My husband brought us home a baby kitty today, 9 weeks old. She's so cute!! My concern is our older cat. Needless to say he's KING of the castle, he's about 6 years old and not too excited to meet the baby. He's alternating between not paying much attention to her and getting HUGE eyes :bigeyes: and howling a bit.

I think what we'll do is just give them a chance to see and smell each other for short periods and keep them seperate for a bit. We'll keep the new kitten in our room (with food and litter box) until we can trust them together and we're comfortable with them being together and little kitty having full run of the house.

Any success stories anyone could share? I'm hoping it'll be OK. Any other things we might do to make the transition easier on both of them? Is it possible the older cat will just NOT get used to it or is it pretty much that it just takes time and things will work themselves out. I've never had cats before our first cat and definately have no experience having 2.

I'll have to get some pics of her, she's sooooo cute! We have to think of a name for her yet too. Thanks!

Congrats on your fuzzy new member! Its best that you allow them to sniff each other and keep a watchful eye on them for the first week. Make sure the kitten has a place to get away in case the older one gets too rambuncious. In all liklihood, they will be fine..and the older one will "adopt them". Like people, it just takes time....and if they don't care for each other, the younger one will learn to stay out of its way. More than likely there will be "spats" when the younger one wants to play and the older one wants to be left alone....thats normal.

You're doing great (giving them some set times of "sniffin' each other out" and away time). I also recommend you shower your older kitty with love and affection. You don't want him feeling neglected. The new kitty won't know any better, so she won't know she's missin' out on some snuggle time.

I also agree with Jaguargirl, give the boy a space where he can get up and away from the new one. (LOL, she suggested the other way around! hahahaha Ok, - they both need "time out" spaces! ) hahahahaah

Enjoy your kitty girl! :)

Keeping them seperate is good, as it will allow them to sniff each other through the door at first...

Eventually, the older cat will either adopt the baby, or want nothing to do with it...they have their own personalities...

Make sure that everyone gets enough affection and snuggle times -- your older kitty needs reassuring he isn't being replaced, and the new baby is scared to be away from his/her mom and all they know of thier little life...

So when are we going to see pictures?

Thanks for your thoughts Teacherbear, Mariah and JaquarGirl! Luckily our older cat has his kitty condo (a huge cat tree) that he can escape to. He loves that thing! He also knows all the good hiding spots around here already! I do think it's a good idea to keep the baby kitty in our room a lot too, unless we are right there so she has some time to adjust without being freaked out by our older cat. And this gives our older cat some time to slowly get used to it too.

I might be paranoid, but I think my older cat is a little peeved with me right now. I've been trying to give him extra pets and attention and he seems to be :rolleyes: and shunning my advances! ;) I think he's even given me a few dirty looks! :lol:

Hopefully it will all work out OK, sounds like we're doing all we can and we'll just have to see how things go. We can actually give the kitten back to it's owner (where her mama is) if it doesn't work out, but unless it's really bad I can't see that happening as our kids would not be too happy about giving away their new kitten.

The baby is a bit of a concern too, well she's not actually a baby any more even though we can't seem to stop calling her that, she's 2 1/2! She wants to hold, touch, play with and be with the kitty constantly. We're teaching her about leaving her be and being gentle. I know she'll get better too. Luckily our older kids are very helpful with things too. The kitty came from a home with a 3 year old and seems scared right now but was quite playful and friendly at her first home.

I did take a picture of both of the cats, that I'll post here tomorrow probably so I can be sure they're as cute as we think they are! :lol:

Have to get some laundry started and the kiddies to bed soon, but I will definately show them off soon Mariah!

Thanks again for you ideas and opinions! I really appreciate it! :flower:

I *definitely* advise that you post pics! :)

My Sooty was not to pleased when Missy turned up in fact she snapped at Missy's then tiny bottom and Missy fled under the bookcase :disbelief So you are doing better than that already :lol:Sooty has adjusted sort of and now tolerates Missy :thumbsup: I hope your two get on a lot better than that :grin: Photos soon?

