Cats won't accept new kitten!

[lprdgrl]

About two months ago, a stray kitten decided his new home was our front porch. This is fine with the human family members, but our three former ferals (2 1/2 years, came to our yard with their mama at about 6 weeks old) don't like it one bit! There's no fighting, just intimidation with "the look" - and boy does it work! All three former ferals are neutered (2males) and spayed (1 female), and the new kitten (guessing 6-7 months) is getting neutered tomorrow. We've been giving the former ferals more love than usual (and they were all spoiled to begin with), but there is still an acceptance problem. The new little guy is becoming terrified of them - which our fiesty female takes great joy in. :-(
What can we do to ease this transition?! Will they EVER accept him?! Will his neutering help?!
Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[otto]

Neutering will help, but it will take a few weeks for the hormones to leave him (plus he will smell like vet)

Has he already had his shots and been tested?

Get some feliway plug in diffusers! there is a discussion about feliway and rescue remedy type products going on right now here:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=207354

And give it time.

Rub a t shirt or something you've worn on all the cats, then rub it on the kitten to blend smells, and put the tshirt under the other cats' dishes, so they associate newbie smell with good things.

some people have luck with the Vanilla trick. Put a dot of cooking vanilla (not perfume!) on the nose and root of tail of each cat, then they all smell the same!

Hurray for you for all these rescues, what are all their names?

Please keep us posted!

 

[auntie crazy]

There's a thread around here somewhere that's loaded with introduction suggestions, but the first step is to keep the new cat separated from the others until there is some level of acceptance.

Is that possible for you? (And congrats on the new family member! Don't you just LOVE it when they choose us?

)

I'll see if I can find that thread...

 

[stephanietx]

Here's the introduction thread:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67321

 

[auntie crazy]

Ah, thank you, Stephanietx.

Hopefully, Lprdgrl, you'll find something helpful in there!