Here is my recent experience. After the loss of my beloved male 13 yrd old to renal kidney failure, my female calico 11 yrs was depressed for 2 months but after 6 months seemed to be much better and asserting herself as the new alpha female cat. So i brought home an 8week old male whom she snarled at as if it was not her own species, some type of alien. I was afraid she would hur t the kitten, so kitten slept in bathroom during night and the female spent most of the day outside or hiding under the house. It was so stressful, I was ready to return kitten within 2 weeks, but had read it might take 6 months to 1 yr for them to settle down.

The old female hissed at him continually for two months, she actually lost her voice. then she resorted to growling and bopping him on the head whenever he got near her. He has always been sweet and submissive to her, but he is about sick of it now after 6 months. He is too rambunctious with her, "Frankensteins" and rushes her, and he just gets bopped. But I think as he calms down maybe in 6 months they will be even better. He is bopping her back now, but she can handle it.

It was really a hard few months, I felt terribly guilty, but kitten has turned out super and she has company which I think she does sometimes appreciate. good luck, don't give up. And give the older cat lots more love and affection and treats so she feels way special.

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