I have a couple of spayed female exotics 2 and a 3.5 year old- very very docile and friendly with people, dog, neighbours cats (which come into the house).....
So i thought, bearing in mind their complete friendliness and acceptance of neighbours cats coming into our home, that introducing two new kittens would be simple. So a few weeks ago i placed a deposit on 2 maine coon kittens.
However, my brother came to stay with me over the christmas and new year period, bringing with him his 3.5 month old kitten. I thought i'd introduce the kitten and my cats slowly, but this has proved near enough impossible. My cats have realised by hanging outsite the room the kitten is kept in that there is a newcomer, and they will sit and growl outside the door for hours on end.
There was an incident where my brother had left the bedroom door open, forgetting the kitten was there, only to be reminded a few moments later when we heard screeching from the room. On entering the room we found both my female cats attacking the kitten, the kitten was so scared that she had actually emptied her bowels during the incident.
We've tried to introduce them again slowly, by exchanging smells, even holding the cats and just being in the same room, but have found both the kitten and cats will growl at each other.
Any slow and careful introductions is not possible as my cats will give literally no body language that they are annoyed or agitated- simply no warning signal or indication of irritation- they will run to attack her.
The kitten is extremely vocal and i feel rather reactive- she will growl and run, and gives out very defensive, almost aggressive body language- though i can't say i blame her.
And so now- i'm in a dilemma- i'm keeping my brothers kitten away from my cats and he's going home this weekend anyway- but i still have my two maine coon kittens to pick up- which i have been looking so so forward to- and i don't want to let the breeder down.
So what do i do- why are my cats doing this??? Will they be the same with the two maine coon kittens- at a bit of a loss what to do-???
Breeder keeps calling me, and i dont know how to bring my concerns up- if at all- maybe the cats will be ok with the kittens??? Any advice gratefully recieved.
So i thought, bearing in mind their complete friendliness and acceptance of neighbours cats coming into our home, that introducing two new kittens would be simple. So a few weeks ago i placed a deposit on 2 maine coon kittens.
However, my brother came to stay with me over the christmas and new year period, bringing with him his 3.5 month old kitten. I thought i'd introduce the kitten and my cats slowly, but this has proved near enough impossible. My cats have realised by hanging outsite the room the kitten is kept in that there is a newcomer, and they will sit and growl outside the door for hours on end.
There was an incident where my brother had left the bedroom door open, forgetting the kitten was there, only to be reminded a few moments later when we heard screeching from the room. On entering the room we found both my female cats attacking the kitten, the kitten was so scared that she had actually emptied her bowels during the incident.
We've tried to introduce them again slowly, by exchanging smells, even holding the cats and just being in the same room, but have found both the kitten and cats will growl at each other.
Any slow and careful introductions is not possible as my cats will give literally no body language that they are annoyed or agitated- simply no warning signal or indication of irritation- they will run to attack her.
The kitten is extremely vocal and i feel rather reactive- she will growl and run, and gives out very defensive, almost aggressive body language- though i can't say i blame her.
And so now- i'm in a dilemma- i'm keeping my brothers kitten away from my cats and he's going home this weekend anyway- but i still have my two maine coon kittens to pick up- which i have been looking so so forward to- and i don't want to let the breeder down.
So what do i do- why are my cats doing this??? Will they be the same with the two maine coon kittens- at a bit of a loss what to do-???
Breeder keeps calling me, and i dont know how to bring my concerns up- if at all- maybe the cats will be ok with the kittens??? Any advice gratefully recieved.