Hello, all. I was hoping you could give me advice about something that is starting to worry me greatly. Well, I just brought home a 10-week-old kitten yesterday. I have had a cat for years already, and she is close to 10 years old. My 10-year-old cat is not adjusting well at all to the new member of our family. The kitten seems fine, but I am not sure what to do about my older cat. Like I said, I just got the kitten yesterday, so I am sure I am not giving it nearly enough time. I am just very concerned about this. I want her to know she is still loved just as much, and I am trying to give her equal attention, but it is rather hard when she keeps hiding. In fact, I do not have a clue where she is at this very moment. I have searched the house (she is a house cat) and cannot find her anywhere. They have not fought as of yet, but they did hiss at one another the other day. I wasn't thinking yesterday when I brought the kitten home and did not go about this the right way, I suppose, as far as introducing them goes. Do you have any suggestions as to what I can do to make my cat feel more comfortable around the kitten and know she is still loved? I know cats are extremely territorial creatures, but I see families with multiple cats all of the time and would like for my cats to find companionship with one another. Thank you for reading.
This is all too familiar! My mom takes feral cats into her home on a regular basis and has become somewhat of a wizard when it comes to getting them all to get along and live happily together. Whenever a new one comes into the house, she keeps it in a "safe haven" usually in the extra bedroom, alone, with its own litter box, food bowls, toys, etc. This allows it to become adjusted to the smells and sounds in the home without the added stress of the other cats. This also allows the current residents to come up to the door (at their own pace) and sniff the new addition. Usually after a week (which can include hissing through the closed door) everyone in the house with realize that there is someone new, but they still have their territory....thats the main point, keep the new kitty secluded and allow the older cat its same roam of the home. Then, after that time period let the kitten out (not at feeding time) for an hour or so, make sure that you bring the kitten's toys out and so they each have their own things and let them mingle....as time goes on the kitten will be able to come out more from the safe haven and gradually the older cat will see that this new addition is not eating her food, not playing with her toys, not stealing her sleeping areas, etc. This may take weeks or longer, so have patience and dont rush it.....something else that we have found to work is catnip...once they can play or at least be in the same room without giving each other evil eyes, let them both have either fresh or dried catnip....they space out and alot of the times find each other playing together! Don't worry, it will get better if you remember that you have to maintain normalcy for the older cat...once she realizes that the little one is not here to steal her territory she will get over it. Good luck!
