Cat doesn't like foster kitten?

Question

We recently decided to start fostering cats for a local shelter and got our first cat a couple days ago - a 12 week old female kitten. We have two cats of our own, both spayed females. One is 3 and one is 6. They're both indoor cats and obviously don't really get a chance to see other cats and I figured they might not be overly welcoming of a kitten since they haven't seen one since they were kittens themselves. The 3 year old (Spike) has been hiding in a corner of the apartment since we brought the kitten in. If in close confines with the kitten, she hisses at her and slinks away. The 6 year old was a bit more forward in her disdain for having another cat brought into the house but she has settled down quite a bit since we first brought the kitten in. The kitten is completely oblivious to all this and just goes about her daily life as if there aren't two other cats in the apartment.

What can I do to try and make these guys get along better? If Spike is always going to react to other cats like this then I really don't want to keep stressing her out by continuing to foster but my specialty is dogs, not cats. So I seek answers from those who may have more experience then me. Help!

Answer 1

Wow, I don't think anyone could top Jessica's answer.  I learned a lot myself, thanks Jessica!

Answer 2

They will eventually tolerate each other, if not be best friends. When I got my 2nd cat, my first one hissed all the time- 3 days later they were BEST FRIENDS.

Now we just blended my cats with my husbands cats, and she hates them. She "tolerates" them now, but if one gets too close, she gets bitchy.

Answer 3

Wait a little while and the cat will get to know them and like them trust me i know my cat did not like two new kittens until a week or two later.When my cat did not like the kittens every time he saw me with them he would not let me touch him until the next day.Now my cat cleans them and loves all over them.

Answer 4

Yes, Jessica gave you a good rundown of introducing new cats.

But do be aware than some cats just don't like kittens. Our 'new' cat is a 3 y/o rescue. The foster mom warned us that she hates kittens, but gets along well with other adult cats. This is hard to believe because she has had numerous litters before she was trapped then spayed.

Answer 5

I've worked with The Shamrock Foundation for seven years, so I should be able to help.

Our work requires us to introduce new cats to existing pets all the time. Forcing them together right away causes stress. It is almost certain that the two cats WILL fight and hiss and spit at first. Give it at least two weeks, but these things can sometimes take a month or more.

It helps to introduce the two cats slowly. Hold Spike while you slowly introduce her to the kitten. Pet her and speak calmly to reassure her; holding her will show that you love her and that she is still your cat (they may feel threatened, as if you're trying to replace their dominance in the house).

Another good ice-breaker is to put the kitten in a small carrier in the middle of the floor where Spike can come up and sniff her without either cat feeling too threatened. The kitten can retreat if she is scared and Spike can also walk away from the carrier.

If that doesn't work, try putting the kitten in a room with a gap under the door and dangling a string on the other side to entice both cats to play. Hopefully, the two cats will notice each other batting the string and will start to play with each other's paws under the door, where both can back off and still feel protected.

Finally, there are products like Feliway (which contains cat pheromones) that help to ease stress. Spray this in the area near your cats to calm them both down and make the transition easier.

Most importantly, give it time! I can't stress that enough. Cats will always fuss at first but will grow accustomed to the other's presence eventually.