Helping resident cat settle with new kittens

[twentysevenlives]

I'm not a cat newbie and I've had lots of cats over the years but introductions have always seemed to go easily and I genuinely don't remember the early days of the spitting/hissing etc and how long it lasted so I've come here for advice!

We have a 6 month old female cat, we had always considered getting another cat at some point but decided since she's been spayed and she's still young now would be a good time.
Well yesterday we got 2 new kittens - we were only supposed to be getting 1 but ended up taking 2 so the last one wouldn't be left alone. They are 12 weeks old, but they are tiny little things and they have wonderful temperaments. Very loving, confident and vocal. Original Dcat also has very lovely temperament (usually!) but she is very unsettled by the new kittens.
We have been keeping them somewhat separate - in the past I never did the whole keep them in another room etc but we have been giving the kittens their own space to relax together and to give Dcat1 a rest. Every time she sees them, she hisses and spits, and jumps about like they are attacking her even though they are nowhere near her and aren't bothered by her at all!
I know it's only day 2 and I'm sure she will come round in time I just want to make the transition easier for her in the meantime. She's been getting loads of love/strokes, treats, catnip etc but she's just being super dramatic!

I know the rules so I've added pictures of the two new arrivals.

Cute kittens! Thank you. I know very little about cats so I can't help, but I do admire your kitties.

When we got a dkitten I put an extra bed, tray and bowls in the room dcat spent most of his days and left them to it.
Day 10 in our house...

@Creepymanonagoatfarm
The kittens aren't remotely bothered by her, she's the one following them round then acting like they've done something to her! It's quite funny to watch but she's not impressed. I'm convinced it's because they're so small and slim and she thinks they're rats so she's frightened! She's only 6 months but quite big now and has a big fluffy tail.
Will continue as we are and just see what happens, I'm sure she will calm down eventually!

What a lovely picture.

It’s been 2 weeks today with my 1 year old and new kitten. Older cat is curious but hisses and runs away if kitten comes near her.
It’s very upsetting as we just want to be able to be in the same room as them both at the same time.
We’ve done the slow introduction but most people seem to have better success with just plonking them together 🤷🏼‍♀️

Obligatory kitten pic

@KittenWoes oh wow what a beautiful kitten!

Well I think we've been very very lucky as it's our third full day here (they came home Friday afternoon) and everything seems to have settled down. Yesterday and today we've had the kittens out in the living room all day, we've had visitors etc and Athena (original cat) has been playing with the kittens and quite happy! There has been a bit of hissing from both her and the kittens but nothing major and they've all been relaxed enough to eat/sleep around one another. They're not all cuddling up or anything but they're definitely tolerating sharing the same space so I think I panicked for no reason.
Plonking them together definitely seems to be the way to go

Awww love the pics, got a v soft spot for black cats! Sounds like you are doing everything right, I'm sure your older cat will calm down and get used to them.

Jumping in on your thread, @twentysevenlives , as I'm in the process of introducing a kitten to our 2yo cats (brother and sister). Kitten is currently in a separate room but with baby gate on door so resident cats can see/hear/smell him. There was a lot of hissing initially, now seem to be only a little and more curious than anything else but still don't look too happy.
its been 10 days now, should I let them interact for a short supervised period? I'm so worried about the little one!

@TheKitchenWitch I would go for it!

These 3 are all fine now, they've all settled, we've let the kittens roam freely now not kept them separate and they've been absolutely fine. They've all played together/cleaned each other/eaten together/napped close to each other etc so luckily it was over with very quickly!

I've just made a thread about getting a kitten with an older cat but u should've seen this thread first lol

I not u

Yeah yeah. Not even any proof.
Pic or it didn't happen op!!

We're two weeks in and 1yo cat and kitten are now sleeping and playing together / grooming each other etc. with no more hissing or obvious issues.

I just brought her home and left them to it, bringing my older boy to sleep in with me the first couple of nights so he got plenty of attention then the next few nights sleeping on the sofa so they were both together with me. Now they sleep together.

I know people say to do the whole scent exchange / slow introductions over a number of weeks but I heard just as many "throw them together" success stories so took a gamble and it worked out fine. The first few days he seemed to follow the kitten around and stare at her constantly, hissing if they got too close etc but he quickly got used to her and within a week they just seemed to settle down, then into the second week they were curling up on the sofa together.

Pics so it happened 🤣

This is all very heartening! OP really good to hear that it's working so well. I might try a short introduction. Should I bring kitten out into the main house and leave the room as "his" for the momen do you think?

I’m so happy for you - we unexpectedly got a new kitten and we already have two 2 year old cats. It’s not been great. They pretty much hate him. When he’s quiet and calm, they tolerate him trying to snuggle up to them but most of the time he can’t control his urge to play. There has a been a lot what he thinks is play fighting but them taking it seriously. He’s not basically trained them to expect an attack and they instantly hiss and go for him when he walks by.

So yeah…not great 😳 He’s a sweet little thing but just went about it in completely the wrong way with them 🙈 He’s just been neutered and I’m hoping that once he can start going out and is stimulated in that way, he’ll calm down and they’ll eventually start tolerating each other.

Very jealous of all these cats accepting younger kittens into the fold!

I'm currently trying to decide whether to apply for a two year old cat when I currently have an 8 year old cat. It's hard isn't it?

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling
How long have you had the kitten now?
i think you're right though that once he can go out your two resident cats will be less interesting for him so hopefully the situation will be less stressful.
We are very slowly allowing a bit of highly supervised contact. It's gone well so far - there's been no touching, just a lot of looking and sniffing and the occasional hiss but nothing worrying yet. Although I'm pin edge the whole time!!