My cat won't accept my new kitten!

Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

11/06/2018, 11:27

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Hello,

I've just adopted a 2-month-old kitten from a local rescue centre. She's a lovely tortoiseshell and white named Olympe, and I honestly think she’s the most affectionate cat that’s ever lived 😌.

She’s only been home since yesterday, so I’m probably panicking a bit too soon, but let me explain: I have another cat, Nyla, a tabby female who is also very sociable and cuddly. She's still a baby herself, less than a year old, and we got her when she was quite young (around 3 months). Now that we live in a house and she’s been spayed, she roams outside as she pleases (when I’m at home).

I thought Olympe’s arrival wouldn’t bother her given how sociable she is (she’s mates with the neighbours' cats and often goes off on night-time adventures with them), but since yesterday she’s done nothing but hiss at her.

Olympe doesn’t understand because she was used to being around cats and dogs in her foster home, so she runs up to Nyla to play, but Nyla just runs away and growls at her...

How can I get Nyla to accept Olympe? And more importantly, to actually like her?

I think Olympe needs a bit of "mothering" and Nyla would be perfect for that role of protection and guidance...

ps: I’ve plugged in some Feliway around the house but it hasn’t made a difference yet.

Thanks in advance for your replies and for sharing your stories!

My cat won't accept my new kitten!

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Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French

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11/06/2018, 12:40

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Hi there,

There’s no magic solution for getting a cat to accept another feline in their home, let alone making them actually like the newcomer. All you can really do is ensure that each cat has plenty of places to hide and get some peace and quiet, and that there are enough litter trays and food and water bowls to go around (in your case, that’s 3 trays, 2 bowls of dry food and 2 water bowls). After that, it’s just a case of being patient and letting them get used to one another. Nyla should eventually come to tolerate the new arrival, and she might even end up liking her, but there’s no way to tell for sure in advance.

However, if you notice Nyla showing signs of stress (such as going outside her litter tray or over-grooming), it could be a sign that she isn’t coping well with living with another cat. In that case, the living situation might prove to be more of a challenge.

Best regards,

Marine

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Mamiecat

11/06/2018, 12:34

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Hi there, In principle, when you bring a new cat home, you need to organise the introduction after a quarantine period for the newcomer (this is to prevent any potential illness from spreading to your resident cat). Keep the kitten in a small room with everything they need... Then, when the time is right, swap the cats' rooms so they can gently get used to each other's scents! You can also swap scents by using their blankets, cushions, or cat tree... You could also use a baby gate to separate the two rooms... then eventually leave the doors open... Try using Feliway Friends rather than standard Feliway... as Feliway Friends is specifically designed for cat-to-cat and cat-to-human contact. Hang in there, it’ll all work out! Keep us posted, thanks!

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