Hello -
I'm Emile, I live in Los Angeles. I have a cat, almost 8 years old named Tabby Sebastian (picture attached). She's the first cat I ever had - she walked into my friend's house. Before her, I hated cats, but I've loved her ever since. So much so that I'm constantly having stray cats following me, wanting to come inside. I've never taken one in except recently.
A little stray tabby mix kitten, who looks almost identical to Tabby, followed me home. She had become a neighborhood kitten who was being fed by everyone but no one could take her in because they had cats. I didn't take her in until a week later, when the vet was still open. She's been checked, tested and now has all her shots except her boosters. Yesterday she was spayed. I kept the name a neighbor gave her, which is Allie Cat.
I did my best to introduce these two even though I received conflicting advice on how to go about it - I had them separated for a week and gradually introduced them. I give them both individual play time and I reward them when they get along and scold them when they don't. But the older cat is spoiled and she immediately started hissing and swatting and growling at the kitten. On the other hand, sometimes Allie chases Tabby and it turns into a game. Or they just leave each other alone.
They're both sweet, friendly cats on their own. But around each other, their behavior has escalated to wrestling, which is scaring me. No claws, no bloodshed, but it's kind of funny, kind of scary to watch them go at it. When it goes on too long, I put the kitten back in the bathroom.
I've been able to leave them alone when I go to run an errand and they've been fine - I've even come home to find them sleeping on the couch together. The problem I think is not so much they don't get along, but my presence triggers their territorial instincts. It doesn't help that the older cat is teaching the kitten bad habits - Allie wasn't swatting until Tabby did it to her. I was hoping that with the kitten gone for a couple of days for her spaying operation things would calm down - especially since she came home tired and groggy. Unfortunately, Tabby started hissing and swatting at her again the moment she came home. Luckily, the kitten is too tired to fight back right now but I don't want them to continue on the wrong foot, or paw as the case may be.
I want to believe there's hope for these two. Since Tabby was my first cat, I'm unfamiliar with the issue of introducing cats. I don't know how much of the aggressive behavior I should take seriously and whether or not they'll eventually get along.
Any advice? Should I start all over and isolate the kitten again? Or will this pass?
Sorry this was long. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Emile
I'm Emile, I live in Los Angeles. I have a cat, almost 8 years old named Tabby Sebastian (picture attached). She's the first cat I ever had - she walked into my friend's house. Before her, I hated cats, but I've loved her ever since. So much so that I'm constantly having stray cats following me, wanting to come inside. I've never taken one in except recently.
A little stray tabby mix kitten, who looks almost identical to Tabby, followed me home. She had become a neighborhood kitten who was being fed by everyone but no one could take her in because they had cats. I didn't take her in until a week later, when the vet was still open. She's been checked, tested and now has all her shots except her boosters. Yesterday she was spayed. I kept the name a neighbor gave her, which is Allie Cat.
I did my best to introduce these two even though I received conflicting advice on how to go about it - I had them separated for a week and gradually introduced them. I give them both individual play time and I reward them when they get along and scold them when they don't. But the older cat is spoiled and she immediately started hissing and swatting and growling at the kitten. On the other hand, sometimes Allie chases Tabby and it turns into a game. Or they just leave each other alone.
They're both sweet, friendly cats on their own. But around each other, their behavior has escalated to wrestling, which is scaring me. No claws, no bloodshed, but it's kind of funny, kind of scary to watch them go at it. When it goes on too long, I put the kitten back in the bathroom.
I've been able to leave them alone when I go to run an errand and they've been fine - I've even come home to find them sleeping on the couch together. The problem I think is not so much they don't get along, but my presence triggers their territorial instincts. It doesn't help that the older cat is teaching the kitten bad habits - Allie wasn't swatting until Tabby did it to her. I was hoping that with the kitten gone for a couple of days for her spaying operation things would calm down - especially since she came home tired and groggy. Unfortunately, Tabby started hissing and swatting at her again the moment she came home. Luckily, the kitten is too tired to fight back right now but I don't want them to continue on the wrong foot, or paw as the case may be.
I want to believe there's hope for these two. Since Tabby was my first cat, I'm unfamiliar with the issue of introducing cats. I don't know how much of the aggressive behavior I should take seriously and whether or not they'll eventually get along.
Any advice? Should I start all over and isolate the kitten again? Or will this pass?
Sorry this was long. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Emile
