My older cat won't accept a rescue kitten

[youngcatherine64]

Hi
Last year I took on two cats a mother and her kitten, sadly the kitten was knocked over and killed when he was nearly one, we waited a few months then another rescue kitten came up so we took her on, within a week of having her she broke her leg so was in a splint and cage for about 10 weeks, so the other cat didn't really see her, but for the past month now we have slowly been introducing them but Bella my older cat just spits and hisses at the kitten then runs out of the cat flap, last night we thought we were making progress as Leema the kitten was in the lounge and Bella walked in then both went behind the sofa, Bella was hissing and growling on and off for over an hour, so in the end we took Leema upstairs and pulled out the sofa to see if Bella was ok, she was infact under the sofa.....we just don't know what to do as it isn't any easier after a month of introducing them....any ideas would be gladly received, I spent a fortune on 4 feliway plug ins but they haven't helped one iota.

[meriad]

how old are Bella and Leema and are both neutered / spayed?

When Leema was on cage rest - where was she; and was Bella able to see or smell her at all during this time?

[youngcatherine64]

Hi Bella is nearly three and Leema is 7 months, Bella saw Leema a little when she was caged probably not enough in the ten weeks that she was in the cage with a broken leg, they have both been spayed.
we don't really want to go down the route on finding a new home for Leema as she is an adorable kitten but she just wants to follow Bella around and Bella just hisses and growls and spits at her. she hasn't swiped her as yet.

[Kay]

if Leema doesn't retaliate, and Bella doesn't actually hurt her, you're in territory quite familiar to a lot of us - my Tiffany still regularly hisses and swipes at Tosker, and he's been here 4 years - but he doesn't take any notice, and they rub along together well enough

engaging them both in play, and feeding them fairly close together at the same time, will help

but treat Bella as top cat, and always put her first, at least in her and Leema's eyes, and hope she comes round to behaving like one without the upset