But by taking a calm, paced approach to the process of introduction, by laying the foundations of a respectful partnership between the older and the younger cat, and by sharing the love equally, you'll all get even more love in return from both cats. Keep calm and work in increments to bring the cats together. She's currently in my daughter's room, but I want to integrate her to the rest of my pets and house. Colonies are generally made up of related cats. Kittens are believed to be victims of a tomcat’s aggression. By using The Spruce Pets, you accept our, How to Stop Your Cat From Rejecting a New Kitten, Your Older Cat Drinks a Lot of Water and Other Reasons to See the Vet, Dealing With Dominant and Pushy Cat Behavior, Kitten Development from Newborn to One Week, Kitten Development in the First Six Weeks of Life. The older cat would not accept her for about 6 months, and there was lots of hissing and growling. During the first days, both sleeping places, food areas, and litter boxes should be in separate sites. This is completely normal and as long as it is just hissing and swatting, do your best to not interfere. The resident cat's disposition should be compatible with the newcomer's and they should share similar energy levels. If you prepare your cat for the new arrival and make the changes seem less drastic, then it is more likely to adapt to its new roommate. The goal is that our pet will not suddenly see their privacy invaded by the newcomer, since thus it would take longer to accept it. And I do hope you also had the new kitten tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV before allowing it to interact with your cat? However, introducing a kitten or adolescent to an elderly cat could be problematic if the young cat directs much play towards the older cat, whose desire to play will be less. Hi! As your cat gets curious, it may stick its paw under the door, sniff under the door, and listen to the kitten. I have 2 outside cats that have adopted my family and staff. 1,983 satisfied customers. Sometimes cats never fully accept a new kitten but will simply coexist, keeping to themselves away from the other cat in the house. Our Bengal never hissed or anything aggressive. A common mistake is to rush the socialization between cats and then getting mad or frustrated when it doesn't work out. These cats are calm and affectionate. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Your older cat may hiss and swat at the kitten when the newcomer does something unfavorable. I sprayed water on them and they separated, but haven't put them in the same room again. Some cats are naturally easy-going and friendly; others are timid and shy; still others are very assertive and active. It really depends on the situation. Our parents never said no, so my brother and I just kept dragging those cats and kittens back home with us — from our grandparents’ farm, from outdoor flea markets and occasionally from some family friends who just happened to have a spare kitten. I know it takes time to introduce two cats, but I'm really nervous and scared that this isn't going to work out. I think there would have been fur flying if I had brought home an adult male. Even if the cats are friendly and happy, they can drastically change if you bring a new kitten home. An older cat that's been the only pet for his entire life will adapt more slowly to another cat's presence, and may especially resent a bouncy kitten. I rescued a female cat 6 months ago (she is now 1 year and neutered) she is an indoor cat with a very easy going friendly nature. Those differences in personality can have a profound effect on how two cats may get along. This will allow them to relate the other cat's smell to a positive input like food is. We brought a female kitten home from a shelter (4 months old). The older cat would not accept her for about 6 months, and there was lots of hissing and growling. Make sure you are ready for the kitten. Young cats do better with a playmate close to their own age. My two females won't even sleep in my room like they used too! The thing is Lasi does not accept the new baby boy at all. Conversely, if the two are almost adjacent on a kitten or less than 1/2 inch apart on an adult, it’s a female. The thing is, last time I got a kitten from my friend, and my 4 year old cat didn't like it at all! Every cat may secretly (or openly) wish to be an only pet, getting all the treats and attention you can dole out. Your older cat may have a period of time when it tries to establish a hierarchy with the new kitten. One other funny solution is to regular spray some water when the male does this to the kittens, and then he will be too afraid to do it. - Answered by a verified Cat Veterinarian. If you suspect your older cat will become stressed and anxious with a new kitten, consider nutritional supplements that are designed to calm a cat. With their hunter’s instinct, male cats happen to kill kittens quite often. I had to adopt my dad’s cat when my dad passed away and my female never accepted him (my dad’s cat has passed on). It was a rocky first 6 months that we had the new kitten. I also used to face the same problem with the female cat not wanting to mate and the male forcing her to. Your older cat should be able to get to the door of this room in order to hear and smell them, but not have any interaction with the kitten. I rescued a female cat 6 months ago (she is now 1 year and neutered) she is an indoor cat with a very easy going friendly nature. You can also give them both treats at the same time and feed them at the same time from separate bowls. My two females won't even sleep in my room like they used too! Give yourself (and your older cat) plenty of time to prepare for this adjustment with these steps. Conversely, if the two are almost adjacent on a kitten or less than 1/2 inch apart on an adult, it's a female. Make sure your older cat is healthy. I would hate for the kitten to be bullied constantly. I have a 4 year old female cat, and I would like to buy a new kitten, not