Kitten randomly growling and is not as affectionate

Hi, I just brought a 4 month old kitten. We had him for about a month before having to drop him off at the shelter vet. He's home now and for the first couple of days he was superrr affectionate and his usual self but once we started introducing him again to my older cat he has been growling and not as affectionate as usual. They aren't friends yet but they don't fight a lot. What could it be? Any advice? 

Patience.  When you had to take him in to the vet, you essentially reset the introduction clock back to start.  Time, patience, and whatever worked best the first time around.  The first couple of days he was probably not feeling well enough to get snarky.  He'll get over this.  So long as there are no active fights (and you will know the real fights...they involve blood and fur literally flying), you're doing fine.  Also, at four months, they're all a little "jerk-ish."  They are entering the preteen stage of their developement.  Think 11-13 year old boys.  Right.  You got it.

Thank you! I was getting worried because he was acting like such a brat and when the two were together I couldn't tell if they were fighting or just playing. They were smacking each other in the face with claws in and chasing each other but there were a few playful meows. Hopefully he gets over it and starts being his affectionate self again Also, I just put my hand on him to pet him for a second but he got really startled, should I be worried? It only happened once 

I'm going to bet that if it only happened once, he just had his head in the clouds and wasn't expecting a touch just then.  Hekitty jumps occasionally when I touch her, and I raised her from 5 weeks on.  Don't worry to much about it at this point.  They all startle once and a while.  If they are batting with claws in, it's play.   ALL play is hunting practice, so it looks a bit rough on occasion to us, but unless, as I said, there is blood or fur torn out, they're ok.

He's back to being his usual purring self! But.. kind of concerned now. He just laid down in her litter box??? He may have used it previously but I don't think so. Ahhhh help

Are both of your cats fixed?

Yes they are  both fixed. Also, the fighting has gotten worse. They are now laying down on their backs with their stomachs up waiting for the other to attack so they can grab them. I think we should seperate them and re introduce from the beginning but my family disagrees and thinks it's cruel to leave him in "his room"

No, that's not cruel. Cats are very territorial, so having some space and territory of his own will help him to feel more secure. Just be sure to spend plenty of time and play with him in there, and you can slowly re-introduce the cats. Our second kitten was four months old when we first brought her home, and we tried to keep them separated and slowly introduced them over a week. 

It's been a couple of months, and they are still learning to tolerate each other. But it takes time. 

Good luck!

I haven't been home since last night, but my mother says they are friends now, lol. I sure hope so! Maybe a re introduction won't be necessary and they really were just playing

I can promise you this...no matter how it may sound to you, if those two are exposing their tummies to each other every thing is fine.   Cats flat do not do that where there is not a high degree of trust.  In this case, it sounds like an invitation to play. 

Okay, thank you! It's hard to tell because they're exposing their bellies to each other but the little kitten growls randomly? Should I ignore it? Also, whenever I get scared that they're fighting I put him back into his room, but a second later he meows to get out and goes back to playing/fighting with the older cat. Should I just let him out? They both seem kind of stressed when they're together, but maybe it's just them getting used to each other. It's only been like a week so I guess that'a understandable

Update! They are sleeping in the same room, that's good right?? One is on the cat tree and the other is on the couch

I'm going to say this again...BREATHE!  These guys are doing wonderfully well.  There are no real fights going on, they are sleeping in the same room, and as far as the growling, sometimes a cat's gotta say what a cat's gotta say.  I've seen cats take MONTHS to get to where yours are now.  Relax.  They are fine.  Let them growl a bit.  They have to establish their own pecking order, and interfering with that will just slow down the process.  Again, I repeat, unless you are seeing fur literally being pulled out and flying or blood on the floor, these guys don't need your assistance.  It's a "cat thang."

Okay, thank you soo much. I feel way better now I hope things continue to get better between them so they become friends soon!

I agree with mamanyt1953 completely.  Growling is actually a form of communication between cats.  My cats have been living together for years.  My oldest cat and only female growls when the other cats try to get her to play by chasing her.  Her growling is a form of complaining and she does not actually go after any of them. She will either hide somewhere they do not fit into or run to one of her humans. She even growls at me sometimes when I pick her up and bring her to bed at night.  The minute I put her down on the bed she stops growling and wants to cuddle.  There is a definite change in noise level and body posture that will be very noticeable if they are actually fighting.  Trust me you will know it.  Also cats do not display their bellies when they are fighting. 

Try to relax and breathe. Your introductions are going great.  The vet  trip through off the scent of the cat that went to the vet.  This same thing has happened with my cats.  One thing that has helped me with this issue is to take a piece of my dirty laundry and rub down the cat that went to the vet with it.  Putting your smell on the cat creates a smell the other cats will recognize.  I have used this technique to get my cats to stop hissing at each other after a vet visit a few times.  It really sounds like things are going back to normal.

The two cats are acting like siblings now They ignore each other half the time and play the other half. It looks like the older cat is happy to have a sibling Both of them are back to being affectionate and the growling is going down every day

HUGS...like I said, sometimes, it's just a "cat thang."

We let him out overnight because they were getting along all day and now this morning whenever she approaches him he gets scared (he arches his back and does the defensive thing with his tail) Should I bring him into a safe room for today or should I just leave them alone? They aren't fighting, but they seem tense around each other

gemmamiso said:

We let him out overnight because they were getting along all day and now this morning whenever she approaches him he gets scared (he arches his back and does the defensive thing with his tail) Should I bring him into a safe room for today or should I just leave them alone? They aren't fighting, but they seem tense around each other

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I would separate again and do a gradual reintroduction again. You really do not want to rush things.

I don't know what to do now. The kitten is laying on the floor playing and the older cat is on the couch above him taking a nap. They seem fine most of the time but sometimes he growls and she swats at him. He just got up and pounced at her while she was sleeping and she hit him and he left. Now he's laid down with his belly facing her and they're back to napping.