Adopting New Kitten For My Cat Need Some Reassurance

I have an amazing kitty that I adopted 2 years ago. Emily is about 2-1/2 yrs old but is so attached to me I thought I'd adopt a kitten to keep her company and help her not be so dependent on me. When I'm gone for awhile or even outside too long Emily carries a yellow ball in her mouth crying. I think that's her security blanket. Anyway I've had many cats in the past (all strays except Emily who's my only one now). I've always kept them separated for a period of time until they get use to each other but for some reason I've gone "blank" on how I did it and how long it took. I think what I'm going to do is I have a glass sliding door between my kitchen and family room and just keep the kitten there. That way they can see each other. I'm picking him up Monday from our Animal Control so I could get kitten food and another litter box beforehand. They say he's about 3 months old. The 1st pic kitten. 2nd Emily. Got my fingers crossed that things will work out. If anyone has any helpful hints I'd sure appreciate it!

Congrats on the pending kitten arrival. He's a cutie pie. And Emily is a beauty. Hopefully they'll be become best buds.

But keeping them separate at first is definitely recommended, as Emily may not be impressed with a new cat, albeit a kitten, moving into her home.

Here's a TCS article that should have some tips for you: How To Introduce A Kitten To An Older Cat

As well, here's the general cat introduction articles:
How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide | TheCatSite
Introducing Cats To Cats | TheCatSite

Congrats in the new family member. It is hard to say how long the introduction will take because it every intro is different. I have introduced pairs where they were immediate friends and I have had others that took weeks. You resident cat is still young which does help speed up the process, and intros to kittens are generally easier than adult cat to adult cat. I think the glass door is great because they can see one another and get at least some of their hissing out of the way while each staying safe. This might also help the intro move along quickly.

Time and patience are your best friends, here. The most important thing to remember, once you've read the articles and refreshed your memory, is that, as susanm9006 said, every introduction is different, and added to that, you cannot go faster than the most reluctant cat is willing to go. THAT CAT must set the pace for EVERYTHING.

One other thing as far as timing, especially with shelter cats is that you definitely want a complete check up by your vet to rule out communicable diseases and you want to keep them separated long enough for anything they might have just picked up at the shelter like a upper respiratory infection, ear mite or even fleas to show up in the kitten. Two weeks is probably a safe amount of time but I would get your vet’s opinion.

Thanks so much for all your help!!!! The Animal Control shelter in my town used to be a "kill shelter" until our Sheriffs department took it over several years ago and now it's a no kill shelter which thrills me! Everyone of their animals have been vet checked, chipped, vaccinated, tested, spayed/neutered etc etc. They're going to bath my kitten monday for fleas before I pick him and all I'll have to do is bring him back in a month or so for a rabies vaccine. I'll eventually take him to my vet and have him checked just for piece of mind. Now I have to figure out the feeding part because I feed Emily twice a day and I know kittens need more than adult cats but I'll figure it out. I told my daughter I named him "Bob" after the Netflix movie a "Streetcat Named Bob". If you haven't seen that movie if it's still on Netflix please watch it. True story about a orange cat that saves a drug addict.

I haven't seen the movie, although I've read the book. Guess what I'll be watching tonight?

As for feeding...kittens tend to be perpetually ravenous, so you might be able to just set him on the counter for the extra feedings. If that doesn't appeal (and I get that it doesn't to a lot of people), his extra feedings can happen in the bathroom. They won't take long!

Bob day 1 didn't go very well. When I brought him home yesterday and went into the bedroom to take him out of the carrier when I walked out of the room he escaped and Emily was right there. Emily hissed and growled at me all day long. I'm sure she smelt his scent on me. Emily gagged on her food last night I'm sure because of nerves. I'm home 24/7 and spend a ton of time with her. She's spoiled rotten. Bob is such a loving kitten it breaks my heart to leave the bedroom. This morning Emily seems somewhat calmer and ate without gagging ha ha. This is going to be a long process I think.

okeelady said:

This is going to be a long process I think.

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Hopefully not too long, but introductions do usually take a bit of time. Keep telling Emily you love her, and that's she's not being replaced. Good luck. Keep us posted.

Emily gets a ton of love!!! I have another question but this is the wrong forum but I'll ask anyway. I've been playing with my new kitten and noticed his butt looks a bit swollen. Just getting him his poop looked normal from yesterday. Is this something I need to be concerned with or take him to the vet so soon after getting him?

Can email the pic to your vet and see what they say. Meanwhile maybe start a new thread in the Cat Health forum, so members who might not read this thread might see it there.

rubysmama said:

Can email the pic to your vet and see what they say. Meanwhile maybe start a new thread in the Cat Health forum, so members who might not read this thread might see it there.

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THANK YOU!!

Day 3 Bob. This morning I decided to move Bob from the bedroom into my family room which has a glass sliding door separating it. As of this moment its going a little better than I thought. There are growls and hisses from Emily but no attacks through the glass and hopefully that won't change. He's a bundle of energy!!! BTW I took him to my vet yesterday because his butt looked swollen to me. She said it was from them shaving his butt to neuter him. The vets in this country town aren't high tech so you can't email them pics.

That's a great pic. I think they're destined to be best buds.

Also good that you got Bob checked out at the vet. Always better to be safe than sorry.

Bob day 5. Everything is going really good (at least so far)! Yesterday I turned Bob loose in the whole house. Emily actually seemed really excited. Pretty soon they were chasing each other around the house. Emily would hiss and growl when he would go after her but no attacks. I supervised them the whole time. I've got a few health and feeding concerns I'll be posting in other forums. ssss

Thanks again for everyones help!!!

okeelady said:

Thanks again for everyones help!!!

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You're very welcome. Keep us posted on their progress.

Nice job on the introductions! A few hisses from your girl are normal, and even good. After all, its HER job to teach this little upstart some manners, and she intends to do just that!