Hi everyone,
I’m new to this forum and would be extremely grateful for any advice that you can give in relation to integrating kittens of different ages.
I have two resident kittens - Cookie, who is 10 months and Oreo, who has just turned one year old. They are closely bonded and are pretty much inseparable! However, a week ago, we brought home our new baby, a 15 week old kitten called Willow.
We’ve done everything by the book so far in terms of introducing them and started off with keeping her completely separated in our spare room, which we’ve designated as her ‘safe room’. We fed them on either side of the door, then we did the scent and site swapping for 3 days, before we allowed them to see each other for the first time through a gap in the door. When we finally allowed them to meet, there was a bit of hissing on Oreo and Cookie’s part when they first clapped eyes on Willow, but since then, Oreo seems extremely keen to play with her, although Cookie seems a bit more hesitant. Willow, on the other hand, seems absolutely petrified of them both and just hisses and growls every time one of them comes near. In the last day, she has become more confident to play near them and will walk past them when they’re lying down, but she still hisses a lot and growls whenever they try to sniff or greet her.
So, my question is: Am I doing the right thing by letting them mix at this point? They have eaten their meals near to each other and seem calm when distracted by food, but Willow is still very nervous whenever the other two get close to her. There haven’t been any real signs of aggression between the two older kittens and Willow, i.e. no biting, paw swiping or stalking, but I’m worried that it’s putting a lot of stress on them all (Willow especially). I have given them some ‘time out’ on occasions when Oreo or Cookie get a little bit too boisterous, but I don’t know if it’s too soon to let them work things out and mix together for the day, albeit under my constant supervision? Do all the signs I’ve mentioned suggest that they will get on eventually?
Again, I’d be eternally grateful if anyone has the time to respond, even if it’s just to put my mind at rest by providing me with some examples of successful integration!
Thanks so much,
Hayley
Pictures attached for added cuteness - Oreo is the B&W tuxedo, Cookie is the Torbie Ragdoll x Norwegian Forest and Willow is an silver and white long-haired American Curl.
I’m new to this forum and would be extremely grateful for any advice that you can give in relation to integrating kittens of different ages.
I have two resident kittens - Cookie, who is 10 months and Oreo, who has just turned one year old. They are closely bonded and are pretty much inseparable! However, a week ago, we brought home our new baby, a 15 week old kitten called Willow.
We’ve done everything by the book so far in terms of introducing them and started off with keeping her completely separated in our spare room, which we’ve designated as her ‘safe room’. We fed them on either side of the door, then we did the scent and site swapping for 3 days, before we allowed them to see each other for the first time through a gap in the door. When we finally allowed them to meet, there was a bit of hissing on Oreo and Cookie’s part when they first clapped eyes on Willow, but since then, Oreo seems extremely keen to play with her, although Cookie seems a bit more hesitant. Willow, on the other hand, seems absolutely petrified of them both and just hisses and growls every time one of them comes near. In the last day, she has become more confident to play near them and will walk past them when they’re lying down, but she still hisses a lot and growls whenever they try to sniff or greet her.
So, my question is: Am I doing the right thing by letting them mix at this point? They have eaten their meals near to each other and seem calm when distracted by food, but Willow is still very nervous whenever the other two get close to her. There haven’t been any real signs of aggression between the two older kittens and Willow, i.e. no biting, paw swiping or stalking, but I’m worried that it’s putting a lot of stress on them all (Willow especially). I have given them some ‘time out’ on occasions when Oreo or Cookie get a little bit too boisterous, but I don’t know if it’s too soon to let them work things out and mix together for the day, albeit under my constant supervision? Do all the signs I’ve mentioned suggest that they will get on eventually?
Again, I’d be eternally grateful if anyone has the time to respond, even if it’s just to put my mind at rest by providing me with some examples of successful integration!
Thanks so much,
Hayley
Pictures attached for added cuteness - Oreo is the B&W tuxedo, Cookie is the Torbie Ragdoll x Norwegian Forest and Willow is an silver and white long-haired American Curl.
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