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Advice wanted for handling new kitten
Hi,
I got a kitten about 3 months ago. She is now 6 months old. I got another 8 week old kitten last weekend. They have very different personalities. The new kitten is extremely friendly - lets you pet her, she is generally pretty calm, and she will just sit on your lap and go to sleep. And and night, she slept right beside my head the first few days - very cute. I separated them for the first night from all the growling and hissing I saw from my older kitten - who is also much bigger. But the second night, I introduced them to each other. They have been fighting and the older kitten is asserting dominance, but they also seem to have peace at times too, and can be quite friendly toward each other. What I'm trying to figure out is how do I form a bond with the younger kitten without making the older kitten jealous. Also, will the older kitten declare me as "hers", and essentially mark me off limits to the younger kitten. I'm asking this because I believe that the younger kitten is starting to sleep by herself rather than on my bed. The older kitten always sleeps on the bed with me. Steve |
The best thing would have been to separate them for a longer period of time
and gradually let them get to know each other. Now, though, as long as they are not hurting each other (the older one hurting the little one), they can be together. You may want to put the older one in a room for awhile and let the younger kitten snoop around my herself and play with her by herself. She will need more attention since she is new and younger. In time, they will work out the pecking order and be friends. Both are young enough to integrate. Make sure both are spayed ASAP. Gail wrote in message oups.com... Hi, I got a kitten about 3 months ago. She is now 6 months old. I got another 8 week old kitten last weekend. They have very different personalities. The new kitten is extremely friendly - lets you pet her, she is generally pretty calm, and she will just sit on your lap and go to sleep. And and night, she slept right beside my head the first few days - very cute. I separated them for the first night from all the growling and hissing I saw from my older kitten - who is also much bigger. But the second night, I introduced them to each other. They have been fighting and the older kitten is asserting dominance, but they also seem to have peace at times too, and can be quite friendly toward each other. What I'm trying to figure out is how do I form a bond with the younger kitten without making the older kitten jealous. Also, will the older kitten declare me as "hers", and essentially mark me off limits to the younger kitten. I'm asking this because I believe that the younger kitten is starting to sleep by herself rather than on my bed. The older kitten always sleeps on the bed with me. Steve |
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Hi Steve,
It's probably going to take some time yet until they come to an understanding with each other. Do they ever play together? Maybe you can get a toy (like the feather on the fishing-pole variety) and play with them together. We've found here that when we bring home a new cat, we have to give tons of attention to the old cats. They really need to be reassured. If you give extra attention and preference to the new one, it can cause problems with the old ones. Try getting them closer together and petting both at the same time, too. Hopefully they'll be one cat lump, soon. Is the older one fixed yet? Hormones can do some strange things. Good luck! Rhonda wrote: What I'm trying to figure out is how do I form a bond with the younger kitten without making the older kitten jealous. Also, will the older kitten declare me as "hers", and essentially mark me off limits to the younger kitten. I'm asking this because I believe that the younger kitten is starting to sleep by herself rather than on my bed. The older kitten always sleeps on the bed with me. Steve |
wrote in message oups.com... Hi, I got a kitten about 3 months ago. She is now 6 months old. I got another 8 week old kitten last weekend. They have very different personalities. The new kitten is extremely friendly - lets you pet her, she is generally pretty calm, and she will just sit on your lap and go to sleep. And and night, she slept right beside my head the first few days - very cute. I separated them for the first night from all the growling and hissing I saw from my older kitten - who is also much bigger. But the second night, I introduced them to each other. They have been fighting and the older kitten is asserting dominance, but they also seem to have peace at times too, and can be quite friendly toward each other. What I'm trying to figure out is how do I form a bond with the younger kitten without making the older kitten jealous. Also, will the older kitten declare me as "hers", and essentially mark me off limits to the younger kitten. I'm asking this because I believe that the younger kitten is starting to sleep by herself rather than on my bed. The older kitten always sleeps on the bed with me. Steve Hi Steve, I think you older cat is being territorial and protecting her assets rather than being dominant just for the sake of it . Think how you would feel if a stranger started living in your house and sleeping in your bed and drinking the your beer in your fridge! I think they will get a long better given time and the older cat will share you but I wouldn't leave them along for long periods in case they fight and it gets out of hand.. You could encourage them to play with you at the same time with a fishing rod type toy in each hand and bond that way , or you could spend a few minutes playing with the kitty when your older cat is occupied else where say when she is eating . I wouldn't shut the older cat away while you played and petted the new kitten. Where does the older cat sleep on your bed, does she try to drive the kitten off it ? Alison |
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