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- May 23, 2015
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Hi all.
So I have an 11 year old female cat who has been an only cat for the 11 years that we have had her. Today - this morning, to be exact - I brought home a 3 month old female kitten. I am trying to follow the standard protocol for introductions and have the new kitten isolated in a room for at least a week, but even though my resident cat has not seen the new kitten, she definitely picked up the new scent. After investigating the living room area (through which I carried the kitten), she left and went under the bed in my bedroom (the new kitten is in another bedroom, alone).
I tried to give her wet food and fresh shrimp (which she adores) to help her feel more at ease, but she did not accept these right away. She stayed there under the bed for about 2 hours or so, while I went to run some errands. When I came back, she seemed a tiny bit more comfortable and even made a lap around the house before going back under the bed. Before she went back under the bed, however, she did accept some kitty treats from me.
I checked on the new kitten and then decided to come lie down on my bed, under which my resident cat was hiding, and after a bit she came out and got onto the bed with me. She smelled me (I think she smelled the kitten's scent on me) but nevertheless decided to lie down on top of me for a bit while I petted her. Some time later, she went back under the bed. For the rest of the day, it has been a cycle of her coming out from under the bed, making a lap around the house, eating some wet food, and going back under the bed. For a little while, she came and lay down on the couch with me in the living room, but then left again and went under the bed.
Logically, I know that it's only been a day, and I can't expect her to be totally fine with the new scent, especially since she has been alone for so long. And part of me feels like the behavior she has shown isn't quite bad at all. I just can't stop worrying, though, that this will not work out or that she will get depressed or sick or that I will have to take the kitten back to the shelter (I really can't bear to do that after I've already adopted the poor baby).
Has anyone had an experience like this? This is normal, right? How long did it take your cats to get used to the new presence? Basically, someone please speak to me, I can't stop worrying
So I have an 11 year old female cat who has been an only cat for the 11 years that we have had her. Today - this morning, to be exact - I brought home a 3 month old female kitten. I am trying to follow the standard protocol for introductions and have the new kitten isolated in a room for at least a week, but even though my resident cat has not seen the new kitten, she definitely picked up the new scent. After investigating the living room area (through which I carried the kitten), she left and went under the bed in my bedroom (the new kitten is in another bedroom, alone).
I tried to give her wet food and fresh shrimp (which she adores) to help her feel more at ease, but she did not accept these right away. She stayed there under the bed for about 2 hours or so, while I went to run some errands. When I came back, she seemed a tiny bit more comfortable and even made a lap around the house before going back under the bed. Before she went back under the bed, however, she did accept some kitty treats from me.
I checked on the new kitten and then decided to come lie down on my bed, under which my resident cat was hiding, and after a bit she came out and got onto the bed with me. She smelled me (I think she smelled the kitten's scent on me) but nevertheless decided to lie down on top of me for a bit while I petted her. Some time later, she went back under the bed. For the rest of the day, it has been a cycle of her coming out from under the bed, making a lap around the house, eating some wet food, and going back under the bed. For a little while, she came and lay down on the couch with me in the living room, but then left again and went under the bed.
Logically, I know that it's only been a day, and I can't expect her to be totally fine with the new scent, especially since she has been alone for so long. And part of me feels like the behavior she has shown isn't quite bad at all. I just can't stop worrying, though, that this will not work out or that she will get depressed or sick or that I will have to take the kitten back to the shelter (I really can't bear to do that after I've already adopted the poor baby).
Has anyone had an experience like this? This is normal, right? How long did it take your cats to get used to the new presence? Basically, someone please speak to me, I can't stop worrying