just for me, but for her. A week ago, I got a 6 month old male kitten. Kittens take to other cats fairly easily so it's more about your adult cat accepting a new cat on her 'territory'. Things To Keep In Mind: Cats don't like change in general. After about a week, let your kitten explore the house under your watchful eye. A week ago, I got a 6 month old male kitten. He’s the sweetest cat ever! Maternal aggression is the queen cat's instinctual protective response. If scratching or biting occurs between the cat and kitten, you’ll also want the rabies vaccine up to date to avoid any problems. I have 2 outside cats that have adopted my family and staff. I've tried introducing them slowly and it hasn't worked. His name is Ollie. Needing a bit of advice here: We recently adopted a male kitten (he's about 12 weeks) a month ago. So it really does not matter much whether you get a male or a female kitten. Male Cats Like Hunting and Feeding. Do not force interaction between your cat and kitten. But two cats can learn to cohabit, if you provide the right environment for your resident cat to accept a … How do I get them to accept each other? Or are male cats more affectionate? If you're going for the same sex, two female cats will pair up better than two males, whose instincts may prompt aggression. They typically work best if given a few weeks prior to the anticipated stressful event and can be continued after the new kitten arrives. I've read that adult female cats can be aggressive towards a new female kitten, even more than males. In no way is my male cat the alpha of the pack; he is not territorial, but with the exception of getting angry at the other cats for being on h i s blanket. I had an adult male who was very welcoming to new cats. If she accepts his advances, the male is apt to mount her and grip her neck with his teeth, in what's thought to be a naturally pacifying action similar to a mother cat carrying her kittens. These won’t drug your pet but will help it remain calm and relaxed. Two female kitties can create a slug-fest. Not only did my male cat “accept” this male kitten, but they becam… However, they may form a colony led by a female cat (queen) if food is being provided to them by people. If your cat has a favorite interactive toy, such as a feather wand or laser pointer, try playing with both cats at the same time. My kitten is confined to one room, and my resident cat has free reign over the rest of the house. Then, without holding down the new pet and protecting it from a possible blow, approach your cat so they can smell. Keep them separate for several weeks so your cat can first get used to the new scent of the kitten before they meet. On OneHowTo.com we offer the answer to the question of how to make my cat accept a new kitten. The boisterous young cat been living with 3 adult females — Cricket, Kilah and Tikvah — and none of them had the slightest interest in playing with him. I once had two cats who had kittens at almost exactly the same time. An adult cat is more likely to accept a kitten of the opposite sex because he won't feel his position of "top cat" compromised. Is it best to just not get another kitten if you already have adult female cats? A word of caution if you have an elderly cat who is ill: I do not recommend bringing another cat int… Photo: Bev Goodwin We always had cats when I was growing up. But by taking a calm, paced approach to the process of introduction, by laying the foundations of a respectful partnership between the older and the younger cat, and by sharing the love equally, you'll all get even more love in return from both cats. Once it has been neutered, it will with luck be a friendly and calm cat, whichever gender it is. At night, when you are not home, and whenever you are unable to supervise the kitten and your older cat, keep the kitten in its designated room with the door closed. In parallel, during these first days play a lot with your two pets and organize games in which both are involved. Sure, you may get lucky and find that your cat is thrilled to have a new friend, but there is a better-than-average chance this won't be the case. How do I get them to accept each other? We are considering getting another siamese kitten and would very much welcome any advise as to the viability of this being possible and what we can do to make this an easy transition for both our 9 yr old and the new kitten. Worried about the male spraying. To make this time less traumatic and in order that our pet associates the new tenant with a positive element, you must give your pet a new toy or buy their favourite food. She's currently in my daughter's room, but I want to integrate her to the rest of my pets and house. Just because your cat liked one cat, it may not mean that he will accept another. However, the household must have the time and resources to cope with two additional kittens rather than just one. Female adults know how to properly defend themselves against harassment, but younger cats do not. It's all about proper introductions. He can cause much damage when trying to force himself upon her. While older cats will occasionally take to a new kitten right away, they typically need a little time to adjust to the changes. When you bring your kitten home, allow your cat to sniff it while the kitten is in a carrier or your arms. We adopted an 8 week old male cat into our household. We read that a young, female cat would be the most readily accepted by an older male cat. Do not let your older cat have unsupervised access to the kitten. Don't rush them. In such situations, two kittens who can play with one another may be a better option than a single kitten. One other funny solution is to regular spray some water when the male does this to the kittens, and then he will be too afraid to do it. I do hope you had this female cat is spayed and you've gotten this male kitten neutered. A non-neutered adult male cat can be brutal with a younger female cat, even when they're not in heat. 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