Resident Cat & New Kitten Issued

[robicraig]

Hi. I realise there are other threads on these issues but thought I'd post our specific problem. Our resident cat Luna is not taking to our new kitten Jones. Whenever they meet she just wants to get away. There is some hissing & growling but no actual violence. We had an older boy who had to be put to sleep a couple of months before we decided to get a kitten. Although they were never buddies they coexisted quite happily so Luna has lived with a cat before. We took a couple of weeks with wee Jones mostly kept to one room with occasional access to the landing. We allowed them to smell each other on our hands etc & they were definitely aware of each other. After that there were short meeting with Jones in his box. Luna seems to get bothered when he wants to say hello so goes to the room we only let her in or she goes out. We are going to start putting Jones back in his room at night so hopefully Luna will spend more time around the house. Any other help from other people's experience is welcome. Thanks. Craig, Stef, Luna & Jones

 

[shadowsrescue]

Here are some links to cat to cat introductions as well as a video

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/


Introductions can take weeks to months.  The key is to do it very slowly and not move to the next step too soon.  We kept the new cat isolated for almost 2 months and then he spent the next 6 months in his room at night so our resident cat could be out and about.  If no one was home, one of the cats was put away.  They just could not be trusted.  At exactly the year mark, everything had changed and they decided they could live together!!  Both cats are out and about together 24/7 and we no longer have any issues.  It was a long road.  I watched them like hawks when I was home as the fighting could come on quickly. 

Take a look at the links and video above and see if it sparks anything.  I do think with time and patience the two will learn to live together.

 

[robicraig]

Thanks Shadows. Appreciate it. Put Jones to his room last night & eventually Luna came through & sat with me for a bit so will keep doing that for now. Glad Luna is only hissing & growling without being violent towards him. I imagine that would have been stressful for you

 

[cbowdidge]

It definitely varies from cat to cat. When my sister moved back home and brought her cat, Sotches with her, we didn't introduce him to my cat, Merlin, properly. However, they became best friends within a week, but that is by all accounts, the exception rather than the rule. Back in March, after Sotchy suffered an apparent saddle thrombus and CHF, and had to suddenly be put down, my sister waited a month, then adopted a Maine Coon Mix named Martini. It took Merlin about three months to get used to Martini, then they quickly became besties. Even when being standoffish, Merlin was never nasty, just hissed a bit and chased him. With them, we did it properly, keeping Martinin one room and letting him explore the house gradually.