but one of my 6-year-old cats is incensed at the presence of the two new kittens. I've had cats all my life, and learned early how to assure the house elders that the newcomers weren't going to usurp them. It's always worked before, but this time it's looking nearly impossible. I've always adopted from the local pound, and generally in two -- litter mates if I can get them, and it's usually no problem. I adopted the two elder siblings (female, both spayed) six years ago, and was feeling we were ready to add to the household again after mourning the loss of the 18-year-old last Christmas. Chose siblings again, a male and a female, and had them sent directly to the vet for spaying and neutering. Had my neighbor bring them home, in the carrier, and leave them in the sunroom for a while. One of the elder females was mildly annoyed, and still hisses on occasion if one of the babies gets too close -- but the other is just outraged. Refuses to be in the same room with them, and has now taken to insisting she be let outside if they're out of their quarters. They're only 12 weeks old, and I've never had this problem before. Usually the elder cats will be irritated for a while, and may never warm up to them completely, but they generally arrive at a truce eventually. This time, I'm not sure. The one which really seems to loathe them can always be found outside, in the arbor or on the porch, and will eventually come to me after a lot of coaxing, but it's quite clear she's nursing a serious grudge. I've never been worried about an elder cat running away, but I'm concerned about it this time. I don't allow the kittens to roam the house unless I'm here, they're always confined to the downstairs den when I'm gone and while we sleep. They've had only brief interaction with the elder cats, but I'm beginning to wonder if they'll ever peacefully coexist. Should I be worried about the one who's so unhappy actually leaving? Or will she come around eventually?
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Thought I did everything right ....
Replies (5)
I don't know how long you have had your new kitties, but my elder cat (who was an "only child" all her life) refused to come upstairs where our new 9-week old cat was for 2 months! They now get along OK, although the younger one likes the elder more than the elder likes the younger. But ultimately, I think it is working out. It took Voodoo (the elder) 6 months to really be comfortable, but it happened!
Good luck!
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ellen
Hey, thanks for the quick response. I'm not usually freaked out about the introduction dance, but I've never had an elder cat react so violently to a newcomer. I'd always heard people who worried that their current cats would "run away" if they brought another into the house -- but I've never seen that happen, and in 40 years of raising cats, I've never considered it a problem. There's always an adjustment period, but it usually consists of the elder cats hissing and boxing at the kids, and then eventually relenting. This time though, the old girl shows no signs whatsoever of giving in, and her absolute refusal to even be in the house with them is troublesome. I'd planned to give it a little more time, but I'm genuinely worried she'll just decide to move on next time I let her out. Are you aware of any circumstances in which that actually happened?
Are you aware of any circumstances in which that actually happened?
No, I have never heard of anything like that happening, but I am not very knowledgeable. Perhaps she has a very special treat you can give her whenever she has to be near the new kitty?
Good luck!
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ellen
>>I'm genuinely worried she'll just decide to move on next time I let her out. Are you aware of any circumstances in which that actually happened?>>
I haven't had any experience with a cat running away because I just don't let them outside. But one of my cats didn't warm up to my newest addition for almost 2 years. She would stay out of whatever room the new cat was in, walk past her as she slept and punch her for no reason, hiss at her and spit anytime she entered the room. It was only several weeks ago that I finally found them sleeping in the same bed together! But like I said, it took nearly 2 years.
Giving special treats when the new kittens are in the room or feeding them together on seperate ends of the same room, interactive play etc will generally help ease along the introductions. You want to show the resident cat that only good things happen when the kittens are around.
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Dottie
Well, I'd been giving her some special treats and brushing her (her favorite thing) more than the usual before-bedtime routine. Hadn't occurred to me to do it while the kittens were around though. Guess, in part, it was because I'm having difficulty enticing her to even come into the same zip code as them ... so I'd been confining them to their room and then paying more attention to her. I'll try your tactic, and see if she can learn that she gets the good stuff even when they *are* around. Thanks for the advice. (Two years? I don't know if I can handle her being in a total snit for two years.)
