Many cat owners don't realize that their friendly, solitary adult cats may have problems with a new kitten.
A new kitten will usually be eager to make friends, but older cats in the house may not want anything to do with the baby. Often older cats seem sad, withdrawn, hiss a lot, and sometimes even stop eating if they are not adapting well to the new family member.
This behavior is explained by the fact that cats do not like change, especially when it concerns their territory. Introducing a kitten to an adult cat can be very stressful, but there are some things you can do to help make the introduction smoother.
Preparation is the key to successfully introducing your new kitten to your cat. If you prepare your cat for her new pet and make the changes less drastic, she will be more likely to adjust to the kitten.
Give yourself (and your cat) plenty of time to prepare for this adaptation with the following steps.
This is the cat of the author of the article Fuhrer with a new cat Bullet, lying on his favorite tattered chair
Calm your cat
Pheromones are useful in creating a calm environment for any cat. The weeks leading up to the arrival of a new kitten in the house are a great time to take advantage of them.
Diffusers, sprays and wipes are all available and can help your cat feel relaxed without the use of medication. Try using pheromones for at least a few weeks before bringing your kitten home.
If you suspect your adult cat will be stressed and anxious with a new kitten, consider supplements designed to calm her down.
They will help your pet stay calm and relaxed.
Supplements usually work best if given several weeks before the expected stressful event and can be continued after the new kitten arrives.
These ingredients typically include L-theanine, phellodendron, magnolia, whey or milk protein, and other natural ingredients proven to be safe and effective for pets.
Common causes of conflict between pets
It is possible to accustom fluffies to life within the same apartment or house. However, this will require patience and effort on the part of the owner, especially if the cats have character. It is quite difficult to predict how pets will behave during acquaintance and further communication.
The reasons that usually provoke conflict are:
- refusal to live in one territory;
- reluctance to share the attention of a loved one;
- different gender and age;
- fear of a new neighbor;
- aggressive behavior of one of the cats;
- psycho-emotional characteristics of animals;
- physiological characteristics (sterilized, pregnant, lactating).
All this must be understood before taking a new pet into the family. Many mustachioed friends feel good alone. It’s not always worth getting another furry just so that the first one doesn’t get bored. In order for two cats to live in the house and not cause problems with their behavior, you will have to make a lot of effort and develop cunning tactics.
Prepare the house
New items for your kitten, such as food bowls, beds, another litter box, toys, should be placed in the house before the kitten arrives home.
Start placing items in new locations about a week before arrival so your adult cat can smell them and get used to them. If you can, try bringing items that already have kitty scent on them.
Make sure you are ready to adopt a kitten yourself.
If you are stressed and unprepared, your adult cat will be able to tell and be negatively influenced.
Designate a small room, such as a bathroom, for your new kitten to have privacy in for the first week or so. Your older cat should be able to reach the door of this room to hear and smell the kitten, but not have any interaction with it.
Place the kitten's belongings (such as a litter box and food bowls) in this room along with a toy that belongs to the older cat.
How to train a wild kitten to the litter box without much effort
Almost all cat owners are afraid that their pet will start going to the toilet past the litter box. Or even worse - into shoes or things. Due to the peculiarities of feline physiology, all that remains after “use” is to throw it away, since the clothes are saturated with a specific smell that cannot be destroyed in any way. Choosing a tray for a cat is not so easy, since pet stores offer a wide range of products. To begin with, it is better to choose a regular rectangular tray with a lattice insert.
This is especially important for a wild kitten: closed trays or containers with a high side can scare him away
Are you solving the problem of how to toilet train a feral kitten? Patience and more patience will help with this. At first, your pet may leave puddles and piles everywhere. Under no circumstances should you poke him with your face or hit him for this. Severely reprimand the baby and take him to the tray. Having planted it in the right place, explain what needs to be done in it. A little trick: blot the urine on the floor with a newspaper and put it in the tray. The kitten will come to the smell of its discharge and do its business where necessary.
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Why shouldn't you use physical punishment? This will only cause fear in the kitten; he will become aggressive towards the owner and begin to mark shoes and things out of revenge. Therefore, before taming a wild kitten to go to the litter box, learn the carrot and stick method. As soon as your pet makes a puddle, sternly reprimand him and take him to the litter box. It has been scientifically proven that animals clearly distinguish between intonations. Therefore, a dissatisfied voice will affect them, and they will understand it as “you can’t do that.” When the kitten goes into the tray, pet it and gently praise it, treat it with meat or a piece of tasty food.
Prepare the cat
Make sure your cat is healthy. Adding additional stress to an unhealthy cat will only make the situation worse. Take your cat to the vet to make sure she is healthy and her vaccinations are up to date.
Respiratory illnesses are common in kittens, so you want your adult cat's immune system to be ready to handle whatever comes along.
