New kitten doesn't like other cats - have we made a mistake?

[hexidecimal]

Background: we have two lovely, friendly neutered male cats age 3 and 4. They like other cats and a year ago brought home and elderly and injured stray semi-feral that we patched up and neutered/adopted. He is at least 10.

They all like other cats - they even make cat friends in the gardens and get on well together, so when someone offered me a kitten from an 'oooppss' litter, I said yes.

We saw the kitten with her siblings and she got on fine with them, though was a little aloof. She's 10 weeks old now and we took her home last week. 

She's very friendly with us, very purry and happy, but the trouble is, she has no interest in the other cats. We have been doing slow introductions - showing each other through gaps in a door, scent transfer etc. but she has no interest in the other cats. Doesn't care that they are there at best, and if she notices them she hisses and growls. They are terrified of her.

We are keeping them apart still at the moment though we allow the stray to hang out in the same room as her/us because he isn't bothered by her. They'll sleep on the same bed but only because she'll totally ignore him. She has zero interest in him. And when he tries to nose bump her she walks off.

Worried about how the introductions are going to go if she's not interested in other cats. Every time I've tried to introduce kittens to cats it worked because the kittens were so desperate to make friends and play. If the kitten doesn't want to make friends, will it still work?

 

[Ms. Freya]

Not interested is actually okay. Not all cats are very social with each other - sometimes the best you can aim for is having them co-exist in the same space. It sounds like you're definitely doing things right, she may also take a long time to warm up. Just keep things slow and give them all time and plenty of personal space.

If you haven't already, you can also take a look at our Cat Introduction guide: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-to-successfully-introduce-cats-the-ultimate-guide

You may find some tips and tricks or at least a few extra suggestions to smooth things over.

 

[hexidecimal]

We've actually had some progress tonight! The big former-stray has taken a liking to her. Or at least, has accepted to her. He'll happily be in the same room/on the same bed as her and lets her play with his tail. He also shares food with her.

The other two boys are curious and still hissing - but not aggressively. It's more of a warning hiss each time than a threatening one. She's also started to take an interest in them (watching them, trying to get their attention, do little flirty play stances towards them) and has stopped hissing and growling at them. Not sure if they'll ever be friend-friends, but we're moving forward slowly… Hopefully in a few weeks when she's less of a manic fluffball and more cat-like they'll have more interest in her.

 

[Ms. Freya]

That's definitely good news!

Fingers crossed that things keep going smoothly.