One thing you can do is when they finally meet is to rub the little kitty in something that smells a lot like your old cat. That is supposed to make him accept the newcomer easier

Awww congratulations with your new family member! They can be so cute!
When I got Arthur (I got some great advice here (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=5674&highlight=meet+arthur)) it took them about two weeks to completely adjust to eachother, meaning they could sit next to eachother without getting eachother angry :mrgreen:
Just keep an eye on the big guy if he tries to boss around too much, and give him tons of attention! I know my Molly was very upset because she thought she wasn't my little girl anymore :sad: Turned out just fine though - one big happy family :wink: in fact, Molly will give birth to his kittens any day now.
The little squirt has become a tom :gabigrin:

Thanks Queenie for digging up that link. I did a quick search through the pet pondering board, but didn't see anything or search elsewhere, so I'm so glad you posted that. I love the idea of transferring their smell to each other. I'm going to go do that right now and try them together again. Good idea Igor!

Baby kitty has her own little box and food/water dish in our room for now. So, big kitty won't have to share his stuff with her and they can have some space for a while. The baby is eating and drinking and using her litter just fine so far.

They were hissing and howling at each other last night before bed when we had them together in the living room. I really hope everything turns out ok. Thanks for the tips everyone and I will get those pics posted as soon as I can! Natasska and Kat and everyone else, be looking out for them! :gabigrin:

Congrats, Jennifer!
I searched some advise and found out few things:
You should never leave the two of them together in the beginning. The older cat might see the new-comer as a rival and might kill him/her.
You should introduce the two of them slowly. Start by putting them in separate rooms and put some cat- nip on the closed door-way. That way they´ll start thinking ´pink´about each other. Then give the old cat a new toy, a new place to play or so where the new comer has no access. Also rub the new cat in cat nip or spray him/her with the scent to give the oldie more pleasant feeling about the new cat. Also keep new cat´s food and litter away from old cat´s and by time they should stick together when the old cat adopt the new cat.
Let us know how it goes!

Did somebody say pictures? :lol: Well, I have some!

Here's the KING!

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jun/20046141324192664182003.jpg http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jun/20046142221753508774428.jpg

And here's our baby!

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jun/20046142755211674437156.jpg http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jun/20046148606689887591266.jpg

AAAWWWWWWW!!!! They´re so cute!!!

Awww she's too cute! And the king looks very handsome :wink:
Thanks for posting them!

Oh, I so enjoy looking at kitten/cat pics!

Congrats on the new family member. Cats can be unbearable when a new one is introduced to the household. I read that cats should meet each other "one sense at a time."

We introduced a 6-wk-old male kitten to our 2-yr-old female. She hissed and growled at the baby for 3 days. But, during the three days, the situation gradually improved until the fourth day they were playing and sleeping together. I think cats work things out among themselves.

I've been begging to have a kitten for the now 2-yr-old male Bengal. He needs a playmate, as he's still as playful as a kitten. The 3-yr-old Calico does not play anymore. DH continues to deny my request for a kitten.

Your older cat might begin to appreciate and enjoy the company of a youngster. Praise the older cat whenever he displays any indication that he's accepting the kitten. Good luck. There's not any real secret to helping the two become acquainted. They'll work it out, I hope!

You're doing everything right, as far as introducing the two of them goes, and they are adorable. I love the expression on your King of the House, and well, kittens just make me swoon :wink: . Cats are social animals if not pack animals and the two of them will develop a way to share the territory of your house sooner or later, unless your King is excessively territorial. There will probably be hissing and growling, but let them play it out under supervision-they're going to one way or another.

This suggestion is not meant to be inflamatory, but does come from more than one heartbreaking experience with cat and kitten rescue: be very, very, very careful leaving the kitten unsupervised with any child or children under the age of about 7. It's way too easy for the kitten to be perceived as a toy, and they just aren't sturdy enough for that kind of treatment.

More pics please? :grin:

THANKS FOR THE PICS!!! Oh what cuties!!! the King is MOST handsome, and the baby is a little ball of Fluff!! precious!

