Introducing new kittens

[Cruller]

My partner and I brought a new kitten 1 month ago, he's 4 months old called Cooper is very playful and cuddley. We both work full time and the vets suggested getting a second kitten so Cooper has a bit of company so on Friday we got Mimi a 3 month old kitten.

Now we looked up some tips online and our house isn't particularly huge so keeping them in separate rooms for weeks would be massively difficult, it's also very difficult for us to spread our time across both of them when they are in separate rooms without them calling out for attention.

We found some probably bad advice online that said to keep things calm and just let them meet, ignore the hissing and growling and just make sure they aren't fighting. Well things have gone a bit wrong, Mimi seems to really like Cooper she'll follow him everywhere. Cooper hates Mimi and hisses at her, he's never attacked her bar the odd jab (without claws) but also Cooper has stopped eating except for a few treats, he won't come near us if Mimi is around either and I'm not to sure what to do, we tried to go back to separating them and trying to transfer there scents on each other but Cooper just hissed at us and runs into a different room. The closest we got was putting some treats down next to Mimi while she was sleeping and he ate them, realised she was there and started hissing again. Mimi seems pretty unaffected by all this.

Any ideas for us? Should we change tactics or should we just carry in introducing them as we are and hope they get along?

[Lilith]

Hi Cruller and welcome.

By Friday do you mean yesterday? Then these are very early days, and the kittens are very young; all the better, barring disasters, to adapt.

While I'd recommend the usual introduction guidelines for strange older cats, I too have the kind of house where separating cats is awkward and I confess I've cut corners (as well as having not known about the ideal intro procedure at the time.)

So from my personal point of view I'd say, don't worry too much. If you have to leave them alone, for the next week I'd give Mimi a room of her own just to be on the safe side, but while you're around, obviously supervise them but from what you describe, Cooper is saying to Mimi, 'I'm boss here, young'un, and don't you forget it!' While Mimi is flirting madly.

Do make a bigger fuss of Cooper and tell him what a good boy he is. Try opening a tin of tuna (special treat of course; they mustn't have it too often) or grilling some chicken and even hand-feeding him if he refuses to eat from his bowl. Or whatever he loves best. Don't overdo it of course; you don't want to encourage faddiness, but just as a once or twice thing. But food is a great ice-breaker and my bet is that he'll scoff it, if only to prevent Mimi getting it.

There will always be a lot of verbals at first, especially with the unfamiliar scent of the newcomer, but they mean little; it's just Cooper keeping up a running commentary. And he has his position as senior cat to keep up, you know!

Try using a brush or a blanket to transfer Cooper's scent to Mimi and vice versa.

Hopefully other people will be along soon with more advice but hope this helps for now. I do feel that at that age they will settle down soon and I hope to see a photo of them in each others' arms lol.

All the very very best with them and do let us know how you go on

[Ruth B]

Its so easy for someone to write about slow introductions and keeping them separate, but with small houses and busy lives, I do wonder just how many people really follow it, I know I didn't, I did my best but the only room we can use to keep a cat separate is the lounge.

If you do have a room you can keep Mimi shut in at least part of the time then I would advise that. When you are out keep her shut in her room, when you are at home keep her shut in while you give Cooper some quality time, feed him and play with him, then let Mimi out so they can socialise together. If possible feed them separately for a while, even when you feed them when she isn't shut in her room, Cooper in the normal place, Mimi in her room, hopefully then Cooper will know he will at least get some meals in peace.

Like Lilith, I feel that given time they will settle down together, Cooper has just had a month to get used to having your undivided attention and then this little interloper appears on the scene, it's no wonder he is trying to tell her whose boss. As long as the claws are in I don't think you need worry to much about him taking a swipe at her. We got two 6 month old youngsters about 18 months ago after one of the golden oldies was put to sleep. Tiggy our remaining golden oldie will still take a swipe at Saturn when she feels he is getting too bolshy. She has never hurt him so we leave them to it, it is just her reestablishing the pecking order.

I will also mention the Feliway diffuser might be worth a try, unfortunately they are a bit expensive and you need to buy a new refill every month. They aren't a miracle cure, but I do think having one in help mine. i didn't notice much difference but I did think there was less hissing and swiping when it was working, I could also seem to tell when it had run out.

[Joaobeneditosimoes]

I think in a few days everything is going to be ok. It's normal for that to happen. It did happen with both our cats. 3 days later the hissing kind of stopped. The resident cat hissed a lot to newcomer but never attacked. I believe that is what to look for. If he hissed but ran away, just didn't want go get closer to the other cat.
Give it time... try to feed them as closer you can get... at least some treats.
A week or 2 later my cats were playing...

Recently, one of them broke both back legs. When came home after surgery, he didn't recognize him becauae of smell. Starting all overr again...

Be patient!!

[Cruller]

Ruth, Lilith and Joa thank you so much for your replies

I think my biggest worry was by not taking it slow I had pretty much ruined the chance of them ever getting along so I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who thought the slow introduction was a bit to much to handle.

We will keep at hopefully we'll have the family photo ready for Christmas

I wish a speedy recovery for your cat as well Joa

[MarySkater]

I'm in a similar position, although in my case the resident cat is adult (Rocky, 6 years old). He used to have a close friend, but she died. I waited a couple of months, then brought in a 3-month-old kitten (Ria) to keep him company. The interaction was just like you had with your two; the younger one wanting to play and following the older one, who would hiss and run away. (Although he didn't stop eating. I feed them at opposite ends of a long room, and that seems to help.)

After they'd been together two months, I made this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxbQDhW ... e=youtu.be
and posted it here. This is the thread with discussion:
http://www.catchat.org/felineforum/view ... =19&t=5404
In general, people seemed to think that they would settle down together.

Another month on from then, and Rocky is getting better with Ria. I have sometimes seen him chase Ria, or knock her over and pin her down, without hurting her. I like this interaction better than when he just ran away from her. Ria will sometimes lick Rocky's head, and he tolerates this. So it is taking time, but things are definitely getting better.

A quiet moment:

Good luck with your two.

Mary

[Joaobeneditosimoes]

Thanx...
You'll see, in no time they will become best friends... they all do, more or less. Keep in mind that cats have different personalities, just like people, and it will take time for them to know each other.
Best luck to you and your cats, hope they get along as soon as possible.

[Cruller]

So quick update the hissing has stopped and Cooper seems a bit more accepting of Mimi, he will sometimes sleep next to her and on the odd occasion will attempt to groom her as well however he still has the odd occasion where he will bop her on the head and has also gotten into the habit of pouncing on her and biting her which we have to break up.

I can't tell if this is Cooper still attacking her because he doesn't like her or is trying to play a bit to rough with her

[Ruth B]

When two young cats play fight it can seem very violent and include an awful lot of noise , but is often just play. My advise would be to carefully monitor these 'attacks' but try not to get involved if possible as long as no one is getting injured.

Also be careful when intervening, even if it is only play, they could redirect the aggression to you and you don't want to end up in A&E due to cat scratches, try and use a towel, or cushion to separate them not just your bare hands.