Integrating new kitten into one cat household
Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 7:44 am
Hello
I recently bought home a rescue kitten and he is approximately 14 weeks old. I have a cat already, she is 2 and a half and is used to being the only cat in the household. I have had the new kitten for nearly three weeks now and unfortunately, i am having to keep the separate the majority of the time because my older cat hisses and growls at the kitten and then just wants to get out of the house. I'm struggling for them to get used to each other because the older cat just wants to go out when the kitten is about and i feel bad an let her out because he is clearly causing her upset and i don't want that.
I have a feliway diffuser and spray that i use but they don't seem to be having any effect. It's upsetting me as i think i may have to get rid of the kitten, who now after being feral is finally coming out of his shell and getting comfortable in the house. I'd hate to have to find him a new home but at the moment, i see no other choice.
My other cat, she is not overly fussy and doesn't seek attention from me. She is very independent. The only time she really comes to me is for food and for a little bit of affection first thing in the morning. However, it is now very rare that i get a purr from her and she will go to bite me when i stroke her, i think because of the scent of the kitten. I have followed online advice on sharing scents but that doesn't seem to be working, she avoids blankets that he has been on and just goes to her own places where he hasn't been.
I got the kitten as i will be changing jobs soon, i currently work from home so my cat has been used to having company during the day but as i will be starting a new job i won't be here during the day anymore and wanted my cat to have company.
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
I recently bought home a rescue kitten and he is approximately 14 weeks old. I have a cat already, she is 2 and a half and is used to being the only cat in the household. I have had the new kitten for nearly three weeks now and unfortunately, i am having to keep the separate the majority of the time because my older cat hisses and growls at the kitten and then just wants to get out of the house. I'm struggling for them to get used to each other because the older cat just wants to go out when the kitten is about and i feel bad an let her out because he is clearly causing her upset and i don't want that.
I have a feliway diffuser and spray that i use but they don't seem to be having any effect. It's upsetting me as i think i may have to get rid of the kitten, who now after being feral is finally coming out of his shell and getting comfortable in the house. I'd hate to have to find him a new home but at the moment, i see no other choice.
My other cat, she is not overly fussy and doesn't seek attention from me. She is very independent. The only time she really comes to me is for food and for a little bit of affection first thing in the morning. However, it is now very rare that i get a purr from her and she will go to bite me when i stroke her, i think because of the scent of the kitten. I have followed online advice on sharing scents but that doesn't seem to be working, she avoids blankets that he has been on and just goes to her own places where he hasn't been.
I got the kitten as i will be changing jobs soon, i currently work from home so my cat has been used to having company during the day but as i will be starting a new job i won't be here during the day anymore and wanted my cat to have company.
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.