My cat is following my kitten everywhere and meowing a lot

Xlove96

23/08/2019, 00:36

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Hi everyone,

Yesterday I went to pick up a new kitten. My resident cat was a bit timid at first, while the kitten was quite curious. Now my cat is following the kitten everywhere, almost as if he is monitoring its every move and meowing constantly. I am not really sure what it means. I have caught them chasing each other and batting at one another without their claws out a few times, so it looks like they are playing. At the moment, my cat is still following the kitten and meowing all the time. Have any of you ever dealt with this sort of thing before?

I am at a bit of a loss. Please help!

Translated from French

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Blue_cat

31/08/2019, 16:05

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Picking the little one up by the scruff, as long as it’s done gently, is just a sign of dominance. If she doesn’t start ‘screaming’, just leave them to it.

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Fratoche

31/08/2019, 11:03

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Hi,

I’ve got the same setup at home. A 2.5-month-old kitten and a 4-year-old. Male and female. But on top of that, the older one tries to grab the little one by the scruff of the neck when they're playing. My older boy is neutered. Any reason for this?

And how are things going with you after a week?

Thanks in advance.

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Blue_cat

23/08/2019, 17:28

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Hi there, The situation you're describing sounds positive to me. The older one is super curious about the little guy, even completely obsessed, which is actually a really good sign and a far cry from a violent rejection. As long as the big one isn't literally pulling judo moves on the kitten, just let them get on with it. Always make sure the older cat is the priority; he's the one most put out by the new situation. Cats are territorial, so it's the older one who has to do the psychological heavy lifting to accept the newcomer into 'his' home. It's all looking good so far—let nature take its course (unless there's a proper scrap).

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Xlove96

23/08/2019, 09:40

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Yeah, I’m just letting them get on with it as long as things don’t escalate. But the fact he’s meowing all the time makes me think he’s a bit anxious. He doesn’t want the little one touching him at all; every time the kitten gets close, he leaps away to keep a comfortable distance. I reckon it’ll just take a few days for him to settle in... my cat isn’t the most affectionate type. I’m still trying to give him a bit of extra attention though, without smothering him too much. He hasn't changed his behaviour towards me, but the kitten is a proper little shadow! I find it hard to push him away when he’s so desperate for attention. I’m giving them both some treats every day too, so they both associate the change with something positive.

Thanks for your reply, anyway!

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Kirikiri

23/08/2019, 07:04

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Hi there, You're already very lucky that your older cat is reacting this way: many cats really struggle to tolerate a newcomer, at least at first. The resident cat sometimes tends to hide away in a corner of the house because they feel like their territory has been taken over. In your case, I think the older one is just being very curious. When it comes to playing, just let them get on with it. You only need to step in if it turns into a proper scrap! Make sure to prioritise the older cat though: give them more fuss than the kitten so they don't feel left out.

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