Oh Anna! I agree! I have read such sad stories before about little kittens being killed by small children and am hypervigilant with my 2 year old and the baby kitty. Our other children are all teens and can help too! We've been showing and teaching her how to be easy and treat him gently so she'll know, but do not trust with her alone either. While, she's been very good with the kitty, she's been driving us a little nuts with wanting to try to hold him and pick him up. That's actually a bigger fear of mine that the older cat now. She's learning though and the kitty actually seems to not mind her attention, I am just always trying to think of the kitties feelings too. She gets frequent breaks from big cat and our little girl since she's got a nice set up in our room, we've been trying to ease her into the family gradually.

Thanks for bringing this up though because it really reinforces what I already knew to be true and was just telling my husband about the importance of watching her constantly with the kitten. I'll be sure to get some more pics of them!

We think he's quite handsome and regal looking, he does look like a KING, huh? :lol: He really is a beatiful cat!

I'll be sure to get some more pics of them!

You're just awesome, you know that? :grin:

Oh how beautiful - absolutely gorgeous - thank you :cloud9: :inlove: ...g

His Majesty is very handsome :inlove: Baby kittie is so sweet has she got a name yet :grin:

I have another word of advice for the kitten. Toys! My kittens liked jingle balls, ribbon and teasers. I also found a "Jittery Mouse" that still gets attention from the Bengal. Take time to play with the kitten, as he might not be self-motivated to play very long with toys all by himself. My Bengal still runs into the spare room where his toy box is, along with his tunnel and a rolled up carpet remnant, to invite me to play with him. The Calico just watches from a distance! Your daughter can learn how to play with the kitten and his toys, which could help her learn she doesn't have to handle him so much.

Thank you Anna, Gabiwags and Natasska! g_michelle, great idea! We have a little string of ribbon that our daughter keeps pulling around to get her to play and a little ball of crinkly paper and some crepe paper. She's doing a little better with her today. Much more gentle and willing to leave her to walk and do her thing. I'll have to pick her up some more toys too, don't know what happened to most of the kitty toys we had around here. When she gets to be wanting to hold her too much we just have to seperate them for a while. I'm sure she'll just keep getting better and better!

As far as the two cats, the older cat is pretty much just watching very closely, they're interested in each other, but whenever either gets too close, there's a bunch of hissing going on, but it doesn't 'seem' like the big cat will hurt her, but I'm still very cautious with them when they're together.

The baby doesn't really have a name yet, other than baby or kitty. We did the same thing with our other cat, after we see her personality for a few more days we'll come with something. Since it's something that sticks with them for so long, we want it to be just perfect.

Thanks again for all your replies about this! You all are the best! :flower:

Just a little update! The two cats are doing very well together now. The baby chases the big cat and he turns around and gives her a dirty look and moves on. It's funny to watch him pretend he could care less about the kitty! Meanwhile he goes around staring at and watching her every move! And the poor baby just wants to play a little! He did hiss once yesterday when she tried to play with his tail and over the past few days he's given her a couple of warning swats (but more just a paw tap) no claws or anger seemed to be involved. But, I know this is just their way of working things out between themselves and figuring out boundaries, so as long as there is no danger involved, I don't intervene or interfere.

My daughter continues to be a pain in the butt with the kitten, but she does have times she's leaving her alone now. I just put kitty up on top of the kitty condo where she can't reach him or put her in my room (and sometimes my daughter in hers) until she settles. But, for the most part baby kitty has full run of the house all day now. I will still put her up there if I leave the house for a while, but I don't usually have to watch the two cats continually any more. Just after a little more time has passed will I stop doing that. I think my daughter will get better and better. She never tries to hurt the kitten or has bad intentions. She just wants to hold her ALL the time and play with her like a doll or stuffed animal. :rolleyes: Hopefully kitty will learn some coping skills also (but I'm not about to watch and let her be tortured with her LOVE either) ;)

The cats are playing together now, stalking each other and learning about each other, it's really very cute. I'm so glad we have her. For the past 20 min. I actually stopped typing this post to go and watch them because they were really getting into it. I did not have to step in, but they were taking turns asserting themselves to each other it seems. Taking turns agressing and backing down, lots of little swats to go around. Very interesting. Of course the big cat usually wins, but he retreated a few times himself, much to my surprise! An interesting dance between the two! I guess they're really finding their places in what looks like a game to me, but I'm sure very serious to them!

