new kitty....

[broma25 2]

I already had a cat 2.5 yrs old....we got a 4 month old kitten yesterday.

We kept them separate yesterday but let them see and meet each other today. There was no hissing or growling or fighting, however my cat (Simba) keeps on chasing the kitten (Pebbles) either under the bed or in a corner so she has difficutly getting around him.

I am very nervous about the whole situation, and am looking for some advice from all you cat experts on is this normal behaviour?? Are they doing well for only a day together??

I will not keep them together permanently until I am comfortable, but I dont want to be neurotic either....

Thanks in advance

Elaine

[MrsCat 6]

I already had a cat 2.5 yrs old....we got a 4 month old kitten yesterday.

We kept them separate yesterday but let them see and meet each other today. There was no hissing or growling or fighting, however my cat (Simba) keeps on chasing the kitten (Pebbles) either under the bed or in a corner so she has difficutly getting around him.

I am very nervous about the whole situation, and am looking for some advice from all you cat experts on is this normal behaviour?? Are they doing well for only a day together??

I will not keep them together permanently until I am comfortable, but I dont want to be neurotic either....

Thanks in advance

Elaine

If they haven't fought and no scratched eyes, I think they're doing just fine. Honestly, if you leave the two together, they'll work their own hierarchy out. They'll decide who is boss (likely the older one) and figure at way to coexist. At some point, I am sure they'll be fast friends.

[broma25 2]

I already had a cat 2.5 yrs old....we got a 4 month old kitten yesterday.

We kept them separate yesterday but let them see and meet each other today. There was no hissing or growling or fighting, however my cat (Simba) keeps on chasing the kitten (Pebbles) either under the bed or in a corner so she has difficutly getting around him.

I am very nervous about the whole situation, and am looking for some advice from all you cat experts on is this normal behaviour?? Are they doing well for only a day together??

I will not keep them together permanently until I am comfortable, but I dont want to be neurotic either....

Thanks in advance

Elaine

If they haven't fought and no scratched eyes, I think they're doing just fine. Honestly, if you leave the two together, they'll work their own hierarchy out. They'll decide who is boss (likely the older one) and figure at way to coexist. At some point, I am sure they'll be fast friends.

I hope so.....I guess I am just very nervous, always been a 1 dog household growing up....so having a cat is a brand new experience which was fine with just the 1 but now we have 2.......I so wish we had got a kitten when he was a baby....kittens deciding the pecking order somehow is much more acceptable.

[Mark&Steph 0]

Some scrapping is to be expected and very normal. They'll figure it out. It sounds like the older cat is more curious of the kitten than anything, rather than being aggressive. After a few days together, they'll be right as rain probably.

I had an almost two year old male cat that I introduced a kitten to once. He was huge and the kitten was very young and very, very tiny. They'd been together for about a day and I was watching them like a hawk. I finally had to go to the store and decided to leave them together and I was so nervous. I practically ran in the door when I got back. And there they were. Asleep on the futon and the kitten had curled up on the male cat's belly to sleep. They were so damn cute. The cat opened his eyes and gave me this look like "what's your problem?" I never worried about them again.

[broma25 2]

Some scrapping is to be expected and very normal. They'll figure it out. It sounds like the older cat is more curious of the kitten than anything, rather than being aggressive. After a few days together, they'll be right as rain probably.

I had an almost two year old male cat that I introduced a kitten to once. He was huge and the kitten was very young and very, very tiny. They'd been together for about a day and I was watching them like a hawk. I finally had to go to the store and decided to leave them together and I was so nervous. I practically ran in the door when I got back. And there they were. Asleep on the futon and the kitten had curled up on the male cat's belly to sleep. They were so damn cute. The cat opened his eyes and gave me this look like "what's your problem?" I never worried about them again.

Thats a great story....i hope that happens with mine...lol

[caybee 21]

It's been several years, but I introduced a kitten to an older cat once. I don't remember much, kept them apart for a couple of days, and there was probably some hissing in the beginning, but they became best friends not long afterward. Sounds like yours are doing just fine.

[IAMX 3,055]

You grab one cat's tail, wiggle it at the other, and the subsequent pounce-and-claw means they are then introduced.

In all honesty though, in my experience, the little one might have a rough ride for a short time. Cats don't care about age or size, when they play, it's all or nothing.

[Aubrey 10]

I volunteered at an animal shelter for quite awhile in the cattery. If they get along in the first 5 minutes (not attacking each other), then that's the best you can hope for. Especially without growling and hissing. You did the right thing by getting a kitten with your more mature cat, and they'll probably establish a hierachy by their ages. If you're lucky they'll have the stereotypical love-hate relationship that cats usually do. That's how my two are -- they chase each other away, bite and swat, and then I find them sleeping together.

Also, don't worry so much, a 4 month old cat can handle itself surprisingly well. They have to figure it out for themselves no matter what you do. Don't interfere unless someone really is getting hurt.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

pillowcase and duct tape.

[broma25 2]

pillowcase and duct tape.

You want to be put in a pillowcase and duct taped....whatever floats your boat!!!

[Mags 112]

The only thing to keep an eye on is if the older cat continues to chase kitten under the bed - you could end up with a rather neurotic kitten.

Another way of introducing them (which is often recommended) is to place the kitten in a crate and put it in the middle of a room. Let older cat explore the kitten - but it's safe inside the crate and can't be gotten at. This way they can get used to each other and sniff and smell each other, but they can't actually chase or attack one another.

Good luck!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It took us a while to get our cats comfortable with each other. For the first week we put the kitten in the bathroom so that they didn't fight while we were out.

When we were home we'd let the kitten out and supervise them, or put the cat in the bathroom while the kitten explored the rest of the house.

It also helps if you move the cats food dishes near to the door.

First 3-6 months are a little hairy. The kitten is now the dominant cat - so I think he's getting his own back for being beaten up by the female when he was a kitten.

[broma25 2]

I think in the main they seem to be doing ok. The kitten has been eating from the big cat's dish, and been drinking his water. The big cat really did not seem to bothered. This morning she was laying under one table and he was laying on another one. She was in a foster home with 12 cats, 2 dogs and 3 kids so I think she is pretty well used to being around others.

I just wish he wouldnt chase her under the bed....when she is under they are both pawing at each other, but no hissing, growling or nails.

I did notice this morning that he was nibbling on her....is this normal cat on cat behaviour??

Thanks

[PlatyPius 5]

The best way to get two cats together is a bowl of Chardonnay and some Barry White on the stereo. Maybe a couple of candles, too.

[broma25 2]

The best way to get two cats together is a bowl of Chardonnay and some Barry White on the stereo. Maybe a couple of candles, too.

I will try that....thank you!!