I have adopted a kitten - my cat isn't happy

[Stickytoffeepudding6]

I feel sick writing this.

I have adopted a kitten today and she hissed at my cat. My cat then hissed back and became upset.

I put the kitten in another room. My cat then struck me when I tried to comfort her.

She's proceeded to become really unhappy. I'm so upset I've upset my cat.

What do I do?

They both need time to adjust to the new situation. Introduce them to each other slowly over a few days.

I left an extra bed, litter tray and food bowls and left them to it in the bedroom dcat slept at night. Dcat was 8 and dkitten 8 weeks. Few hisses and they came around very quickly. Within 2 weeks we had this.

This sounds pretty normal to me.

Thanks so much.

I have no children so my girl is my baby. I keep looking at her and feel so guilty. She looks scared and unsure. I'm just upset that I've made her feel like that so just bit guilty.

My partner has just told me to pull myself together because rang him sobbing. My girl has never ever attacked me.

Yeah, that sound very normal - have you read up on how to introduce a new cat to your existing cat? It takes time, cats are very territorial!

Post this in the litter tray

First of all you need to understand that your cat will need time to adjust to the kitten.

You need to keep them separate for now then over the next few days introduce the kitten slowly. Start with introducing the kittens blanket to your cat and vice versa so they can familiarise themselves with the smell of the other cat. Have lots of treats for your cat on hand and offer lots of reassurance.

I'd also invest in a feliway plug in. They're great and humans can't smell the pheromones they emit but they calm cats. I'd also invest in some cat nip as that will also make them both relax a little bit. I'm sure they'll be fine after a few weeks but you need to introduce them slowly

This. You need to understand the dynamics about introducing a new cat (or even a first cat) into your household. It will never be an instant and happy partnership.

Ideally, you do your homework in advance, but all is not lost. Give it time, and try and put yourself in their little shoes. It's early days.

What did you expect the cat to do? Go 'Oooh, Baby!' and start mothering it? If you did, stop watching fake TikTok videos.

She's going to be pissed off for at least a few days. Although one of mine (ironically, one that was introduced and welcomed by two resident cats in the first place) kept it up for about 4 years until she accepted that sometimes it isn't too bad to have another warm cat against you in the the depths of a winter night.

Good advice here.

We were on the verge of returning a rescue cat to Cat Protection because he was bullying our resident cat. We had already agreed to pay for his second set of jabs and she was due hers but because we only had one large cat carrier we bundled them both in it and in the back of the car. That unsettled them both and neither of them liked being in the car. They were both very quiet on the way to the Vet and one the way home. We let them out of the carrier and within 30 minutes they were curled up all lovey dovey on the settee. Firm friends for the rest of her life. Friends in adversity !

Sometimes it takes a while and first meetings can be difficult and unsettle both animals. It’s usually best to allow both access to an area they feel safe in.

I hope they come round and become friends.

As well as separating them, get some feliway.

OK you should have done the research first but you have time to turn it about .get the plug in sprays follow the advice and allow time for them to get to know each other .Be prepared for them never to be friends but hopefully tolerance and ignore at the worst case scenario. Also calm yourself down hugely as that won't help the situation.

How old is your cat? We tried this with our old girl and it was a very distressing disaster. Despite keeping them apart things deteriorated whenever they were together. He wanted to play, she started fighting for her home. We returned him. People said give it time but they did not understand how awful it was to see her distressed and fighting. I realised very quickly we should never have done it. I would never introduce a cat to an established cat again. Solo cat or bonded pair only. Lots of people will say their cat adjusted, I don't doubt that but going back to a solo household was the right thing for our old girl.

Give it time.

You are in time to restart the introduction process. Keep the kitten in a separate room. Make sure both cats have a favourite blanket or something that they sleep on - swap them daily so they are getting the other cat's scent. Once you've done that for a couple of days, you can let your incumbent cat approach the door where the kitten is and open it just a crack so they can see each other from a distance. Pet both, give both treats. Any time they calm down from hissing, lots of pets and treats. If that goes well you can do face to face in a controlled environment where you can remove one party if it goes wrong.
And a Feliway plug-in is your friend here.

Also make sure they have a litter tray each and plenty of spaces where they can be alone - cat beds, separate cat trees and the like.

You'll get there, but it takes time and patience. I have 5, acquired at 3 different stages. My last was the hardest, he's incredibly dominant and still has to be segregated from the others at night but it's nearly always peaceful these days.

Yabu
Give them TIME
Animals always sort it out.

Give it a couple of weeks, maybe a bit longer, and follow the advice here. It will settle.

Tiktok videos can be misleading but to be fair, I have 2 adult Male cats and got 2 kittens last year. One of my males instantly hated the kittens and it took him around 8 months to come around.

The other Male cat was instantly loving and did not object when the kittens tried feeding off him, he would let them, clean them, play with them ect

Everyone is different but when I introduced kittens to my adult cats i just did it straight away

One of my adults loved the kittens instantly and the other took aaaages to come around. I got some plug in feliway after a while and that really helped

One of my cats was FURIOUS when i brought home kittens. He attacked me a couple of times with misdirected anger. Within a week he accepted them, and within a couple of weeks they were his babies and he was washing them etc.

Give it time. Cats can be real sods about newcomers

Ask Mumsnet to move this post to the litter tray. You'll get loads of advice

@grumpygrape I've been having issues with my new cat. Currently on the same pen at the cattery, and it's going really well!

Some good advice. She'll take time to adjust but there needs to be an introduction process. Big cat is 6 and little cat is 1 and a bit. They're fine together now but it took time, and big cat had been brought up with his brother, who'd died suddenly.

Blended families are challenging in the cat and human world. There will be tantrums and jealousy, arguments and sulking, stomping of paws/feet, and flouncing..
Eventually, everyone will realise there is enough love and catnip for everyone and it will settle down

I also forgot to say you haven't paid the relevant taxes to get kitten advice.... pics please !!