Older cat and new kitten

[LolaVsPowerman]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice on introducing a new kitten to my older cat.

My lad is very chilled out and affectionate, and independent. He’s both indoor and outdoor.

We’re going to be getting a kitten in a few weeks and I’m wondering about the best ways to introduce them. I don’t want my cat to feel pushed out, and I’ll make sure he has access to his own quiet spots in the house. I’m a bit concerned he might move out if there’s suddenly a new kitten in the house. He’s fine with other cats that come into the garden, and new kitten is a female if that makes any difference.

Obligatory cat and kitten pics.. 😁

I've always done this by keeping them somewhat separated at first. The kitten in her own room for a few days, then put the kitten in a carrier in the same room as the cat for an hour or two, etc. Feeding them together is also a good way for them to form positive associations with each other.

Good luck with them. Some cats are more accepting of a newcomer than others, but I've never had one that was happy about it at first.

Making sure that initial interaction is fun and food based, really helps. Toys and treats work wonders. I have always found that adding a kitten, to an existing cat, is much easier than introducing another full grown cat.

Keep them totally separated for a few weeks!
When Morph died, Portia who never liked him as far as we could tell, looked for him everywhere... and obviously missed having someone to dislike
So, when I got the kittens I thought she might need time to adjust.

Adjust?! She camped in my veg patch for a month and refused to come in at ALL! I was so worried. I had the kittens upstairs in one room for a week and then gradually let them downstairs but it was a good 6 months before she forgave me...then she ignored them :)

I now have an 11 week old puppy and the 'kittens' are now 5 . They are living upstairs , coming through an upstairs window and are telling me I have ruined their lives...I suspect it will take a year before they accept the puppy.

Cats are weird :)

The Cats Protection website has good advice about how to do this. Basically, as previous posters have said, keep them in separate rooms at first as the old cat will definitely not be happy. The best you can expect is a cross look, but it will probably be hissing and growling, and possibly turn physical.

We have done it and it did work in the end! All cats are different (although none will be happy about a new cat coming in), some take 3 months to get used to it, ours took 8 days but we were lucky. They now lick each other's faces and sleep in the same bed.

Thank you all for your advice. Keep them separated, and bribe with food, got it 😁

I’m hoping old cat will be part of the cross look club, I can’t imagine him hissing and growling 😿 Next door’s cat ventures in sometimes if the door is open, and my boy just sits back and watches him tuck into his dinner 😁