Older cats are 4 year old girls L and R, dumped as tiny kittens so missed out on learning from their mum. We’ve had then since they were 6 months. Both shy but R is especially timid. They aren’t very clever so the dual scan microchip cat flap that we got when they started going out has always been without batteries so just like a normal flap as they couldn’t work out how to use it. They are locked in at night but have free access in and out during the day.
New kittens arrived on Saturday- they are 14 week old boys and we shut them in the front room so the girls could see them through the glass door but be able to get away. The girls are FURIOUS about it- R has hardly been at home and barely eaten since they arrived. L has growled at them whenever she’s seen them and thrown up on the twice we let them out into the hall to explore.
We have feliway happy family plug ins upstairs and downstairs. We’re trying to get the girls used to using the scanning function on the flap but are having to post them through it as they bat at it with a paw to see if it’s unlocked (which it isn’t unless they put their heads near it). Which means being on watch for them trying to get in (cat flap is in the kitchen).
I don’t know what else I can do apart from keep the kittens in the front room most of the time. They are going to have to be allowed out eventually which means the girls will have to learn to use the cat flap or I’ll have to keep the kitchen door shut which means they can’t get to the rest of the house.
The kittens are being kittens- sleeping lots with bursts of running around and climbing the furniture. They were born feral and trapped/socialised/neutered by a rescue, also left their mum early as she was very feral. I am off work so spending lots of time with them to try and settle them here.
Any suggestions for getting the girls to accept the new arrivals or for helping them to use the cat flap? I want them to be able to live together even if they don’t like each other!