Introducing a kitten to an older cat

Hi, everyone. This is my first post, I was hoping to get some information about how to introduce my new kitten to my older cat.

My older cat is a female, not spayed, almost two years old. She's afraid of pretty much everything, always has been. I got her when she was just three months old. We let her out on the balcony of our third-floor apartment only because she's too afraid to go past the stairs. She's not afraid of the three of us that live here, but is dead scared of the hallway to the building and new people.

Now, I just got a new female kitten, about two months old. I got a female because my older cat isn't spayed. My older cat is pretty small, always has been. But all of a sudden since I brought in the kitten, the older one seems much bigger, I mean, not just because the new cat is small, but she really is bigger. She's still small compared to most cats her age anyways, though.

She's scared as hell of the new kitten. Now she just hides in a corner in the kitchen or behind the bed in another room. I read some guides that said to keep the kitten in a room for a few days while the older cat gets adjusted, but she's always scared! Sometimes my older cat will walk past the door or if the youngin gets out, they will see each other and the older will hiss a lot and growl. Then the new tiny kitten just puffs herself up a bit and the older goes flying into hiding. She even hisses and growls when we try to comfort her.

Hopefully someone out there will be able to help me with this problem. Also, we aren't really for spaying, but considering all the usual trouble that has come with the older cat not being spayed, we were considering having it done to the kitten. Will this be a problem if one is spayed and the other isn't?

Thanks in advance.

Welcome Basey...I would highly recommend that you consider having your older cat spayed as well. It isn't only because a cat that is spayed cannot become pregnant, but there are certain cancers she will be more prone to as an intact cat:

Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, especially when your pet is spayed before her first heat.
Spaying can prevent various reproductive tract disorders

As far as introductions go..here is a really good thread on introducing cats:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=22138

If you need a low cost clinic, just let me know.

Katie

Hey there
i just went through your same situation but with 2 males. my older male is 2 years and just last week i brough home a 2 month old male. my older one didnt like it he was hissing and growling as well.
i kept the kitten in 1 room for a week.... just introducing them to each others scent. i read once your cat gets used to the scent they have a better time taking to the new one. just take it slow. pet your kitten then go let your older cat smell your hands. or give the kitten a blanky to sleep with then let your older cat cuddle with it! i also put some of my older cats litter in with the kittens litter for scent!
1 week later i accidently left the kittens bedroom door open and when i came back in the older cat and him were touching noses. it was amazing to me. they have been playing ever since!
i know not all will happen that fast (1week) but please be patient and dont yell at your older cat when he hisses or growls. it will make her feel even more at risk!
good luck!!! ~Jamie Zeus and Zephyr!

Thanks for the advice! I'll try the petting thing. I have actually been yelling at my cat about hissing, so I'll stop doing that as well. It's just weird, my older cat is much more afraid of the younger one.

About spaying my older cat, isn't two years way too late to do it? Are there any pros/cons to doing it late as opposed to spaying them at 18 weeks? Will there be any problems or major attitude changes?

Originally Posted by basey

Thanks for the advice! I'll try the petting thing. I have actually been yelling at my cat about hissing, so I'll stop doing that as well. It's just weird, my older cat is much more afraid of the younger one.

About spaying my older cat, isn't two years way too late to do it? Are there any pros/cons to doing it late as opposed to spaying them at 18 weeks? Will there be any problems or major attitude changes?

Click to expand...

It's beneficial at any age...but if the spay is done before the first heat, it has a greater impact on the chances of cancer. The only data that I have read indicates a positive impact on their attitude once spayed.

What I found:

Behavior problems can also be prevented or minimized by spaying or neutering your cat. Sexual behavior in both male and female cats is reduced following surgery. In 90% of male cats, neutering eliminated roaming, urine spraying, and fights with neighborhood cats, regardless of their age when neutered. Female cats no longer show "heat" behavior (soliciting mounting from males). Overall, being sexually intact increases the risk of relinquishment to a shelter. There are, however, large individual differences and not all cats undergo a behavior change following spaying or neutering.



Will My Cat's Personality Change?


Other than the previously mentioned behavior changes, spaying or neutering your cat is unlikely to change their basic personality. Some cats appear "lazy" since they are less likely to roam and may gain weight. In one study, 25% of cat owners felt their cats became more "docile" following castration. Hunting skills, playfulness, general activity levels, excitement, and vocalization also do not typically change following surgery.




When Should I Spay/Neuter My Cat?


Although some people suggest waiting until a cat is six months old, early age spaying and neutering are becoming popular. Physically, male cats neutered prior to puberty do not develop the large head and thick skin of intact males. Both neutered males and spayed females have a tendency to gain weight due to a decrease in roaming and other sexual behavior. However, weight gain can be prevented through dietary management.




Studies have shown that cats spayed or neutered at less than six months of age do not have an increased risk of physical or behavioral problems as compared to those that undergo surgery later. Early-age spaying and neutering may prevent problem behaviors before they occur. Spaying and neutering should also be considered for any pet with a behavior problem, regardless of age. For certain behaviors, surgery may reduce or eliminate the problem, even in older cats. Consult with your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist for further information.


Here is a good study on early age spaying/neutering:

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/repo...ly-neuter.html

We didn't get our female spayed early, like we should have. In fact she was older than your girl when we finally got it done (the male kitty of the household was neutered at 6 months, so there was no chance of kittens, and it wasn't until I joined here that I found out the health risks of not spaying). Anyway, Ophelia was a feral kitten and was always very skittish and scared (hiding scared) of anything new. She's scared of the front door, our guests didn't hardley believe that we had a second cat because she would never come out. She wasn't a lovey cat by any means, but did love her Daddy (my hubby), but I wasn't really allowed to pet her much. After she was spayed, her personality did change - for the better! She became much more outgoing to both of us, more accepting of pets and love, less frightened of our guests (well, they can at least see her now...approaching strangers still isn't going to happen), more playful. She is so much happier now that she isn't going in and out of heat. I would really recommend it for both of your girls. I only wish we had gotten it done much earlier with Ophelia.