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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Introducing cat and a kitten

15 replies

Mrsmost · 09/08/2013 19:40

I wondered if I could get some advice and help please , we have a 12 year old tortoiseshell girl cat and two weeks ago got a ginger boy kitten aged 8 weeks , we have kept them separate at all times but have introduced them to each other each day briefly but our little lady seems to hiss and growl at him , it has calmed down abit but still isnt happy about it ! but the poor little fella is very friendly and is trying to go up to her and play but she doesn't want to know , she is still coming in for food and is staying in the garden during he day and then sleeping in our room at night , will she get used to him eventually? I feel so sad that we have made a mistake ,
Any ideas in how we can improve the meetings with them and keep our little lady happy

Thanks

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/08/2013 20:53

Have you tried playing with them both so they see they like playing together?

Male kittens are a bit annoying to older cats. Ours drove the local well'ard farm cat nuts.

cozietoesie · 09/08/2013 21:13

A bit of hissing and growling is to be expected - her place as Only Cat has been usurped by an Annoying Ginger Thing. It should calm down. Are there any treats which she is particularly fond of which you could give her when the kitten is around? (So that she thinks more positive thoughts.)

At least she's still sleeping with you - and I'd make sure that the kitten is kept out of the bedroom at night to give her some peace and a secure feeling.

Original poster

Mrsmost · 09/08/2013 21:13

Have tried the playing bit but the older one isn't really into playing that much she just does it for a minute and gets bored ! She's a right little madam bless her

OP posts:

Original poster

Mrsmost · 09/08/2013 21:16

Thanks cozie will try the treats for her , we have made a strong decision that our room is for the big cat and that it will be her sanctuary and not for the new addition and at the moment the kitten sleeps downstairs and eventually will sleep in my little ones room ,
I know it must've hard for her to accept the new one . I just don't want her to be unhappy all the time

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 09/08/2013 21:35

She won't be - she just has to get used to the new routine which may take a short while. Having her safe place where she can commune with her people will be a big thing for her.

I think you have to recognize that they may never end up bosom buddies - you just can't tell how it's going to go with cats - but at least if they can mooch along with each other that's something. And having a kitten around will probably enliven her a bit.

Keep thinking positively - and invest in a few packs of Dreamies!

Original poster

Mrsmost · 10/08/2013 00:32

Thank you so much for all your advice??

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/08/2013 07:35

Best of luck - and let us know how it goes.

MoreThanWords · 10/08/2013 08:06

Our four month old kitten is still winding the six year old cat up after a couple of months! Oddly enough cat tolerates kit at food time but apart from that, kit just seems to delight in tormenting and then hiding in places fat cat can't reach, or running up the curtains, lol.

We give older cat lots of fuss when possible, and accept that he will end up just tolerating the newbie rather than being best pals. I hoped neutering would calm the kitten but not so far!

Time is your friend .....

blondieminx · 10/08/2013 08:28

Get a Feliway plug in from the vets (they are like chill out hormones for cats) and swap their bedding over so they can get used to each others smell

fackinell · 10/08/2013 12:35

We have an 8yo and an almost 1yo, both males. I was terrified big cat would really hurt Little cat as he was very hissy in the beginning. luckily, he seemed to know this was just an annoying kitten and didn't go for him. Vet reassured is cats wont kill a 'threat' but a dog would. I fed them something nice together every time BC walked into the same room as LC. just a single treat or a small piece of chicken. Soon BC came to associate LC with having something nice.

He is still annoying to him but now they play chases and cosy into bed together. When BC gets hissy with him there is normally a strange cat in the garden and I can tell because BC sprays indoors.

TBH I didn't find Feliway helped, it may do but it's a bloody expensive gamble.

MoreThanWords · 10/08/2013 14:19

This pretty much sums my two up..... simonscat

issey6cats · 11/08/2013 00:25

i have two foster kits at the moment so far girl cat who 7 has batted one on the head a few times to let him know who is boss, and half siamese has been stalking them round the front room but no claws just general putting them where he thinks they should be, one boy has ignored them and jasper the slightly dim one is bestest buddies with both of them

cozietoesie · 11/08/2013 00:32

Aw - poor jasper. I'm feeling very kindly thoughts about him.

Original poster

Mrsmost · 12/08/2013 22:45

Older girl cat seems a little better the last couple of days but its like she is scared of the kitten in some way and doesn't want to be around him , but she is getting more affectionate with us at home though , I'm hoping she will get with programme eventually , have tried some dreamies , but haven't tried it when she comes in the room with kitten . That's a great idea to try thank you

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 12/08/2013 22:46

Keep on going. Time should do it from the sound of it.

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