Introducing a New Kitten to Resident Cat?

Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

September 22, 20171 found this helpful

Arthur is young enough to adapt to a new kitten.

• Introduce them slowly at first to get them used to each others scent
• Give them each their own space, so they can have their own territory
• Get a pedestal or tower for Arthur, so he can exercise his dominance
• Make sure you give Arthur his fair share of attention

Good luck!

poehere
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

September 22, 20170 found this helpful

This will take a bit of time, but if you do it right you will have two cats that will give you loads of pleasure.

• When you first bring home the kitten give the kitten their own room. You will have a litter box in this room for the kitten and feed the kitten in there.
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• You will want to feed your resident cat and the new comer on both sides of the door. This helps both cats associate something enjoyable like eating with each other smells. When you feed the cats don't put the food too close to the door on either side. You want them to get use to each others smells.
• Slowly start moving the bowls of both cats closer to the sides of the door. Make sure they are both eating peacefully and not upset the closer to the door you move their bowls.
• Try getting the two cats to play with one toy or play together. Tie a string to 2 different toys and put one toy on each side of the door. Encourage both cats to play with the toy to see if one cats can play together as the string moves back and forth.
• Spend plenty of time with the new kitten in the room. However, don't ignore your resident cat.
• You can try switching the blankets or bedding the two cats use with each other. If they don't have bedding, try taking a washcloth and gently rub it on the cheeks and place it under the food dish of your resident cat. You want the cats to get use to each others smell.
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• Once you have gotten the cats to eat and play together, it is time to let the new kitten out and play around the home. At this time you will confine the resident cat to the kitten's room. You can do this several times a day to get the two cats use to the house and the other cat's smell.
• Now use a door stop to prop the door open just a bit. You want the two cats to be able to see each other, but not be too close to each other.
• Now start a face to face, but introduce them gradually so neither one becomes aggressive or feels threatened.

You should take your time when you introduce the new kitten to your resident cat. Give them time to get use to each others smell and being in the room when the other cat was there. Give yourself a week or so to get the two cats use to each other.

coville123
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 433 Posts

September 22, 20170 found this helpful

Tips to introduce a new kitten.

• Make a seperate space for the new kitten. Litter box,scratching post etc.
• Have a hiding spot for the cats to go to if needed. Cardboard boxes with holes are good hiding spots for the cats.
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• Introduce them slowly. Be sure and spend time playing with each cat. Watch for signs of stress not eating, being aggressive. Keep them in a different room until their used to each other.

cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

September 24, 20170 found this helpful

Cats have their own unique personality and it would be very difficult to guess how your lovely cat would react to a new friend.

• Look at your cat! Are you sure Arthur needs a friend? Perhaps you are both away during the day and feel he is lonely and needs a playmate.
• Does he really look "incomplete"? I have had many cats over a period of 70 years and have rarely found a cat who really needed very much more than loving attention a few hours a day.
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• How many hours a day does a cat normally sleep? usually 16-18 in a 24 hour period. Not very much time left to be "lonely".
• Responders are all saying about the same thing and this is all found on the Internet so it should be sound advice.
• Here is a quote from one vet: So if you feel the urge to bring a new kitten into the life of your mature cat, ask yourself if your cat is comfortable in his or her life right now or whether he or she seem to be pining for a new friend. If it turns out that the only one who will benefit from a new kitten is you, then think long and hard before bringing one into your home. Your mature cat will thank you for it.

The decision to acquire another cat is many times just our own desire to have a new kitten around because our older cat has outgrown those wonderful kitten ways - and - a kitten is adorable in a different way than our mature cat.

Here are a couple of links that might give way to some thought about getting a new kitten and how to handle it if you do decide - our cat needs a companion.

cattime.com/.../100-older-cat-want-younger-companion...

www.vetstreet.com/.../are-you-prepared-for-more-than-one...

haysie
Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 424 Answers

September 24, 20171 found this helpful

First of all I don't remember if you said the new kitten is male or female. As Arthur is a male I think it would be wise to make sure the new kitten is also male.

You need to introduce them slowly. To find out their reaction to each other.

Have a separate litter box.

Have hiding places, a cardboard box with an open lid or hole for each one to get into.

Do you allow Arthur to sleep on your bed at nite, it might be wise to put the kitten in another room until they get used to each other.

Be sure and give each their own feeding and water dish.

Enjoy your pets!

jeanmurray01
Bronze Answer Medal for All Time! 111 Answers

September 28, 20170 found this helpful

I only have one thing to add to all the good advice you've gotten here. that is to trim the sharp points of each cats nails. You may be able to prevent a puncture wound, leading to an infection, leading to a vet visit, etc. Best of luck.

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