While some cats accept a kitten right away, others usually need a little time to adjust to the changes. Sometimes cats never fully accept a new kitten, but simply coexist while staying away from it.
Introduce your cat to a new kitten
When you bring your kitten home, let your cat sniff while the kitten is in the carrier or in your arms. Go straight to the room pre-designated for your new kitten and let him explore it.
The litter tray, food bowls, bed and some toys should be easily accessible. Don't allow your older cat to have unsupervised access to the kitten.
At night, when you are not home and you cannot supervise the kitten and your older cat, keep the kitten in its designated room with the door closed.
When your cat becomes curious, she may stick her paw under the door, sniff under the door, and listen to the kitten. Do this for about a week, depending on how your cat reacts to the changes.
Remember to give your older cat plenty of attention after playing with the kitten. He will need your attention and support, and the smell of the kitten on your clothes will help him get used to the newcomer.
How to break up a fight
Conflict between cats can manifest itself in different ways and does not always require the intervention of the owner. When cats run after each other, hiss, and sometimes give a short blow with their paw, there is no reason to intervene. Just watching your pets is enough. The grinding process is inevitable - and the sooner it begins, the sooner it will come to an end. It makes sense to intervene when there is a real fight involved.
Never try to separate fighting cats with your bare hands. These are predators with sharp claws and teeth. Even despite their small size, they can seriously injure a person.
The easiest option is to throw a blanket or large towel over the cats. Other options are to splash water on them or try to separate them with a mop/any long stick. When you stop the fight, take the new cat into another room. Leave them in isolation for 1-2 days, then try again to introduce the animals.
Encourage spending time together
After about a week, the kitten can be allowed to explore the house under your watchful eye. Let your cat watch this exploration and leave if she wants.
Don't force interactions between your cat and kitten. If your cat has a favorite interactive toy, such as a pen wand or laser pointer, try playing with both cats at the same time.
This will stimulate mutual activity.
You can also give them both treats at the same time and feed them from different bowls at the same time. Be sure to leave enough space between food bowls so your cat doesn't feel threatened.
Encourage any positive interactions your older cat has with your kitten using praise, treats, and physical affection. Make sure your cat associates the kitten with happy, positive things.
Possible reactions
Favorable option:
- animals approach slowly and express interest;
- go about their business ignoring their opponent;
- purring, sniffing each other.
A chance to quickly make friends; living together will not cause any trouble.
Unfavorable option:
- the fur is on end, the tail is fluffed;
- they hiss and hit each other with their paws;
- one cat is trying to take a dominant position - to occupy someone else's tray, eat from a bowl, take over a bed.
Reasons for the confrontation:
- Both opponents feel fear. An old-timer is afraid of infringement of his rights, a newcomer feels insecure in a new environment.
- Animals strive to protect the territory that they consider their property. A competitor is encroaching on part of the space.
- The struggle for food and household items. Cats are jealous of their bowls, trays, and resting places.
- Incompatibility of the sexes - living with two cats, a neutered cat with a cat.
The newbie is examined by a veterinarian, they check whether they have received vaccinations and are treated for skin parasites and worms.
Let the cat establish a hierarchy
Cats need to have order, and the new family member needs to know where he is. Your cat may go through a period of time where she tries to establish a hierarchy with the new kitten.
Your older cat may hiss and spank the kitten when the newbie does something unfavorable. This is completely normal, and while he's just hissing and slapping, do your best not to interfere.
Your cat thus establishes her role as the dominant cat in the household, and the kitten is taught where her boundaries are as a new cat.
What should you not do when trying to domesticate a street animal?
In order for the process of cat socialization to go as quickly and successfully as possible, you cannot:
- look your pet in the eye, because direct gaze is perceived by him as a threat;
- touching him and picking him up against his will - you need to wait until the moment when he completely trusts the owner and jumps onto his lap;
- hold the animal in your arms if it begins to get nervous and struggle;
- placate your pet with food - overfeeding will not endear him to the person, but will only provoke obesity;
- scream at the cat and even more so beat him.
It is necessary to praise and gently stroke if the kitten shows affection towards the person - plays with him, caresses him, tries to sit more comfortably at his feet and purrs, etc.
You should be patient and cultivate your pet's trust in family members day after day.
Problems and correct behavior
Don't give up if the first meetings are not positive. It may take time for older cats to get used to a younger cat.
A common mistake is to rush socialization between cats and then get angry or upset when it doesn't work out.
Stay calm and work gradually to bring the cats together. Try to time your interactions and gradually increase the amount of time you spend together.
If your older cat is particularly aggressive towards the new kitten, talk to your veterinarian or behaviorist for advice.
Watch a funny video about how the small cat Bullet tries to drive the adult cat Fuhrer away from his bowl, although her bowl is full. And how carefully and gently an adult cat “educates” an unreasonable, cocky little feline creature.
