New Kitten and Older Cat....

[MyAngels]

Hello

Please can someone help with some cat advice (and hand holding)...

We have a 4 year old female cat, adopted stray, who is much beloved. A bit timid but very friendly and inquisitive, likes to catch the odd bird, happy indoors and outdoors,...

A friend's cat has just had kittens and offered us one. I have said yes to a female kitten, but am wondering if its a good idea.

I have read about introducing the new kitten slowly, keeping it separate for a while and so on. What else do I need to know?

The kitten's mother is Bengal (father is local moggy tomcat by all accounts) and I have just read the Bengal cat thread with some trepidation. The kitten will be let out into our garden eventually (her mother is fine outdoors, goes for walks with my friend, apart from being pretty vocal doesn't seem too hard work at all). My existing cat is pretty fussy with food and water too, to be honest...

Kitten is only 10 days old, so I have a while to get used to the idea...

Thanks for any help, advice, encouragement..

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

I'm sure it will be fine and there's many posters who know all about introducing cats and kittens. I know very little as my experience was a bit back handed and accidental but turned out OK.

One thing I will beg though please is that if it doesn't work out and you have to rehome, please don't rehome the older cat.

I had an ex friend do that, hence I ended up with an extra cat. Poor thing

[exWifebeginsat40]

my older cat is 8 and has never lived with another animal. I got my kitten last November. we separated them for about 10 days and introduced VERY gradually using scent-swapping and visual contact under strict supervision.

Teddy is 7 months now and they get along really well. Stella has always been self-contained and grumpy and has a wicked temper at times. we have the very occasional hissy fit but they eat together and will happily be left alone together for a couple of hours. I've only recently stopped separating them when I go out and they have been totally fine so far.

mine are indoor cats, and older cat has lots of high hiding places that Teddy can't get to if she needs a break!

so yeah. a slow introduction really worked for us. thanks to Jackson Galaxy for the advice!

[exWifebeginsat40]

oh. wait! here you are.

[RubbishMantra]

I did exactly what we're told not to do - just put them in the mix together. I'd done the introducing them slowly with previous cats, like you're supposed to, but they never got along. Just seemed to stress them more.

MCat was disgusted by MKitten at first, but oh no, MKitten was determined they should be friends. And now they are. MCat remains TopCat though. He's like a mum to his little bro, and pins him down for a through wash around the head when they wake up from a snoozle.

[RubbishMantra]

through thorough