Is there any way to help and older cat get along with a new kitten?

Question

I just got a new kitten 2 days ago and the second I brought her home my almost one year old cat began growling and hissing at her. She's never hissed at anything before so it's not like she's an angry cat. I'm afraid my old cat (Havoc) is going to seriously hurt my new kitten so I keep the kitten in my room with her food and litter. Havoc has the rest of the house. Right now when ever Havoc comes to my door I open it and hold the kitten a few feet away hoping this will get her used to seeing the kitten. I'm just wondering if there are any other ways to introduce the kitten to Havoc.

Answer 1

You need to monitor their interactions. But keep them interacting. That's the only way they will get used to each other

Answer 2

If she has never growled before then i dont think she knows wat it meens. I brpught my kitten home and my oterh fat cat growled and hiss but he had never done that in his life he just thought it ment Hello.  

Answer 3

It can be done but it just takes a little time. The older cat needs to adjust to having a new kitten in the house. Introduce them gradually and never leave them alone together. The cat will growl and hiss but that's typical. As long as that's all she's done, then she will get used to the kitten in about another week. Over time, the hissing will get softer and the growling not as loud. When the cat does that, she's only asserting herself and showing the kitten who is the top cat in the house.

Answer 4

when i got my second cat my first cat growled and hissed at her like crazy, but in time they will adjust to having a new cat in their environment. i would let both cats be in the house together so that they have to get used to each other, but keep an eye on them in case the older cat gets nasty. i have read that it is good to have a "safe room" that the new cat can escape to, but in my experience this doesn't work as they won't get used to each other if they are in different rooms. also, make sure you show the older cat lots of love so she doesn't feel neglected.  

Answer 5

Cats are very territorial animals and usually don't like it when there's another one of their species with them. By the way, did you know it's easier to introduce a cat to a dog or a dog to a cat, than a cat to a cat?

Answer 6

You're headed in the right direction. Leave the new baby in the room for 4-6 days, then switch them out. They will get used to each others scent.

Some people have had luck rubbing down one cat with a towel, then rubbing the other cat with the towel. Others have told me to spray them on the nape of the neck (where they can't l**k too well) with a little perfume, so they smell the same.

Your older cat is king-of-the-hill and doesn't appreciate having to share affection, sleeping places and food. Give him LOTS of attention for the next 2 weeks or so, the kitten won't even notice.

My friend had the same problem, tried my theories, and now the 2 cats wait, side by side, for him to come home for work. Best buddies.

It takes all in all about 3 weeks for the drama to die down, so don't worry. They'll get along IF they are spayed/neutered!!

Answer 7

It helps a bit that they are both girls that way one dosen't try to dominate the other. This happened to me once with my cat of about 6 months and I got a 12 week old kitten. What worked for me is that I kept the kitten in a room with just enough room under the door that my older cat could go whenever it wanted to sniff around and be nosey.  At some point they would both be there and my older cat would growl and hiss. This is normal, they are not gonna get along right away. I would just let my older cat come and go as it wished.  I would also grab a little cloth and rub it against the kitten and I would put it next to the cats food bowl so it could associate the kittens scent with something positive. Later in the evening I would  switch the cats and put the cat in the room where the kitten was that way your moody cat can browse around and get used to the kittens smell. After about 3 days on the 4th I actually let them interact, it was still alittle shaky cuz my older cat would sometimes swat at the kitten but not very agressive just to show it who's the boss. My older cat is declawed so actually the kitten had the advantage. They would avoid each other for about a day or two and after that they slowly started playing. It was all over within a week.

Answer 8

Don't worry Havoc just isn't use to having a new kitten in his house. It'll take a while for him to adjust to the new one. Soon they'll be playing and attacking each other. Hope the kitten is lots of trouble!