I've read some threads here and there about new/old introduction and whatnot but I figure to ask about my particular situation.
We had to put our oldest down to sleep due to complications from thyroidism about a month and a half ago. My next oldest, Matty, seemed perfectly fine but we were rather down and upset so we decided to get a new kitten. We have always been used to 2 cats and it doesn't feel the same. Well our now oldest, Matty, is now a grumpy butt since the new kitten. We kinda screwed up the introduction bit, after the first few days my kitten would rocket out of my room whenever I opened the door, I almost closed the door on her a couple times she ran out so fast. Anyway some of the times she got out she ran right up to our older cat and of course Matty would hiss scream make a fuss and swat at the kitten. After several weeks of both getting over seperate cat colds, we decided to let the litlte one roam the house and have been doing so for the past few weeks. While Matty mostly sits in one of her spots and just watches, occasionally the kitten will initiate play with Matty and cause her to be very PO'ed to say the least. We have tried petting Matty under these circumstances only to insight irritation and frustration for Matty and will walk away, sometimes though the kitten will run at her and Matty will swat, sometimes relentlessly at the kitten. She is front declawed, a decision is sorely regret as I don't condone declawing, so she's in no danger of getting scratched, and has shown no sign of biting. But my concern is she's getting overly stressed out. I don't know if this is the case though cause there are times when the kitten is safely in my room, my Matty will do her normal routine, like in the mornings she likes to climb on the bathroom sink wait for me or my mother to go into the bathroom and drink from the sink, usually from my hands. She is has a motor on her, and she's always purring like that when the kitten isn't around. There have been a few times when the 2 were near each other and no incident, but most of the time I'll walk into the room and walk near them and my Matty will get irritated as if she's mad at ME for bringing the kitten home. I spoke to my vet who said these types of things could take monthes and sometmes up to a year for the older to get used to the younger. I had no issue when my Matty was a kitten with our late cat. I'm only worried I put too much stress on my baby and she's going to hate me and the kitten indefinatly. I don't want to give up the kitten but I don't want to hurt my older cat. My worry that the kitten will never be tolerated, she doesn't have to love or like my kitten but i would love for her to be tolerated, and this will be an, either she goes or I go, scenario.
We had to put our oldest down to sleep due to complications from thyroidism about a month and a half ago. My next oldest, Matty, seemed perfectly fine but we were rather down and upset so we decided to get a new kitten. We have always been used to 2 cats and it doesn't feel the same. Well our now oldest, Matty, is now a grumpy butt since the new kitten. We kinda screwed up the introduction bit, after the first few days my kitten would rocket out of my room whenever I opened the door, I almost closed the door on her a couple times she ran out so fast. Anyway some of the times she got out she ran right up to our older cat and of course Matty would hiss scream make a fuss and swat at the kitten. After several weeks of both getting over seperate cat colds, we decided to let the litlte one roam the house and have been doing so for the past few weeks. While Matty mostly sits in one of her spots and just watches, occasionally the kitten will initiate play with Matty and cause her to be very PO'ed to say the least. We have tried petting Matty under these circumstances only to insight irritation and frustration for Matty and will walk away, sometimes though the kitten will run at her and Matty will swat, sometimes relentlessly at the kitten. She is front declawed, a decision is sorely regret as I don't condone declawing, so she's in no danger of getting scratched, and has shown no sign of biting. But my concern is she's getting overly stressed out. I don't know if this is the case though cause there are times when the kitten is safely in my room, my Matty will do her normal routine, like in the mornings she likes to climb on the bathroom sink wait for me or my mother to go into the bathroom and drink from the sink, usually from my hands. She is has a motor on her, and she's always purring like that when the kitten isn't around. There have been a few times when the 2 were near each other and no incident, but most of the time I'll walk into the room and walk near them and my Matty will get irritated as if she's mad at ME for bringing the kitten home. I spoke to my vet who said these types of things could take monthes and sometmes up to a year for the older to get used to the younger. I had no issue when my Matty was a kitten with our late cat. I'm only worried I put too much stress on my baby and she's going to hate me and the kitten indefinatly. I don't want to give up the kitten but I don't want to hurt my older cat. My worry that the kitten will never be tolerated, she doesn't have to love or like my kitten but i would love for her to be tolerated, and this will be an, either she goes or I go, scenario.
