emergency kitten advice!

brooklynleather · November 2006

So I adopted a kitten from Brooklyn Animal Foster Network for the cat I adopted 2 months ago from Slope Street Cats.

I thought it would be nice for my 1 year old female cat to have a little female companion especially when I am not home, but my cat is hissing at me and the kitten! She stopped hissing at me just now but I am afraid to leave them alone.

Does anyone know how long it might take for them to get along?

I am afraid they aren't going to get along and I am afraid to leave them alone!

2 adoptees is definitely my cut off point.

whyfi · November 2006

It can take them a while (month+, it depends), cats are territorial. If you can, I would advise keeping them separated for at least 4-5 days. Let them get used to the other's scent by smellin' under the door. Exchanging bedding (again, so they can become familiar with scent of the other) wouldn't be a bad idea, either. After they become a little more familiar, let them mingle while supervised. They'll still hiss and growl, but they'll get over it soon enough. Have a spray bottle full of water on hand, just in case they start to tussle.

alafairnadia · November 2006

I'm a firm believer in letting cats wrangle it out. it has always worked for me. I've always found that the cats chill out a lot more quickly when they're just forced to share space and scent. in a day or two, they'll calm down.

also, I have never had the space to physically separate cats, and I hate keeping separate water bowls and litter boxes and stuff. I'm a cranky cat owner.

laura b · November 2006

I have found both WhyFi's and Alafairnadia's (as long as no one's getting injured) approaches to work, depending on the cats. In this instance I'd second the advice about separating them for a few days, to get used to each other's scents under the door. This tends to make them calmer when they meet face-to-face.

One of the most important factors is time--it can take months for some cats to learn to like (or at least tolerate) each other.

Here's a link w/ some addtional tips:

http://www.fourpaws.org/pages/adopting_pages/introducing_cats.html

brooklynleather · November 2006

Thanks for all the advice! I have sequestered the kitten in the bathroom with separate food, water, litter, toys, and a warm comfy bed.

The big girl seems a lot more comfortable and chilled out now. She has gotten back to normal. I am going to give it a few days and hope they work it out when the door between them opens again.

Happy Thanksgiving all.

brooklynpotter · November 2006

please let us know. i've had it work both ways (yes, once i tried for four months and ultimately had to adopt out the newer cat... not a good time)

good luck!

marvin_todd · November 2006

I've done this a few times and didn't do the whole sepearate spaces bit (although I have heard that advice many times). After a bunch of hissing, etc. they have always just sorted themselves out. I did supervise the first few days to make sure there wasn't any bloodshed and crossed my fingers the first few times I had to leave them alone.

Give the "old" cat some extra attention.

anotherdayinbkln · November 2006

no way! lock them in the room together and let them fight it out over a bowl of food.

brooklynleather · February 2010

Subject: update...three years later!

can i just tell you my kitten grew up to be a BIG cat and the two of them are totally in love?

here is the proof!:

ghostinthemachine · February 2010

Yay! They are so cute! White one almost has a Hitler cat thing going on....

http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/cgi-bin/seigmiaow.pl

brooklynleather · February 2010

I know...so sketchy especially because his mommy is jewish!

doublediamond · February 2010

So it worked out! Nice!

My two cats still don't get along, so it's nice to hear a happy ending!

lbleier · December 2012

Subject: update...three years later!

can i just tell you my kitten grew up to be a BIG cat and the two of them are totally in love?
here is the proof!:
So glad it worked for all of you
Laurie Bleier
BAFN

emergency kitten advice!

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