Help! My new kitten keeps attacking my older cat while she's using the tray!

[thorntrees]

Hi everyone, I need a bit of help with our new kitten. We have had her for about two months and she is now about four months old. It has been difficult socialising her with our older cat (7 years) who is a relatively independent, aloof and easily frightened. They do chase each other around at times playing, but the older cat also hisses at the kitten when she ambushes her (which she does frequently!). I know this is part of her trying to teach her not to do it, so I'm not particularly worried. Plus, there is no blood or fur flying so I figure it's just them getting used to each other and learning the ropes on the part of the kitten.

What IS worrying me is the fact that the older cat is starting to become stressed because the kitten keeps ambushing and attacking her while she is using the tray. This results in her running away from the tray before being finished, but then being too frightened to go back and finish her business. We have had to give her medication to reduce inflammation in her bladder because of the stress this is causing her. I don't know what to do to stop the kitten from doing this. If I notice that the older cat needs to go when I am home I will go into the bathroom with her and keep the kitten away, but I cannot do this all the time. 

Does anyone have any suggestions please?!

 

[prairiepanda]

I have the exact same problem! My older cat is starting to pee outside the litter box, too. (I've brought samples to the vet but it appears normal, so it's not a result of illness.)

All I can do is distract the kitten while I'm home. There must be a better solution..

 

[pinkman]

I had the same problem before except it was my older resident cat ambushing the new kitten. What helps was to add another litter box (if you haven't yet) and move the second/third box further away from the original box.

 

[prairiepanda]

Multiple litter boxes seems to work for a lot of people, but not for me Both cats use all of them and the kitten follows the older cat everywhere so he'll pounce regardless which box she chooses.

 

[thorntrees]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I'm so glad to know that Stormy isn't the only litter box ninja out there!

We do have two litter boxes, and they are in separate rooms, but the kitten just instantly goes into pounce mode when she sees the older cat going to the tray  

I don't think it's a territory thing, I think the kitten just sees it as an opportunity to attack the older cat when she isn't moving?