Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat

I have a 13 year old, lovely cat who we love dearly. She is spoiled rotten. I would like to adopt a kitten and was wondering how to go about introducing the kitten. I'm trying to avoid our cat getting spiteful and jealous. Also, Kallie is a female, should we get a male kitten?

By Rose Smith from Malvern, PA

Answers:

Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat

Make sure you keep the new kitten in a room away from your cat for at least a week before you introduce them. Let your cat near the room so they can smell each other under the door and hear each other meow. After the week is over, calmly introduce them to each other for a few minutes at a time until you are sure they can both get along. I have done this successfully. Cats can be very territorial and they need time and space to accept the idea of someone else.

Don't forget to shower your cat with lots of love and attention and remember who was there first if things don't work out. Good luck. (06/27/2009)

By Ann Lopez

Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat

What I've done over the years is place the kitten in a room for a few hours and then do a switcheroo where existing baby(s) are in the room for a few hours and the kitten has the roam of the house (this way the kitten's scent is in the entire house). I do this for a couple of days and then quietly just open the door and let them begin mingling.

But I do it at a time where I know I'll be home for quite a few hours to keep an eye on how they're doing. If they do well, I just leave them be. If they have a hard time adjusting to one another I try another day at a time of room separation. You'll be able to tell what to do by instinct. It might take a couple of weeks.

Oh, my personal preference would be a female kitten. In my experience girls got along with girls and boys with boys on a more even/equal basis. (06/27/2009)

By Deeli

Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat

I say let nature take it's course, and let the older female cat become a surrogate mama to the little kitten. We have a male cat that is a surrogate mommy to two of the neighbor's kittens; it is quite cute to watch him cleaning them up and letting the little ones play with his tail as he is napping. Your older cat may surprise you and just love the new baby, as it will become her baby. Keep us informed on how it turns out, okay? (06/27/2009)

By Paula Jo C.

Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat

Thanks all. I brought Toby home on Saturday and have him set up in his own bathroom. Kallie hides most of the day but is coming out to eat. I keep them separated for the most part. Right now Toby is exploring the house and Kallie is hiding upstairs. Wish I could say that Kallie has decided to be a surrogate mom but that hasn't happened yet, although I am still optimistic. Kallie is really a sweet cat and Toby is as cute as a button. Sounds like patience is the key. (06/28/2009)

By Rose Smith

Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat

"Amhappy" gave excellent advice. I would just add that you must respect their pecking order. The resident cat comes first. Feed first, greet it first when you come home and in the beginning it is not a good idea to make a fuss over the new kitten when the resident cat can see you doing it. You can do that later but during the introductions and socializing don't give the resident cat any ammunition to resent the new kitty.

The new kitten should not have the run of the house yet. Your resident cat will stay in one room and seethe about being displaced from its usual routine. One last word; Get the new kitten fixed asap when it is the right age, or he will be trying to mount poor Kallie. (07/22/2009)

By Lynn