Older Cats and kittens

[LavenderRain]

Hi. Does anyone have any positive stories about introducing a kitten into a home where an older cat lives?
We are on the verge of getting a kitten but im now really worried what effect it will have on my lovely 10 year old boy.
Am I being cruel? Will they hate each other? Im so torn......

I'm afraid we had problems with old cat & boisterous kitten too, it was especially bad when kitten was around 12-16 weeks old. He used to lie in wait for my old boy and jump out at him & chase him. Old boy was blind so couldn't get away easily & also couldn't escape outside much as he had to stay within confines of back yard. However kitten was also really fond of old boy and loved cuddling up to him which old boy did tolerate. Things did improve once the kitten was neutered & calmed down a bit. Also if we played a lot with the kitten that helped too. And loads of fuss for old boy. It will probably get better but I have to admit i always felt a bit sad that old boy's peaceful old age had turned into a pipe dream.

This is the thing, I feel so sad for old boy. We have secret cuddles in the morning before I let kitty loose! But hes definitely wary of me which is horrible.

Hi Lavender

Bits of your posts sound very familiar to me (got our kitten 3 weeks ago, had a slight name change) our little girl is now almost 10 weeks now and our oldboy (14 years) isn't interested in her, but is a bit more tolerant. He too does the nose thing with her, then just walks away.

Kitten tried to jump on him and got a hiss and bat on the head, first time from oldboy, but it did make her back off.

Oldboy is fine with me and DH, eating well etc, spends most of his time upstairs away from kitten, but always did do this before she came. He doesn't seem sad, just a bit grumpy when he is too near her.

Oddly, our adult DD has been with kitten the most, and kitten sleeps in her room, oldboy is not happy with DD at all and won't cuddle her now! It's almost as though he thinks kitten is hers and DD has betrayed him.

I do think things will improve over time, but can see kitten and oldboy may never be 'friends' as such. As long as they can tolerate each other and oldboy doesn't leave home that's good :)

Is your kitten flying round the room at top speed climbing on everything? Ours never stops, stalks anything that moves, and anything that doesn't! She exhausts me just watching her, but she is sooo cute!

Morning. It is good to hear there is a level of understanding developing at your house cycler How are things with you lavender? We have had the kittens out in the kitchen and dining room now with old girl and they respectfully ran and hid when she grumbled at them. They have been in the sitting room once with her but she was v cross and walked out. I hope things get better. We are gradually giving them access to more of the house. But slowly.. V v slowly

I'm back! Couldn't log on after all the shinanigans

cycle and strumpers we have had kitten 3 weeks now, and yes she charges around like a mad thing, up walls, up curtains, up my legs she is so funny to watch! Then she crashes and sleeps for an hour or so, then she's off again!
Old boy (10) touches noses with her but she is too boisterous for him, she just wants to play. She has also tried suckling him and he wasn't impressed
He has bopped her on the head a few times but she just comes back for more. I don't think he hates her as he follows her around,
I think if she calmed down abit old boy would be more tolerant.
He's not sat on my lap like he used to but he's definately improved since week one
I call it a work in progress!

Lavender your oldboy sounds just like mine. He is getting better and if only kitten wouldn't chase round after him and be a bit more gentle I think he'd be fine. But the more time goes by the more kitten is fascinated by oldboy! You can see her little face almost light up when he is near, like 'ooh another cat, great, lets play!' but at 14 that is the last thing my oldboy wants to do

Took kitten for her first vaccinations this week and lovely vet said he has 4 cats and each time he adds a new one it takes a while for things to settle down, but said they would.

I love watching them but poor old boy is just getting terrorised tonight.

Kitten just wants to suckle him and dives under old boy and knocks him clean off his feet! Old cat is 3.6Kg and kitten is 1Kg

Like you say, if kitten calmed down by about 80% I think they would get on!
They always greet each other touching noses, then kitty gets over excited.

Hi all,
Think we have made some progress tonight,
Older cat was snuggled in the sitting room and we bought the kittens in and closed the door so no one could leg it.
She growled at them for making eye contact, but they went away to a different part of the room to play and she settled down to pretend sleeping,
They were in the same room for 3+ hours with no big drama.
So relieved!!!

Good news strumpers my 2 will sit in the same room and follow each other round the house.
kitten continues to dive on old boy but he just lays back and licks her! Occasionaly he will pin her down and bite her but she doesn't give in, she goes back for more!

Well I think we have finally turned a corner! We have had kitty a month now and her and old boy are finally tolerating one another, I don't think it's love yet tho! But a definate improvement,,,
They 'play fight' and end up licking each other,
They share a food bowl
They will both sit on the bed together
They lie in the lounge together, kitty occasionally patting old boy just for the hell of it
I didn't think we would get to this stage, but I'm happy now! Hopefully others introducing new kitties will be encouraged by our story,
.......here's kitty, knackered after a busy day......

These 2 are becoming quite friendly! Who'd have thought!!

How is everyone else getting on with their new additions?