Am I introducing my new kitten to my older cat properly?

Question

Ok, a few days ago, I decided to get my 6-month-old female tabby, Vivien, a companion since I'm about to be home less now that school is starting. So, I brought home a precious 8-week-old female Siberian that we're calling Gertrude.

Anyway, from their initial meeting, Vivien was absolutely terrible to the new kitten: spitting, hissing, growling, swatting...you name it. I knew this would happen since cats are quite territorial (not to mention I've read several blogs on the topic).

So, I've done the following:

Given Gertrude her own space away from Vivien.

Given the new kitten her own litter box, food bowls, and toys.

She's been isolated for a few days now, and Vivien still refuses to even sniff the new kitten before her old behavior begins again.

So, I'm wondering if I'm proceeding with the introduction correctly, and if there are any other pointers I could use: when to put them in the same place, how often, etc.

Help!!!

Answer 1

Your older cat is guarding her territory. It's ok to keep them separated, but you need to have them together in the same room for a few minutes at a time, several times during the day. Since you are starting school it will be difficult to do that, but do it when you get home in the afternoons. It will take some time for them to get used to one another, but hopefully they will get used to each other and be buddies. Here's an article to help you out.

http://www.perfectpaws.com/intro.html

Answer 2

My advice is different from the others:

Try to refrain from introducing the new kitten to the resident cat or kitten. They will surely know that another one of their species in now in the house. Why?? because of their acute sense of smell.

It is very important that the new kitten bonds with your FIRST! You are to be developing a level of trust with the new kitten. It would be improper to introduce that kitten to the resident cat until you feel confident that the kitten is completely relaxed with you and any other family member.

In the meantime the resident Cat/kitten already knows that there is an *intruder* So while the new kitten is bonding with you, Please make absolutely sure that nothing changes for the resident feline.

Example: if the resident cat/kitten sleeps on your bed at night then kitty should still be sleeping on your bed at night. Change nothing for the negative.

It would be a very good idea to bestow extra hugs and kisses and pets for your resident feline. A few extra treats and definitely do not miss playtime with them.

Only you can decide when it is time to introduce the two felines to each other. It has been my experience that pet owners rush this part, almost feverishly wanting the cats to get along, so most hurry the experience.

It is best to introduce them with a closed door. Most cats like to play just under the door and this gives both of them the opportunity to play with each other and smell each other without confrontation.

When they both physically see each other expect some hissing and growling. The new kitten may want to make friends first while the resident hisses. There is always a pecking order, so now this pecking order must be established between the two of them.

Let them introduce themselves to each other under supervision then separate them putting the new arrival back into their appointed space.

Continue this exercise over several days until you see improvement. you may want to keep a diary to help with remembering the progress that has been made.

Once that happens then everything should become in harmony and eventually they should start interacting and loving each other.

Sometimes the resident cat will put on a show for the parents. The kitty sees you and acts hostile towards the new arrival. How do I know this? I have watched from another room and the kitties don't know that I am watching and they get along better than when I was in the same room.

A week is not a long time for this transition, so *slow and steady wins the race!*

As a Cat breeder for 20 years and a Siberian cat breeder for 14 years this is the advice that I bestow upon my new pet owners.

Answer 3

Honestly...you just have to let them work it out.  Cats don't like new cats as a general rule.  She's going to spit and hiss and swat and growl and do every other anti-social thing she can, and she'll probably do it for a while, and then she'll adjust.  If you keep the kitten in isolation, you're just going to prolong it.  Isolate the kitten for less and less time.  As long as your cat isn't able to viciously attack the kitten and hurt it (and if your kitten is healthy, it'll be quick and run away on the off chance she does try this).  Give them a few weeks.  If she's still just a vicious as she was the first day...then she may never accept the kitten.  But if she starts to soften, then eventually they'll just get over it and learn to live together.