- Joined
- Feb 1, 2018
- Messages
- 1,022
- Purraise
- 4,341
Hi all, I’m currently introducing my new kitten Clove (3.5mo female) to my resident cat Chilli (4yr female). Things are going okay so far, but as usual, I’m stressing over every detail and trying to make sure I do this the right way. I figured I would make a thread as I would really appreciate the general advice and feedback of the experts here—you were all SO helpful last time I went through the introduction process!
I have introduced adult cats to each other but not a kitten to an adult. Clove was a bit timid and shy at first but has become quite active and sassy. Chilli’s personality is pretty gentle and easygoing but she is shy at first as well.
Clove has only been here a day, but she is already trying to dash out of the safe room (tiny bathroom) when I open the door. She is very comfy and confident in there and tends to meow when left alone.
I think we’ve made good progress for only one day, but I also hope I’m not rushing anything. I’m trying to gauge both cats’ stress levels and act accordingly. There’s been no hissing or stalking at all, just some skittishness on both sides.
So far:
- some scent swapping with towels (basically no reaction from either cat other than a couple sniffs)
- feeding treats and meals on either side of the door (no issues, gradually moving bowls closer)
- baby gate up during the day with a sheet over it (Clove wants to climb it, Chilli isn’t very interested in going over there in the first place)
- playtime with both cats near the door to increase confidence
- site swapping—with a friend’s help I let Clove explore the apartment and put Chilli in the bathroom, just for about 15-20 minutes since Chilli gets very grumpy when she’s locked up! Chilli just walked around the bathroom, ate some kitten food, and meowed to be let out. Clove was a bit skittish but walked around exploring a good chunk of the apartment, played with a toy, and ate treats. Pretty uneventful. The swapping itself was the most stressful since neither cat likes being picked up, so I think next time I’ll use a carrier. I wish I could swap them for longer, but I don’t want to stress Chilli out by keeping her in there.
Both cats have definitely heard and smelled each other by now. They’ve also seen each other through the few inches at the bottom of the baby gate, and accidentally saw each other more clearly when Clove first arrived. Chilli has done a little staring and is a little cautious of the bathroom door, but otherwise is very calm and acting like her ordinary self. MUCH calmer and more relaxed than when I introduced my late adult cat Chai to her. Not hiding upstairs at all, no “evil eye”, and happy to play and hang out downstairs even when the kitten is meowing nearby.
Clove has growled a couple times when she smells/hears Chilli outside the bathroom. (No growling when she sees Chilli, though—just cautious watching and meowing). Amidst the growling, she gets quite skittish and wants to hide. She’s VERY tiny and petite compared to that big fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat! Toys and treats usually adequately distract her. She also gets a bit growly when held for too long, at strange/loud noises, or if when I’m not giving her her treat quickly enough, so I’m not sure if it’s fear or dominance or aggression or just a wiggly, insecure kitten with lots of personality in a brand new scary home! She’s never purposely scratched, bitten, or hissed and is generally very loving and full of purrs. She also lived with her mom and sibling until now, so it’s not that she’s been isolated from other cats.
How does everything sound so far? I know it’s extremely early days yet, but I know kitten-to-adult intros generally take a lot less time than adult-to-adult. I hate to have Clove stuck in the bathroom any longer than I have to, but I also don’t want to rush. Thanks in advance!!
I have introduced adult cats to each other but not a kitten to an adult. Clove was a bit timid and shy at first but has become quite active and sassy. Chilli’s personality is pretty gentle and easygoing but she is shy at first as well.
Clove has only been here a day, but she is already trying to dash out of the safe room (tiny bathroom) when I open the door. She is very comfy and confident in there and tends to meow when left alone.
I think we’ve made good progress for only one day, but I also hope I’m not rushing anything. I’m trying to gauge both cats’ stress levels and act accordingly. There’s been no hissing or stalking at all, just some skittishness on both sides.
So far:
- some scent swapping with towels (basically no reaction from either cat other than a couple sniffs)
- feeding treats and meals on either side of the door (no issues, gradually moving bowls closer)
- baby gate up during the day with a sheet over it (Clove wants to climb it, Chilli isn’t very interested in going over there in the first place)
- playtime with both cats near the door to increase confidence
- site swapping—with a friend’s help I let Clove explore the apartment and put Chilli in the bathroom, just for about 15-20 minutes since Chilli gets very grumpy when she’s locked up! Chilli just walked around the bathroom, ate some kitten food, and meowed to be let out. Clove was a bit skittish but walked around exploring a good chunk of the apartment, played with a toy, and ate treats. Pretty uneventful. The swapping itself was the most stressful since neither cat likes being picked up, so I think next time I’ll use a carrier. I wish I could swap them for longer, but I don’t want to stress Chilli out by keeping her in there.
Both cats have definitely heard and smelled each other by now. They’ve also seen each other through the few inches at the bottom of the baby gate, and accidentally saw each other more clearly when Clove first arrived. Chilli has done a little staring and is a little cautious of the bathroom door, but otherwise is very calm and acting like her ordinary self. MUCH calmer and more relaxed than when I introduced my late adult cat Chai to her. Not hiding upstairs at all, no “evil eye”, and happy to play and hang out downstairs even when the kitten is meowing nearby.
Clove has growled a couple times when she smells/hears Chilli outside the bathroom. (No growling when she sees Chilli, though—just cautious watching and meowing). Amidst the growling, she gets quite skittish and wants to hide. She’s VERY tiny and petite compared to that big fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat! Toys and treats usually adequately distract her. She also gets a bit growly when held for too long, at strange/loud noises, or if when I’m not giving her her treat quickly enough, so I’m not sure if it’s fear or dominance or aggression or just a wiggly, insecure kitten with lots of personality in a brand new scary home! She’s never purposely scratched, bitten, or hissed and is generally very loving and full of purrs. She also lived with her mom and sibling until now, so it’s not that she’s been isolated from other cats.
How does everything sound so far? I know it’s extremely early days yet, but I know kitten-to-adult intros generally take a lot less time than adult-to-adult. I hate to have Clove stuck in the bathroom any longer than I have to, but I also don’t want to rush. Thanks in advance!!