Hi, I have had my cat Indy for exactly a year now, and he has been the only cat in residence. He was adopted from a no-kill shelter where he lived the first 3 years of his life with 106 other cats. He seems to have adapted well to being an "only cat" and is spoiled rotten (toys, ramps, beds galore, etc.).
On Friday (5 days ago), we completely unexpectedly added a 7-8 week old female kitten to our home. Long story short, she was running in traffic on a 4-lane highway, and when she was finally captured, we volunteered to take her (we name her Smokey) home with us. We took her to the vet a couple hours later, and she is healthy (didn't even have worms!) and NEG. We kept her apart from Indy in our sunporch (it's heated), separated by a sliding glass door. So they could see each other, but that's it.
Over the next few days, we let them smell each other through the screen of the sliding door. Smokey seems fine with Indy, she even rolled over and showed him her belly. But Indy hissed at her.
Last night, we opened the screen and let Indy go out into the sunporch (which used to be where we fed him and had his litter box -- those have been moved into the kitchen for now). He search the whole place, sniffing everywhere. Smokey came out of hiding (she is still shy and has to be coaxed out with a ribbon), and went right up to Indy. At first he was okay with that, but when she did it again later, he hissed and took a swipe at her. My husband scolded him for that, but I thought we shouldn't scold him. Which of us is right? We let Indy go back inside, but unfortunately he was too quick and tried to go in when the screen was still closed. He bent his neck and his ear, and cried out 3 times. Of course we immediately went in with him, and soothed him and made sure he wasn't really hurt.
Today I let Indy come out into the sunporch while I fed Smokey, changed her water, and cleaned her box. He mostly ignored her, but when she came close, growled and hissed and swiped at her. He was on the couch beside me when this happened, and I think he actually took a swipe at me, too.
I think eventually they will be okay with each other -- Indy is only 4 1/2 and is still quite playful. But have I rushed getting them face to face? Should I go back to keeping the glass door, or the screen, between them? Smokey hasn't been in the main part of the house yet, and seems content out on the porch (except she meows now and then). Any other suggestions? Thanks for any help...
On Friday (5 days ago), we completely unexpectedly added a 7-8 week old female kitten to our home. Long story short, she was running in traffic on a 4-lane highway, and when she was finally captured, we volunteered to take her (we name her Smokey) home with us. We took her to the vet a couple hours later, and she is healthy (didn't even have worms!) and NEG. We kept her apart from Indy in our sunporch (it's heated), separated by a sliding glass door. So they could see each other, but that's it.
Over the next few days, we let them smell each other through the screen of the sliding door. Smokey seems fine with Indy, she even rolled over and showed him her belly. But Indy hissed at her.
Last night, we opened the screen and let Indy go out into the sunporch (which used to be where we fed him and had his litter box -- those have been moved into the kitchen for now). He search the whole place, sniffing everywhere. Smokey came out of hiding (she is still shy and has to be coaxed out with a ribbon), and went right up to Indy. At first he was okay with that, but when she did it again later, he hissed and took a swipe at her. My husband scolded him for that, but I thought we shouldn't scold him. Which of us is right? We let Indy go back inside, but unfortunately he was too quick and tried to go in when the screen was still closed. He bent his neck and his ear, and cried out 3 times. Of course we immediately went in with him, and soothed him and made sure he wasn't really hurt.
Today I let Indy come out into the sunporch while I fed Smokey, changed her water, and cleaned her box. He mostly ignored her, but when she came close, growled and hissed and swiped at her. He was on the couch beside me when this happened, and I think he actually took a swipe at me, too.
I think eventually they will be okay with each other -- Indy is only 4 1/2 and is still quite playful. But have I rushed getting them face to face? Should I go back to keeping the glass door, or the screen, between them? Smokey hasn't been in the main part of the house yet, and seems content out on the porch (except she meows now and then). Any other suggestions? Thanks for any help...