Expect to hear some hissing and your adult cat will probably run and hide. As we all know, cats are intensely territorial beings. Not with you personally, but you’re going to be in the firing line.
In many cases, you won’t see signs of aggression. If all seems to be going well and your cats aren’t hissing or growling under the door at each other, after a week, you can try visually introducing the cats. This behavior shouldn’t be punished or discouraged. Calm Your Older Cat. In many cases, you won’t see signs of aggression.
Actually, it’s to be expected. How to Train Your Older Cat to Accept a Kitten. When introducing cats, never punish one for hissing. Jackie Roberts is a writer for 1-800-PetMeds, and loves to help and support the pet community. Keep the two cats separate and allow them to learn each other’s scent through objects. On the other hand, a kitten just separated from his littermates may be grateful for companionship. Hissing and growling at the new kitten is your cat’s way of establishing his dominance and letting the kitten know who’s the boss around your house. Introducing a kitten to an older cat is not always easy, but it can be rewarding if you go slow, and allow the two cats to get used to each other. My Cat Is Hissing at Me Because of New Kitten. First, it’s important to understand why your cat is hissing and growling. It’s not uncommon at all. When the big day comes and you bring your kitten home, it may be tempting to introduce both kitties straightaway, but hold off! The Do’s and Don’ts of Introducing Cats. You can find Pet Meds … Kittens can be a little too noisy and boisterous for an older cat’s tastes. It’s more likely that your cat is upset because of the new cat entering the home and they are in a mood. The weeks before the arrival of a new kitten is a great ... Get Your Home Ready. This is a natural behavior -- both cats will associate the punishment with the presence of the other cat, …
It’s important to keep both pussycats separate for a while so they can adjust to the scent of a new cat. “Cats are naturally solitary animals — free-ranging cats are territorial, and hunt and scavenge for food alone,” Lee tells The Dodo. Encourage Time Together. Why your cat is hissing at the kitten. Installing a screen door or even a high baby gate (that neither cat can jump over) can work. The introduction of a senior cat to a kitten must be done gradually. It’s helpful to have another human with you so there is one person and one cat on each side of the barrier. That’s why it’s important to introduce the two in a controlled, supervised manner over the … 7 Tips to Introduce a Kitten to an Older Cat 1. Your kitten is going to be curious and will head right for older cats. Don’t take this personally, in my experience it’s really not the case. Pheromones are useful for creating a calm environment for any cat. An older cat that's been the only pet for his entire life will adapt more slowly to another cat's presence, and may especially resent a bouncy kitten. Next, feed the cats simultaneously while separated by a barrier. Cats are very territorial creatures, so it’s very unlikely that your resident cat will appreciate any addition to your house at first. Your cat will often act like they are upset at you too when you bring a new cat into the home. Many cat owners get away with simply placing the new kitten in the older cat’s territory. Many cat owners get away with simply placing the new kitten in the older cat’s territory. It's helpful to keep the kitten in a cat carrier for half an hour to allow your cat time to get used to the kitten's scent. Start to prepare before the kitten arrives. Prepare Your Cat. Fear and hesitation would be natural reactions on the part of the adult cat but with such a small kitten, the older cat is far less likely to go into full attack mode. If one cat is or was a rescued kitten, his life has already been filled with stress, and he may be fearful about living with another cat. Introducing a new kitten to an older cat should be done slowly and with care, explains Christina Lee, animal behavior counselor for the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team. If the older cat is showing signs of aggression, you may need to slow down the introduction process, simply to keep the kitten safe.