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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / December 2006Introducing a kitten into a household with a cat
We have a new kitten (lovely Russian blue) and an 8 year old calico. We have been trying to make the introduction slow and gentle. The kitten is in our upstairs bathroom with the door closed. The idea (given to us from the breeder) is to let the cats (especially the cat we've had for years) get used to each others smells for a week, and then let them see each other face-to-face. So far, the older cat will hang out in front of the door from time to time. She stretches there playfully, so I'm wondering if a full 7 days is necessary. Today is Friday, and the kitten, who's getting a little stir-crazy, has been at our home since Monday. Thanks for suggestions! Stephen >We have a new kitten (lovely Russian blue) and an 8 year old calico. We >have been trying to make the introduction slow and gentle. The kitten [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >is necessary. Today is Friday, and the kitten, who's getting a little >stir-crazy, has been at our home since Monday. I've been using this technique to introduce fosters to my other cats for years and it goes at its own pace. Open the door a crack. If there's no hissing and spitting, let the little guy out and watch for a few minutes. I've had fosters who went straight from the carrier to the general population in hours, and some it took months. Give it a shot. >> We have a new kitten (lovely Russian blue) and an 8 year old calico. We >> have been trying to make the introduction slow and gentle. The kitten [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > I've had fosters who went straight from the carrier to the general > population in hours, and some it took months. Give it a shot. I agree with this answer to your post. If your older cat doesn't seem upset, you might want to try letting them see each other a little bit. The older cat's body language seems accepting to me. They have obviously sniffed noses, and your older cat seems interested in playing. I think I'd give it a shot, too. I've had kittens who weren't accepted right away and others who could just walk right into the mix. It all depends on your older cat's temperament. The last one I brought home walked right up to my big dogs and acted like it was no big deal. The other cats weren't crazy about him and hid up high where he couldn't go for a week or so, but they never fought. If they play and act like they're getting rough, you can gauge how serious it is by seeing if the bigger cat stops what she is doing when the little one screams, it means your older cat understands that she's scaring the little one. If she doesn't stop, you need to go slower. Good luck! I'm sure they'll be tearing around the house doing thunder kitties in no time! Eva P.S. Why do they always do the thunder kitty thing at 6 AM? > If > they play and act like they're getting rough, you can gauge how > serious it is by seeing if the bigger cat stops what she is doing when > the little one screams, it means your older cat understands that she's > scaring the little one. in our house, it's the older cat who screams, and the little one never stops! I'm surprised my older cat hasn't beaten the snot out of this kitten yet. On the flip side, my older cat, Rudy, is even more affectionate than usual since we got little evil Levi.  SignatureLynne >> If >> they play and act like they're getting rough, you can gauge how [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Lynne Yeah, that makes sense. The little one hasn't learned yet that biting hurts. Your older cat sounds very patient. They usually are. It's rare to find kitties who won't get along eventually. I do have a little black cat I trapped as a 3-month old feral. She hates my white kitty with a passion. He's the sweetest cat, but she simply cannot abide him. They don't fight, tho. She hisses if he walks in the room or if she jumps on the bed and he's already there. He just ducks his head and waits till she's over her hissy fit! Upon the rarest occasion, they will play a wild chasing game. Eva >> We have a new kitten (lovely Russian blue) and an 8 year old calico. We >> have been trying to make the introduction slow and gentle. The kitten [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > I've had fosters who went straight from the carrier to the general > population in hours, and some it took months. Give it a shot. Exactly... I recently introduced a new cat (about a 1 year old neutered male) to my older cats (a 3.5 year old neutered male and a 2.5 year old spayed female) and my dog. I had planned on keeping the new cat in a closed room for a couple of days to a week, but he INSISTED that the door be left open (as soon as the door was closed, he'd scratch at it like he wanted to dig through, but once it was opened, he'd relax on the top of the cat tree and just observe the doorway). He stayed in the room for at least 3 days before coming out, but he wanted to have a view of what was going on in the hallway. The other cats and the dog hung out in the doorway for those 3 days so they all maintained their personal boundaries while getting a good look at each other. Then, once Gillie decided to come out, he pretty much fit in. The issue is that the personalities of all the individuals involved is pretty laid back. None of them are particularly territorial. If there had been any major issues I'd have kept them separated for longer. The trick is to watch them and take your cues from their behaviors. Katrina SignatureHistory: special people in special places at special times Anthropology: everyone else the rest of the time -KWorley, 1997 stephen@theboulets.net wrote in news:1161968001.070223.260560 @i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com: > We have a new kitten (lovely Russian blue) and an 8 year old calico. We > have been trying to make the introduction slow and gentle. The kitten [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Stephen We've always let ours meet a new kitten right away, under supervision. The worst that ever happened was a little hissing, then they were curious about each other so sniffed, then the little one would be busy exploring the new house and the resident cat followed with great curiosity. The first night I would separate the kitten to be sure, but that's all. So, try and see what happens. Bobble SignatureSave the earth... it's the only planet with chocolate. Sonny's web page --> http://web.ncf.ca/ai151/index2.html Stephen When we got Ka' Shay just a few months ago the closed door routine lasted 2 days they wanted to know who was here and what the heck was going on. We open the room up but kept Ka' Shay in a cat carrier she was just 6 weeks old. Everyone did there thing except for my spirit who wanted her out of the carrier now every time she cried he talked right back to her. After 2 more days we open the carrier up and kept a close eye on the pack. Away she and spirit went started wrestling around. He became her big brother if she cried he was there wanting to know what was going on and why she was crying. I got nipped quite a few times when I would not put her down when she was crying to be let down. Every cat and household is different if no hissing or angry furballs open door watch to see if there is if not let them do their thing > We have a new kitten (lovely Russian blue) and an 8 year old calico. We > have been trying to make the introduction slow and gentle. The kitten [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Stephen Well, after over a month I'm happy to report that the transition went well. The older cat did not hiss much at first and only sulked from time to time. Now though the cats play together and generally get along well. Our older cat is not quite as social or tolerant of loud toddlers, and since she (the calico) outweighs the female Russian blue, she has no trouble wrestling her down when the kitten is too high energy for her. The Russian blue has turned out to be a wonderful, people oriented, toddler tolerant family pet. Stephen
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