new addition...need help with older cat...

**rachelMcK** · 12-12-2007, 10:06 AM

I have a cat that is 2 1/2yo. DH just got us another kitten for christmas. Of course its a kitten so I won't even mention how hard it is to get it out of the tree. What I do want to know, my older cat, Bella, is very territorial. She is hissing and growling at him, which we completely expected, but how long does it take? We've been keeping them seperated and she is gradually getting better. She at first was growling at me and DH as well as the kitten, now its just the kitten when he gets close. I know they may never like each other but when will they be able to sit in the same room? I'm not rushing it, because I want Bellas to be comfortable, just curious...

Thanks

**DAAC3DEC** · 12-12-2007, 10:10 AM

Our older cat was like that too.....not very happy we brought another one into the mix.......just do it gradually and keep them seperate when you are out...she will come around.

**Nantahala** · 12-12-2007, 10:15 AM

I have two older cats, seven year old litter mates, and we brought a kitten home about 2 months ago and my female cat still growls at him when he tries to play with her but she's stopped the hissing and swatting. I've been told it can take up to 12 weeks or so for all of the cats to become okay with one another.

**rachelMcK** · 12-12-2007, 10:30 AM

OK, I can handle even 12 weeks. She doesn't swat at him, and last night when we went to bed, he slept against my left side and she slept against my right. She knew he was there, she just turned her back to him so I think she is coming around, but when he's awake thats when she gets hissy.

**Ceashels** · 12-12-2007, 11:13 AM

It seemed to take forever for my cats to figure it out, but in reality it was only 3 months. When I first brought the long hair kitten home, it had fleas so I had to keep it in a separate room till it was old enough to treat. My older cat was so curious to find out what was behind the door. He would sniff, and meow, and they eventually played tug with a strip of ribbon I put over the threshold. By the time I could let the kitten out, the older cat saw him more of a play mate than a threat.

**FrugalMomof3** · 12-12-2007, 02:07 PM

I can't tell you how long it will take BUT it will get better, it will take time so remember to keep them separate should you go out. My mom's cats were/are like that but they CAN be in the same room together but they have adapted and realize no cat is leaving

**Sari** · 12-12-2007, 04:06 PM

Good luck, and I'm sure they'll get used to each other!

BTW, because you mentioned the kitten getting in the Christmas tree, here's the yearly reminder for cat owners -

CATS + TINSEL = BIG VET BILL

Tinsel, garland, ornament hooks, fishing line, etc. all that can and will be eaten by kittens or adult cats resulting in dead kitties or a VERY expensive vet bill to fix it. So everyone be aware and take precautions.

**Ceashels** · 12-12-2007, 04:22 PM

Yeah, my cats used to eat tinsel and garland too. I had to stop useing anything like that and can't even put the thin curling ribbon anywhere they can get to it.

**mom2bobsarah** · 12-12-2007, 05:14 PM

oH that darn ribbon! Every cat I have ever owned loved that stupid curling ribbon. No matter where I put it they seem to find it. Funny story to lift any worries about your new kitten and his older siblings. I initially adopted 2 males that were tan in color, about a year later I went to take a donation to the animal shelter and the girl there remembered that I LOVE black cats and had a litter of black kittens that she was desperately looking for homes (apparently it is very hard to adopt out black cats) so she gives me the runt of the litter that was not even 8 weeks old yet and weighed about a pound, he was so cute and little and scruffy that I obviously could not resist and he came home with me. Well, my tan Butchie cat (named for his disposition by the shelter mind you) would hiss and swat at this little black cat every chamce he could. And every time he turned to walk away in a huff the little kitten would chase him and pounce on his tail. It was soooo funny to watch. Never once did Butch ever hurt him or even make contact while swatting. They know that the kittens are smaller and little and my experience (I also worked for a vet for awhile) is that they just try to establish their role in the house but usually it is non-violent with a lot of noise. Congrats on your new baby and good luck. Catnip is a nice little treat for your older cat to break the ice. The younger one will not be able to appreciate it until he is about 6 months old or so.

**Marie78** · 12-12-2007, 08:38 PM

We had the same problem at first. It took a few months before the older female cat stopped hissing at the kitten. Now the kitten is 1 1/2 years old and he will still tease the the 5 1/2 year old cat until she hisses and growls. They play together now though and I have caught them sleeping together on the chair or the end of the bed. I am glad that I put up with the tension and growls for a few months.

**bumplett** · 12-12-2007, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by mom2bobsarah

oH that darn ribbon! Every cat I have ever owned loved that stupid curling ribbon. No matter where I put it they seem to find it. Funny story to lift any worries about your new kitten and his older siblings. I initially adopted 2 males that were tan in color, about a year later I went to take a donation to the animal shelter and the girl there remembered that I LOVE black cats and had a litter of black kittens that she was desperately looking for homes (apparently it is very hard to adopt out black cats)

Yep, we suffer from that same 'black cat' affliction -

All four of our kitties are black

And YES, black cats have a much smaller adoption rate in my experience (I thought maybe that was a 'southern' problem, but I guess not)

** Great News - congrats on your new addition

**PrairieRose** · 12-12-2007, 08:59 PM

It's important that you pay more attention to the older cat......(I've bred persians in the past). The kitty will be fine, after a about a week let them be together and just be careful to pay more attention to the older cat, reassuring her. It will work out.

**mom2bobsarah** · 12-13-2007, 09:25 AM

Marie78,

You picture reminds me of my kitties that are no longer with me. (1 died 2 years ago and the other 2 were put down last year, it broke my heart to do so) Your tan/orangish kitty looks like a combination of my 2 oldest and we also had our little "runt" black cat at the same time we had them. Just feeling nostalgic over your picture of your cuties.

**rachelMcK** · 12-13-2007, 09:51 AM

Since we live in an apartment, its almost impossible to keep them seperated. Bella (the older one) took domain over the bedroom and would not move. Now she will come out in the livingroom and watch him play. I think they can get within 2 feet of each other before she starts to hiss but she's doing really well. When she doesn't see him, she's the normal cat she always has been. She plays with me and cuddles and lets me use her as a pillow. The first day, she was so angry, she hissed at me. We used to have two ferrets and it took about two weeks and she was playing with them, so this shouldn't be too bad! Thanks for your advice!

**shoiji** · 12-26-2007, 08:46 PM

I remember one set of cats. The oldest would always hiss and swat at the kittens. Then it became two older cats and one kitten. I always marveled at how during feeding time the older ones would sit and watch the kitten eat before they did.