Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hi there

We recently acquired two rescue kittens, Tika and Phoebe, at around 4 months old. They are unrelated but were brought up together and are really friendly with one another, and are practically siblings. Unfortunately Phoebe had some health problems on arrival and required some lengthy treatment after staying with us for only 3-4 days. During these first days, they were confined to their own room as we were preparing for slow, steady introductions to our 4yr old resident Tuxedo cat, Juniper. We fed them on either side of the door (kittens one side, cat on the other) and did a lot of scent and site swapping, taking it very slowly and carefully.

Phoebe was unfortunately unwell 4 days in (infection of her spay wound) and wound up having to spend nearly a week at the vet to have surgery and recover.

During this time, with proceeded with Juni 's introduction to Tika, and despite some initial hissing and posturing, after a 6-7 days everything relaxed and they started getting along pretty well, no more chasing or hissing.

When Phoebe came home soon after, we kept her confined for a few more days to recover, then began introductions all over again with Juni and Phoebe. Juni was a little hissy at first, but much less than with Tika, and things seemed to go quite well. The hissing reduced slowly, and things seemed OK, until one day when Juni caught Phoebe eating from her food dish and bopped her on the head a few times, hissing. Phoebe hissed back and scuttled into a corner, I distracted Juni, they were separated, no harm done, no claws out, just a bit of a bashing from Juni, presumably to put Phoebe in her place.

Since then, Phoebe has taken a dislike to Juni and hisses when she gets close. Juni mostly ignores it, but she seems upset by Phoebe's constant hissing, and generally avoids her, meaning she spends a lot more time outside. It has been 2 weeks since Juni and Phoebe were introduced, and Juni has basically accepted her, but kitten Phoebe still has a bee in her bonnet and always hisses at Juni and scuttles away from her. Juni generally responds by moving away from Phoebe, generally by going outside.

Juni was always such a happy cat, it pains me to see her sulking and being out so much.

Tika and Juni seem to be fine together, but Phoebe and Juni seem to be really struggling.

Any advice? What can I do to relax Phoebe? Will things just smooth out in time, or should I start over with them?

Juni has lived with another cat before, she had a sister that passed away due to a heart problem, so she has experience with other cats.

It's bothering me to see them behave like this with one another, since they are both OK with Tika.

Please let me know if you need more info, but I'd really appreciate some advice or reassurance!

Two weeks is still VERY early days, so there is plenty of time for them to settle into a better relationship - it sounds as though they are still working out their places in the household.

You've obviously followed good advice on introductions, but have a read of the Cat Chat advice page in case there's something there that might help. It might be worth going back a couple of stages and giving Juni a little time in the house without Phoebe around to reassure her that it's still her home and to enjoy some quality time with you.

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I've introduced several cats to our household over the years and I still hate those early days when everyone looks tense and a bit upset. It's clear that there's not going to be any real nastiness, so things will settle down in time. Good luck.

Yes indeed, seconded

I do believe things will settle down in time, although it hurts to see the older cat so offended; it feels as if you wish you'd never introduced those kittens. But cats are communal creatures and enjoy companionship; after the initial ructions Juni will enjoy playing with them both and having them about...she may mother them.

I remember when I bred Siamese; I had a large population of older 'moggies' and usually, when the kittens started to explore, these just opened an eye and went 'oh, that time again is it?' and went back to sleep. Except for George, who was three quarters Siamese himself, great big black panther. (Sorry, I've told this story before I know.) George was terribly on his dignity, and growled at kittens. But one day, I snuck up on him and a kitten and George was doing his usual act...then I swear he looked stealthily round in case anyone was watching (and didn't notice me) AND HE WASHED THE KITTEN!

They will always surprise you!

(Sorry - edit - just re-read your post and realise Phoebe is on her dignity too. Kittens CAN be bossy; I remember a month-old kitten going sideways on to an older cat, mew-ewww-eww! And older cat retreating. With all the specialling she's had I can imagine Phoebe thinks she's the only cat in the house. But she will learn to mix and that being part of a cat group is fun.)

With all best wishes for the settling in and special fusses to Juni - but I think that soon she will appreciate having Phoebe as well as Tika about.

Thanks guys for reassuring me a little. It is upsetting seeing Juni so mopey, she's my special girl and I need her to know it.

it hurts to see the older cat so offended; it feels as if you wish you'd never introduced those kittens

Right? I swing between feeling terrible about Juni and this feeling. Obviously the kittens are amazing and adorable and are their own personalities and I'm so so happy to have them, but sometimes I catch myself asking should I have even gotten them? Because everybody is upset with each other at different times; Phoebe is nervous around Juni, Juni is grumpy about kittens and I keep thinking "Did I do the right thing?"

But there's no actual fighting or real confrontation, just a lot of passive aggressiveness, sulking and Phoebe's hissing, so nobody is suffering too bad. I just really want things to start smoothing over, I don't want to be constantly worried!

I'd love to hear any other anecdotes about introductions, particularly two kittens at once - everybody says it's best to adopt kittens in pairs as a single kitten can be a pest to an adult cat, but the introduction of the second kitten seems to be what really pushed Juni into grumpy-dom.

Thanks again, and please, any tales similar to mine very gratefully received!