Made a mistake at introduction...

Hello. First time posting here

I have a 6 year old unspayed female domestic cat and we've lived alone together for over 2 years. Last night I "rescued" an 8 week old unspayed female kitten from a person who took the kitten but wasn't able to care for her.

Last night around 5pm I got the kitten and simply let her run around the house (she is very playful) and whenever she comes near my big cat, my big cat growls and hisses, runs off, comes back and does more hissing and growling. Kitty wants to play but cat seems to take it as aggression. Neither cat is aggressive towards me (unless cat is already worked up with kitty in her face).

My obvious problem is that I just read through as many introduction threads as I could, and read the great article on introduction here. So now I see that I shouldn't have just let them come face to face with each other right away, but they're alone together now and will be for the next 7 hours since I'm at work. I'm not concerned about anyone getting hurt, but I am concerned that I just blew my chances at getting these 2 cats to eventually get along. Is it too late to separate them and start on proper introduction methods? What are my chances? Kitten also slept with me last night where cat usually sleeps, but cat will not go near me if kitten is around.

Thanks in advance!

When I got Serena, Max was about a year old. I had no idea how to go through the steps of introduction, so I let them both be together while my mom and I were home. There was hissing, growling, and some attacking for the first 2-3 weeks. Now, after about a year, they're the best of friends! As long as you keep them separated while you're at work, and they're not left to their own devices, they should be just fine.
Good luck!

You will have a prob with both of them being unspayed. Unless you are a breeder, I would strongly recommend having your 6 year old spayed, otherwise she is at risk of pyometra, uterine and mammary cancer. Things may then be better as at the moment your older cat may see the younger as a threat to being the dominant cat. I would also keep them separated while you aren't around until you are 100% sure that they won't fight.

Thanks. I've thought about spaying but I've held off because I'm afraid of a personality change in my 6yo. She's an indoor cat who never gets to go outside so I thought it would be ok. I plan on keeping the new kitten inside only as well.

Is there a realistic hope of getting the 6yo to befriend the kitten? I ask because they've been able to get face to face for about 20 or so hours and the 6yo just hisses and growls like crazy.

Mase, it's been nearly two months since Napoleon and Cassie have been introduced and she STILL hisses and growls at him. Do I like it? No. Is it normal? Heck yeah! I mean, it's not constant and when it happens, it's in direct relation to something he did...like swat her on the head to pick a fight or if he was playing to close to whatever boundary she's set (yep, she's an alpha LOL). I would say, seclude the little one for now...but definitely take your cat(s) to the vet for check-ups and spaying. Cassie became more mellow but she's still affectionate. And Napoleon came to us neutered. Good luck.

There is some hope for them to *respect* each other. Patches is by far the dominant. When my bf and I moved in together last year we went ahead and did what you did. Threw the cats together and let them figure it out.
Luna still doesn't like Beauty and sometimes takes her frustrastions out on Beauty. But Patches and Luna will actually play together. You'll know when they're swatting and there isn't hissing that they're playing.
Luna likes to play most of the time (she's over a year). However, since Patches is 10, she has her limits. Our bed is more or less her safe haven. Once she hops on there she'll hiss at Luna if Luna continues to play. Luna will take the hint most of the time and walk off.
Trust me, though. It takes a while and is frustrating, but at some point you can leave for more than an hour!!
For now though I would just place the kitten in closed room with a litter box and food and water while you're gone.

Things should be better when your 6yo is spayed, as the dominant female is the one who can produce the most kittens, so once your youngest comes into heat, they will be worse. The only personality change I think you will notice is she will be more placid, and wont have to deal with the hormone rushes every time she comes into season. Plus you are saving her from some nasty illnesses. Good luck.

If it where me I WOULD not let the two kitties be out around with each other when your are not home at first. Until your sure the older cat won't harm the kitten. Shes awfull young to be attacked by a older cat. Can't you keep the kitten shut in a bed room when your at work with a litter box and food? that would be the safest option.
Usally two female do have a harder time adjusting. And not spayed is a little harder. They almost always will get along in time. Make sure and spend alot of time with your older cat. So she doens't feel displaced. New kitten sleeping on your bed makes your older cat feel even more threatened by this new comer. Never scold your current cat if she hisses at the new cat, it is her territory and the stranger is invading it. You must make sure your current cat feels totally secure in her surroundings and in her emotions, then the chances of her accepting the newcomer will be better. The new cat will learn to adapt and accept her place in the hierarchy. The introductions must be slow and controlled.
Its best to be around for a few days when they are out around each other. SO you can STEP in and break up anything that is beyond hissing, growling or a quick tap from the older kitty.
Patience and they will adjust to each other. Good Luck!

I would get them bith spayed while you can. We have 2 females, one spayed 1 unspayed, and it was fine for over 4 years. All the sudden the unspayed turned on the other and got very aggressive. We got her spayed but now we have to reintroduce them and we are having a pickle of a time at it (because they BOTH feel like it's their territory, they BOTH hiss and growl). So my advice is to spay them both before trouble happens! I was afraid of her changing her personality as well, but I'm happy to say she hasn't. She is very vocal and snuggly, and playful, same as before. (She is 4 yr old and is recovering fine)

I agree with the spaying of the 6yo. It will probably make her more mellow toward the kitten. It is also healthy for her, with greatly reduced chances of several diseases. When you seperate them, sometimes it can help to give the older cat more attention than usual, make her feel less left out. But mostl the spaying!
Joecool

Thanks again for the info everyone. Interesting turn of events happened a couple of days after I posted my first question...my new little girl kitten turns out to be a little boy kitten!

I separated them and proceeded with better introduction methods, then I trimmed the little guys' claws down and now my big girl feels much more comfortable with him. Amazing! Now they play together (sometimes it looks a little rough, but they both keep going back for more!) and I even caught my big girl cleaning the little guy yesterday!

I have one more question...not sure if I should make a new thread but I figured I wouldn't waste the bandwidth. I want to spay my 6yo girl...is there a higher probability that her personality will change with the spaying since she's older? I've heard at least one story of an older female who was spayed and seemingly became resentful after, peeing in beds...etc.

Thanks again!

Please do spay your cat - even as an indoor only, she is at risk of mammary cancer, pyometra (a womb infection that can be fatal, and is caused by the amount of hormones every time they come into season), and uterine cancer. None are nice, all can be fatal, and all can be prevented by being spayed at 6 months. She will still have a risk of mammary cancer after being spayed (normal age of developing it is 10), but it is easy to detect by checking her nipples once a month - if treated early, they can live for years.