Will my cat settle with the new kitten?

Question

I have had a cat for a year now, we had her since she was 12 weeks so she's not much older than a kitten herself.

My boyfriends cousin had a 9 week old kitten and could not look after it - she has very young children and they kept hurting it without knowing what they were doing. She was going to take it to a shelter but my boyfriend said he would take it as he knew it would have a good home with us.

I knew nothing of this and while I am very happy to have her it has upset my older cat to no end. If I were to get a new kitten I would have introduced it slowly to our home but this was not done as my boyfriend just brought her in without warning.

My cat has been growling and hissing at the kitten (who just wants to play with her) for 2 days now (I might add she is not hitting the kitten she is just hissing)

I do not know what I can do to make my older cat feel more comfortable with the kitten - I hate to see her so distressed. Should I just let them get on with it? Will she soon come around?

Any help is much appreciated! Thank you!

Answer 1

I answered a question similar to this before.

Hissing and growling is normal behavior between 2 cats. But since your adult is the only one doing it, she's probably just unsure of who the kitten is, and what the kitten is doing in HER house.

Cats are territorial, so they like to be independent, unless of coarse they get along. You should let your cat be, and just in case supervise in case your cat hits the kitten.  

After a week or so, she may or do hissing, but that's okay. You may think your cat is in distress,but actually, she's just being protective. As I was saying, after a week of no hitting each other (That's a if), you can leave them be.

GOOD LUCK!

HOPE THIS HELPS!

Answer 2

I have a 12 week old kitten who we've had for 4 weeks now, we also had an existing cat who was 9 years old .... and i hate to say it, but they don't get on, my older cat hisses at the kitten, he didn't hit out at her when she was very young but now she's getting a little older they do fight (i'm never sure if it's playful) i found the best way to manage this is to keep my existing cats favorite room (in our case the bedroom) out of bounds to the kitten, this seems to have worked in that our older cat is still loving and wants cuddles when we are alone in the bedroom, but he wont let us pet him or play with him in the rest of the house. We also have separate feeding rooms for them. In short, we try our best to keep them apart as our oder cat seems happier this way

Answer 3

Hopefully it will because my cat still hasnt gotten used to my other cat properly

Answer 4

The growling and hissing is quite normal, it's part of them laying down the hierarchy of who is in charge. You've noticed there's no actual fighting, that's very rare, it's all bluster and bluff. You can help by paying equal attention to the "resident" cat so she doesn't feel she's being usurped by the newcomer. When she realises that the new one is there to stay and that you love them both she'll settle down and they'll very likely play happily together.

This always happens when two cats meet forcibly; the posturing and noise is standard feline politics. It's usually best to give them separate food  bowls and litter trays, they don't always appreciate sharing.

Answer 5

she just needs a friend

Answer 6

Hi there,  I had the same problem a few weeks ago.  It takes time for cats to get to know each other just give them some time they will be best buddy's.

  If the hissing is driving you nuts, seperate  them for short times.

  My new kitten and four other older cats had a hard time at first but the kitten learned on his own who to mess with and who not to.  He was a holy terror at first but after a few lickins he's totally calmed down.  Good luck and thanks for taking the poor baby in, you will be glad you did.

Answer 7

Eventually they will adjust to each other, they always do.  We introduced two younger cats to our older one, she's now 13, in the last several years. Once the hissing and spitting was over, they became playmates. They eat and drink from the same bowl and use the same box. Just don't make too much of a fuss over the kitten for awhile  in front of the older cat.

Answer 8

Please don't worry, I have a similar situation to yours. I had a male cat  about a 1year and 1/2 old. We've had him since he was 9 months old and used to being by himself. Well, July 30th,  a friend of mine gave me 2 kitties, one male and one female both 6 wks old. I kept them in their small carrier when I left the house, but while I was there Sammie my older cat would hiss and growl at the kitties. Then he would sniff their butts, hit them, knock them over, the female kitty would run and hide, but the boy kitty would arch his back try to hiss and them run. I decide to give the girl away and keep the boy. Now they are best buddies sleeping with other, eating together, playing with other, like they were long lost buddies. This only took a couple of weeks from July 30th to August 25th. hang in there Make sure the kitty is fixed at 4to 6 mths time  GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Answer 9

I used to have two cats but one day my aunty's cat had a litter of kittens and they were so adorable I was allowed one. When I took it home my other cat's were hissing and even trying to sctratch my kitten if the kitten went anywere near them. But about a month later my cats decided they did'nt mind so much. But just don't leave the kitten with the other cat in the same room over night because the other cat could attack the smaller one. That's what my mum told me just incase i acidently did  one night by accident. But you can leave them in the same room at night when they get on with each other first.  

Answer 10

The growling and hissing is normal. But you will want to keep the baby separated from your old cat for a couple of weeks where they can smell each other, but not see.

Ideally, the cousin should have carried the kitten in herself rather than let your boyfriend do it, since your boyfriend is your cat's 'family'. But it's a little late for that now.

Expect the hissing and growling to go on for at least two weeks: That's about how long it usually takes cats to work out territorial issues. But don't worry about it beyond that.

Good luck!

Answer 11

every time she hisses just crab her tell her no and tap her LIGHTLY on her nose LIGHTLY. each time she does that u do that keep doing it until they like each other it may take a while try not to leave them alone same thing happened to my cousin and me

Answer 12

Oh i am so glad you posted this i have a nearly 3 year old and my sons 4 and a half year old both girls  1 done and my sons not we have allways kept cats so in april my brother sugessted we get a kitten from a lady he works with she took in a stray and it had five kittens we went and got one at 6 weeks oh my word the jealousy and fighting and trying to protect the little one that went on i thought the 1 that was neuterd would be cool with her but no and my sons cat sulked for weeks now i am sitting here my sons cat is on the computer desk cuddled up to the baby my cat is on the computer chair waiting for her turn to cuddle they find their own way to get along they catch moths and dragonflys and stand back trying to teach the baby i did keep her locked in my room with me for the first few weeks only at bedtime though they will get there i was going to give elisa back so many times good luck