Cat won't accept new kitten--help!

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Alice B Toklas - 05 Sep 2003 06:00 GMT

I have a two year old female named Maggie. She had a playmate, Alice, for
almost a year. I lost Alice last week during her surgery to be spayed (very
tragic, I cried for days but that's for another post). Well, Maggie moped
around all weekend, looking for Alice. My neice just happened to have a
female kitten that she needed to find a home for, so I brought her home (I
named her Minnie) on Labor Day. Well, it's almost Friday, and Maggie is
still growling and hissing and generally acting like a turd! Is there
anything that I can do to help her accept her new friend?

I realize that Maggie is probably not understanding why Alice is gone, and
this new kitten is here instead, but surely things could be better!

Thanks for any advice anyone can give me.

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MaryL - 05 Sep 2003 08:46 GMT

> I have a two year old female named Maggie. She had a playmate, Alice, for
> almost a year. I lost Alice last week during her surgery to be spayed (very
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Thanks for any advice anyone can give me.

You are trying to move much too quickly. People sometimes succeed in just
putting the two cats in a house together, but that is more likely to be a
recipe for disaster. The more time and patience you use, the more likely
you will have good results. Here are a few sites with information on
introducing cats:

http://www.catcaresociety.org/intro.htm

http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/catintro.htm

http://www.cuhumane.org/topics/catcat.html

http://www.methuen-mspca.org/petcare/htm/catintro.htm

http://operationnoblefoster.org/catsanddog.htm

I also have a fairly detailed letter that I wrote describing the procedures
I used when I introduced my new cat to Holly (who previously had been very
hostile and aggressive to other cats). Send email to me if you would like a
copy.

MaryL

Photos of Duffy and Holly (pictorial history of my blind cat Duffy's
integration into our household):
Duffy, Part I: The Introduction -- http://tinyurl.com/8y54
Duffy, Part II: Life at Home -- http://tinyurl.com/8y56

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Alice B Toklas - 05 Sep 2003 22:26 GMT

> > I have a two year old female named Maggie. She had a playmate, Alice, for
> > almost a year. I lost Alice last week during her surgery to be spayed
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> you will have good results. Here are a few sites with information on
> introducing cats:

I agree, I rushed things a bit. They are getting along much better today,
Maggie is letting Minnie eat out of the food bowl with her, and they have
even been sitting together in the window. Still a bit of growling and
hissing, but I think the worst of it is over.

> http://www.catcaresociety.org/intro.htm
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> http://operationnoblefoster.org/catsanddog.htm

Thank you for the links, lots of helpful information there.

Again, thanks to all for your advise.

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Joe Pitt - 05 Sep 2003 13:23 GMT

It took my Minoo 6 weeks to stop hissing and growling at Belle (number 2).
Now they sleep together and groom each other.

Signature

Joe
http://www.jwpitt.com/cats.htm
Cat Rescue http://www.animalrescuefoundation.com
God created the cat so man could have the pleasure of petting the tiger

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Victor M. Martinez - 05 Sep 2003 15:18 GMT

Perfectly normal behavior. You need to give them time. It can take weeks,
if not months for a cat to accept a newcomer.

Signature

Victor M. Martinez
martiv@FAKE.che.utexas.edu
http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv

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Jean H - 06 Sep 2003 13:22 GMT

I can only advise you to give her extra love and attention as you
gave the answer yourself, she just doesn't understand she may think if this
new baby settles in, she might be the next to go, she may be very frightened
of this, good luck with her she does love you jp

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