New kitten, unhappy cat...

[Siberian_Lizard]

My family just got a new kitten. She is very good and adjusting to life at our house very well. Our old cat, Pepper, however, is [i]very[/i] unhappy with the situation. I don't blame her being a little upset, since she has been our only cat since our other cat died a few years ago. However, the new kitten is here to stay until I move out on my own and take her with me. At the moment, Pepper hisses and growls at the kitten every chance she gets. The kitten isn't even bothering Pepper when this happens. I know that it is going to take awhile for Pepper to get used to a new kitty living here, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for how to improve her outlook on everything. I'm not looking for the cats to be best friends, I just want them to tolerate each other. More so, I want Pepper to stop being mad at me. She has gone from a cat who was very affectionate and would curl up in our laps all the time to a cat who will barely let us touch her for more than half a minute before she gets upset and hisses. I like my new kitten, but I don't want to lose all my other cat's love. We've tried very hard to make her feel like she is not forgotten. I pet her first when I come into the room, and I made sure to feed her this morning the very first time she came up to me. She hasn't been forgotten, but she is acting like we have ruined her life. Perhaps I'm reading far too much into my cat's emotions, considering she is not a human... I know that getting two cats to live together is hard, but I thought there might be some ways to make this easier on Pepper... and on the rest of us!

[Mary_NH]

how did you handle the integration? Did you isolate the kitten for awhile or just put them together?
If you keep the kitten separate from the older cat (like in a bedroom) alone for a few days then swap bedding back and forth that might help. Let them meet for a few days with a baby gate, or such, separating them.
A slow integration is best. Your older cat can get used to the smell/noise of a newcomer in her house before actually meeting.
Also this gives you a chance to get the kitten all required vaccines, fecal exam, etc. without running the risk of your older cat catching anything if the kitten has anything.
Check out tally's basic cat care site...tons of info there regarding helping an existing cat adjust to a newcomer.

[wildflower_131]

When I first got Tiger I kept him separate from Kitty but that didn't stop her from going to the door and hissing and spitting at Tiger even with the door separating the two of them. Kitty would even his at me after I had been cuddling Tiger and she could smell his scent.

Kitty was 1 year old at the time and Tiger was 8 weeks.

After a week of keeping them isolated, I supervised them together during the day, and there were times when Kitty would swipe at Tiger. It just takes time. Kitty also used to be affectionate, and when I got Tiger she didn't purr as much or as loud as she used to, but now she is used to Tiger (6 months later) and they get a long fine. Tiger licks Kitty at times and the same for Kitty. She can be all motherly when she wants to be!

They still play fight, and Kitty hisses at Tiger when she is not in the mood for playing and wants to be alone, but I was worried like you when I first got Tiger. I was thinking to myself "what have I done!?!?" But it does take time... It won't happen over night...

I did try and swap blankets too... not really successful for me though...

Hope that helps and relieves some anxiety.. they will eventually tolerate each other...TIME is the big factor!

[sunset05]

I agree with what the others said above. It will just take a little time and patience. Sounds like Pepper is a little jealous.

It is good that you are introducing a kitten to an adult and not another adult cat. I hear that older kitties tolorate kittens better.

Just keep trying and I'm sure things will turn out fine.

Best of luck. Keep us posted. Welcome to the Board.

[ChloesMom]

I just went through that about 5 weeks ago. The new kitten was 7 months old, although BIG for his age. His foster mom delivered him and the minute she walked in with the cat box, Miss Chloe started hissing and pitching a fit. She ran for cover and didn't come out until foster mom left. Alex came out of the box ready to play. He immediately found the toy boxes and started going to town. Chloe came out, went up and hissed and spit. He totally ignored her. He came from a foster home with 3 cats and 4 dogs where he had been since he was 3 weeks old. He wasn't about to let some bossy meezer intimidate him. She was not a happy camper and could not totally relax for a few days. She wanted to know where he was at all times but the constant hissing stopped the next day. Feeding was another issue. I got him his own bowl but he was used to free feeding. He would go up and eat with her and she would go out off and pout like fine, I just won't eat then. I finally trained him to go to his own bowl but now they each eat out of both bowls. She was always very needy and needed her humans. That has changed some because she does enjoy having a playmate now. She still likes her lap time for sleeping but isn't constantly underfoot as before.

Like everyone else said, it just takes time. Mine went from hissing 24/7 to this.

[vene]

How's the integration going Siberian_Lizard? ChloesMom, what a beautiful pic of your babies!

[Chessmind]

So how are things going? ChoesMom that is a really great picture.

[Siberian_Lizard]

They seem to be getting along quite a bit better now! Pepper has at least stopped being mad at us, and she doesn't hiss constantly... only occasionally ;-)

[EternalFlame]

Thats really good to hear!

and i love that picture.