Anyone ever introduce a kitten to an existing cat?

Girl From Mars · by **Girl From Mars** » Wed May 09, 2022 1:50 pm

I'm thinking about getting a young companion for our cat. We've only had her for about 8 months, she's about 18 months old herself we think. The one we would be getting is only a kitten. Our girl can be a bit aggressive but she's calmed down a lot in recent months. I've seen information online about it taking a week or two to introduce cats to each other. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this and if you have any advice for me? Thanks

trance · by **trance** » Wed May 09, 2022 3:59 pm

I have a (spayed female) cat, about 6 years old, she's very contrary, hates people and isn't in the least bit affectionate!! About a year ago I found a stray kitten whilst out walking the dogs and had no choice but to bring him home! He was an absolute sweetheart, the total opposite of our cat, so affectionate and loving, he had no fear of the two dogs and constantly tried to be friends with our cat, at first she hated him and growled at him but after about a week she started to come round and tolerated him and stopped growling at him and she would just watch him tearing around the floor as if she wanted to join in but wasn't quite sure!!

We only had him for a further week and then found him a new home but I've no doubt if we'd kept him they would have gotten along just fine after a while, maybe not best friends but living in harmony at least!!

I'm not sure about the best way to introduce the two to be honest, in my case I just brought him into the house and into the kitchen because I was so concerned about him and stressed out (getting him home was a bit of a drama) that I didn't even think about how our cat would be, I'm sure someone else can give you better advice on the introductions but I would say go for it, maybe you could try fostering a young cat/kitten from a rescue to see how it goes? Is your cat spayed? Would you be getting another female or a male?

Girl From Mars · by **Girl From Mars** » Wed May 09, 2022 4:28 pm

Well we got a call from a pet shop and they'll have a batch of kittens in the next 4 weeks ready to go. Our own cat is a female and spayed and from what I've read two females make the best company. I wonder if our girl has any mothering instinct despite the fact she's never had a litter?

The stuff online advises that the two shouldnt even see each other for the first few days, that the new one should be isolated and the existing one only be allowed to smell around where the new one is. yet at the same time I was thinking if they react to one another straight away on sight and it's positive we'd be okay to go from there. Just thinking it'd be awful to keep the new one for a week or so and go through the staged introduction only to find out that they can't stand each other and have to give the new one back!

BusyDee · by **BusyDee** » Wed May 09, 2022 9:32 pm

Hiya, yeah Ive introduced a kitten to our 2 resident cats nearly 3 years ago now. We had a male and a female and this kitten was another little male - I was sure that the female cat would come over all motherly and was a bit afraid the tom might be a bit aggressive with him but it was the complete opposite!! Female cat ran outside and down the garden and wouldn't come near the back door for a few days! Male cat totally took the kitten under his wing and taught him how to wash and hunt etc and used to curl up asleep with him :lvs

They are the best of friends now.

Anyway long story short the female eventually got used to him but Id say it was a good 3/4 months before she would even be in the same room as him!

To be honest I just brought the kitten home and pretended like nothing was wrong, that he was there the whole time :o0

I've since fostered 2 separate litters of kittens and have had no problems even the female didnt react as bad she would just sit up on the back of the couch where she knew they couldnt get to her. Our "kitten" (who is now a huge tom!) took the little kittens under his wing too and would sleep with them and play with them and wash them (and rob their food!) isn't it amazing?? And he always missed them terribly when they went - I used to keep them in the utility and at night I would shut the door as I was afraid he might get a bit too boisterus and hurt them and he would sit all night peeking under the door at them! And he would try and put his paw under the door like he wanted to hold hands with them :o0

I would higly recommend fostering a kitten to just make sure they get on. Btw where is the pet shop getting the kittens? I hope someone is not breeding them to sell to the shop? - there's enough in shelters etc!

by **kitty092011** » Thu May 10, 2022 8:31 am

Our female was 4 yrsd old when a little 6 month old female strayed into our back garden. Our older cat is spoilt rotten and so was not a happy camper when we brought in the little one. However we kept them apart for the first two weeks, little one in our sitting room and the older in our bedroom. Of course we let them both out separatly to investigate the new scent. There was alot of growling from our older cat and she really didn't like the idea of the little one but we came up with a plan. The older is very food motivated so when we brought out the little one we would give her a treat so she knew that she wasn't going to go without now that there was another cat around. She also knew that the new kitty meant nice treats.
When the kitty got spayed she was not well at all and our older cat was so kind to her, which was so unexpected. We have her well over a year now and while they are very separate and independant cats when they go on adventures they go together and one will run in to let us know if the other is in trouble. Only lately they have started sleeping in front of the fire together which made us jump for joy. I would imagine that introducing a kitten might be easier but I could be wrong. One tip rub a blanket or if your existing cat has their own blanket rub it over the kitten so that when your cat smells the kitten it smells like them.
Best of luck and enjoy.

Girl From Mars · by **Girl From Mars** » Thu May 10, 2022 3:52 pm

Busy Dee - thanks for the response. The kittens definitely aren't being bred. A guy who the pet shop know well is rehoming them for free, a cat had them under a shed in his garden so it's all above board! I've been considering fostering for the DSPCA for a while. I'll see what way this works out. It might be possible for me to foster if this works well enough

Kitty092011 - thanks for sharing the story. I reckon this is the approach we'll have to take with our girl- slow and steady. The food motivation is a good idea - everything stops for food, even the most violent attacks can be assuaged with a few whiskas treats so hopefully we can build the association that new kitty means treats for her! I'll definitely try the blanket trick, that's great advice, thank you!

Sodapop · by **Sodapop** » Thu May 10, 2022 4:15 pm

Hi there, just adding that I have experience on this - depends on your cat's personality - we had an old cat who didn't take kindly to a new kitten being introduced - now when I say old she was 12yrs and we found a stray and brought her in (so two females) we thought the older one would go all maternal (after having shared her home with 2 other cats previously- who passed away) - she hated the little kitten - would hiss at the little thing - we had to feed them separately - this went on for a few months until the young kitten got into accident and passed away. Dont think our original cat gave the kitten a seconds' thought...

but my cousin had a female cat of 3/4 years and they got a male kitten in - well the female took to the kitten like a mother! so that worked out very well!!

If your cat has an agressive streak just be mindful and maybe keep them separated when you are not around and def feed them separately - they will get on eventually (or just about tolerate each other!!)

Girl From Mars · by **Girl From Mars** » Fri May 11, 2022 3:54 pm

Thanks sodapop, yeah I reckon if there's a male in the litter we'll try that. We'll look for the one with the most fight in it anyway! But I reckon it'll be a long enough introduction anyway!

Anyone ever introduce a kitten to an existing cat?

Anyone ever introduce a kitten to an existing cat?

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Re: Anyone ever introduce a kitten to an existing cat?

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