So, I just brought the new kitten home, and current cat does not like her.

[Skip Intro]

They're doing a face-off in the hallway. Current cat growling with each breath, but sitting still. New little kitten just sitting there. Don't have pics yet (no digital cam and my cell phone won't do pic messaging for some reason).

My current cat is only about a year, year and a half old, but fully grown (I hope!). She lived in a cage for months surrounded by big dogs at my friends house. I took her to get her out of that situation, and she eventually came around to letting me pet her now, sometimes snuggling with me, but usually keeping her distance.

The new kitten was found in a grocery store parking lot two weeks ago by my sister, who took it home. Unfortunately, my niece had a bad allergic reaction, so I took this one too to save it from going to the pound. Sweetest little thing. Brought her home, put her in a room to herself. I laid on the floor to pet her, make her feel at home, and she curled right up next to me and went to sleep. She's grey with a white belly and a cool star-shaped marking on her back. Gentle and sweet.

Can two so different cats live together?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The intial hissing and snarling is normal.

Cats are highly territorial and they don't like it when another cat invades their territory. However, they almost always adjust pretty quickly to a new cat, especially if it's a kitten. There are a lot of ways to introduce a new cat to the incumbent cat, but it's generally a good idea to keep them separated for a few days but introduce them to each others' scents and let them hiss at each other from behind a door or some other barrier. Gradually let them meet each other for short periods of time, under supervision. There will be hissing, but in most cases, before long they will tolerate each other and eventually will become friends. My newest cat (a 3-month-old kitten when I got her) became "friends" with the incumbent adult cats in less than a week, with minimal hissing.

[applegrove]

2. Get a door closed between them. The kitten, crazy for any kind of fun, will

try and play with your older cat underneath the door. Keep them apart for a day and then they'll both be happy when they are finally aloud to be in the same room. Worked for my cats.

[emilyg]

3. They'll be fine in time. Sweet

of you to do this. Hug.

[grasswire]

4. you can buy an aerosol called "Feliway"

It also comes in a plug-in. It mimics natural soothing feline hormones and is used to settle issues between cats. It calms things down.

You can get it at most pet stores and animal clinics.

[Flaxbee]

5. Don't fret. There will be a period of adjustment on the part of

your current cat, but they will become friends. Just don't disrupt your current cat's routine too much and make sure she continues to feel loved and safe. And keep an eye on the new little one and separate them for a while when you're out of the house.

This is a perfectly normal reaction. Your current cat has to adjust to the idea of re-defined territories. No worries.


When I was single in New York in 1998, I adopted a calico that the shelter told me COULD NOT, under ANY circumstances, tolerate other cats in her household. Well, I got married in 1999 and he had a cat, we adopted another cat, and we had at one time seven cats (now six) including the calico. It just took a little time.

[Skittles]

6. YOU WANT I SHOULD KICK SOME CURRENT CAT ASS, SKIP INTRO?

LEMME AT HER

seriously though, she's reacting like a normal cat.....give 'em time

[Rochester]

7. My two cats didn't like my third cat for the first few days, either

They growled and hissed at her, but after a few days they got used to having her around, and by the end of the first week, they were playing together and having fun like they'd never known a day without each other.

[Orsino]

8. Give 'em a week, or a month, or a year.

Someday soon you might surprise them, and discover them cuddled up together for a nap--whereupon they'll snarl at each other and dash away. :eyes:

They've got issues to work out, but most cats can eventually learn to share space.

[joeybee12]

9. Yes, it's normal, and the only thing you can do is let it play itself out...

they'll get it out of their systems eventually...you'll be tempted to interfere, but as long as they are not hurting one anohtre, let them get it out of their systems.

[stray cat]

10. My cats didn't like each other for two years, eventually the new cat gave the old cat heart failure

from chasing her all the time and the senior cat died.

[hippywife]

11. I got a new kitten just over a week ago.

My two older ones, both two years old, didn't like it at all. All kinds of hissing, spitting and swatting going on. I just let them all be, made sure my older ones got the same amount of attention they always did, while letting them witness the fact that I love this new one, too. They are all fine now, chasing each other around and playing. No problems.

Just give it time and it will be fine. :hi:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. They'll be licking and rubbing on each other in a week. Been there. -nt

[Curmudgeoness]

13. What did you expect? Of course your cat isn't thrilled with change.

I agree that you should isolate the newcomer for a day or two so that the current cat can get to know it by smelling it, sensing it's presence. This is what is recommended by most animal behaviorists. But also, there will be the setting up of dominance at some point. Good luck, that was a nice thing to do.