'm not taking advice. :/ Sorry for asking questions. I'll figure it out by myself.

Please do continue asking questions. They need to be completely separated until they are ready to be together. Eating next to each other is a positive sign. A baby gate may work to separate. So would a large dog crate. They really must have space though.

Jackson Galacy has some great videos.

talkingpeanut said:

Please do continue asking questions. They need to be completely separated until they are ready to be together. Eating next to each other is a positive sign. A baby gate may work to separate. So would a large dog crate. They really must have space though.

Jackson Galacy has some great videos.

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Thank you for all your help.  Sorry Lawf's comment has me a bit discouraged. I have been trying to take advice... I even slept on the couch with my 4 year old daughter for part of the night because Mysti was crying in the bathroom so I let her roam the bedroom and locked Gypsy out of the bedroom then Gypsy was crying at the bedroom door because she sleeps with us... So i made up the couch for myself and Gypsy when my daughter (who cosleeps) woke up looking for me and crowded me on the couch. So it's not like I'm not trying here... I tried the baby gate thing earlier but both kept jumping over it. 

Do you have a bedroom door? If so, keep one in the bathroom and one in the rest of the house. Make sure to play with both several times a day, separately.

They just desperately need some complete time and space.

They should eventually do fine. Some cats take a couple of weeks to accept each other. Being that they are both so young, it should be quicker. Also, once the other one is fixed, it will probably make a huge difference. Hang in there and don't give up, it will work out. I've introduced lots of cats to each other. Some only took a couple of days and some took longer. Lots of patience is needed. I know it's hard though because you feel sorry for the one locked up and you want to play with them and see them play together. Put your emotions aside for a couple of days and see what happens. Make sure you go in with the one locked up several times a day and let it rub all over you. You could also try feliway spray or diffuser. Its pheromones that mimick what a mother cat releases to calm them down.its available at pet supplies and most vets offices.

Here are some old pictures of them from when they were both with Momma cat. 

seasaltysiren said:

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• seasaltysiren
• May 3, 2016

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• seasaltysiren
• May 3, 2016

Here are some old pictures of them from when they were both with Momma cat. 

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They'll get back to this.

Here they are today.

They are soooo adorable. Awwwww. I wanna give them a big hug.

seasaltysiren said:

 
Day 2... They're still not getting along. Gypsy keeps stalking and pouncing Mysti... Mysti keeps hissing and growling at Gypsy... which then makes Gypsy hiss at Mysti... I thought since they were so young and only separated for 2 weeks this would be a lot easier... They are using each others food bowls and sniffing each others litter boxes... not sure if this is a step forward or a sign of aggression. 

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@seasaltysiren...Your kittens are just beautiful.

The advice given above is all spot on, with having cats/kittens being separated for awhile, and then slowly introduced, so that they don't go into 'fight or flight' mode, and begin cat fights.

But I'm really wondering, if what you are seeing is not just 'normal kitten behaviour'?

As in, are the kittens postering and 'play-fighting'? Is it playing...kitten style...or is it really aggression?

Even with stalking, hissing, growling...when it comes to kittens...it is not the same as with older cats.

Kittens ideal time to learn socialization skills is anywhere from 4weeks to 16 weeks.

This time for them is crucial, to learn 'bite-inhibition', 'hunting-stalking', and 'how to back-off' and 'let-go when the playing' is too rough.

Don't ever be discouraged from asking any questions, or sometimes when something is written down, online, it comes across as more stern, then it was meant to be.

We, here, are all just cat lovers, and all help each other out, with all sorts of advice, and tips.

Some will work, some will not,...so just take what works.

I'll throw in some articles about cat introductions...that we base the 'slow intros' on...but the advice that @talkingpeanut and others gave is just as valid, if not more so,...since it breaks it all down into smaller steps.

 [thread="248993"]Tcs Cat Behavior Resources Articles And Important Threads​[/thread]    ...the intro articles are near the bottom of the page.

http://www.thecatsite.com/atype/43/Cat_Behavior

Oh, and remember...that this time is going to be very fun, and a little chaotic, too,...because both Gypsy and Mysti are kittens.  

Take a lot of photos, and relax between 'crazy, zooming-kitten time', and remember to laugh. (Sure 'house rules' will have to happen, too,...but that will take time, as well.)

And what 'talkingpeanut' said is so true..."they will get back to this"...sleeping together and bonding. (they're probably playing..."who wants to be top kitten"...for now.)