I have not forgotten about those pictures! I will upload some more soon and post them here.

Thanks again for all the advise and words of wisdom! :flowers:

My daughter continues to be a pain in the butt with the kitten, but she does have times she's leaving her alone now. I just put kitty up on top of the kitty condo where she can't reach him or put her in my room (and sometimes my daughter in hers) until she settles. But, for the most part baby kitty has full run of the house all day now. I will still put her up there if I leave the house for a while, but I don't usually have to watch the two cats continually any more. Just after a little more time has passed will I stop doing that. I think my daughter will get better and better. She never tries to hurt the kitten or has bad intentions. She just wants to hold her ALL the time and play with her like a doll or stuffed animal. :rolleyes: Hopefully kitty will learn some coping skills also (but I'm not about to watch and let her be tortured with her LOVE either) ;)


:flowers:

I used to dress my cat up in doll clothes when I was about 7..LOL.. When he got sick of it..he would bite me and hiss....

They will let you know when "enough is enough"...

I used to dress my cat up in doll clothes when I was about 7..LOL.. When he got sick of it..he would bite me and hiss....

They will let you know when "enough is enough"...

Interestingly enough, the kitten will follow her around and even go up to her room (as if asking for more torture) :lol:

She's got such a great disposition! I was thinking she would scratch at her or maybe bite a little warning bite or something else that says keep off, but so far she seems to not mind it! Which is all the more reason, I keep stepping in and telling her to give kitty a break. While she likes the attention it seems, I also don't want her to take too much from my daughter either just because she's such a nice kitty. Usually she'll just meow when she's holding her too long and I tell her to put her down...again.

Aww she really sounds like such a cutie :smile:
I'm glad it's going well and that they're slowly getting used to eachother.

Awwwwww look at the new little innocent, I'm sure all will be fine, the advice about bolt holes for both is sound. I had 2 cats and got 2 new kittens when the others were grown, they tended to ignore (Merli does still do BIG eyes though, especially when the now grown kittens are still wrestling or playing) putting in place swipes still occur but it just maintains the pecking order, not a problem, not one has actually hurt the others, in the end I'd say ourd get on fab, better even outdoors where there is no competition for human attention and its best to stick together against other cats! As with children don't create situations where jeolousy can occur and all will be happy ending - he's v v v dinky

As promised! A pic of the kitty and her 'best friend' from this morning. :gabigrin:

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jun/20046198532066690622299.jpg

This cuteness makes me all sappy... :cloud9:

I just wanted to say what beautiful animals you have there! I love the royal pose of the King in the first photo, he looks like a lion! The little kitten looks almost like a minature version of him!

Thanks for sharing,
Angela

Hi Angelic,
She does look a lot like him, doesn't she? That's why my husband said he brought her home.

I think my cat is just beautiful, he's very much the King around here, he thinks he's royalty and does remind us of a lion. He's so graceful, yet strong! He's a beautiful animal. We've talked about that before, amazing you picked up his personality just from a photo! He's too funny...

I just wanted to say what beautiful animals you have there! I love the royal pose of the King in the first photo, he looks like a lion! The little kitten looks almost like a minature version of him!

Thanks for sharing,
Angela

Jennifer, how are your cats getting along nowadays? Are they best buds? :D I know you had said they had started playing together, but I was curious to see how they were doing 3 months later. We adopted a 10 week old male kitten on Saturday from the animal shelter, and our 1.5 year old female cat isn't too pleased at the moment. ;) She hisses every time he comes close. We actually let Jack (the baby kitty) roam the house for the first day, and she pretty much stalked him the whole time. We decided that it was too dangerous to leave him out w/o constant supervision, so we put him away for the time being in a room with his own litter and food/water.

Anyway, sorry to ramble, I just wanted to know if there's hope that they'll eventually be friends!