How to Make Your Cat Accept a New Kitten
Some cats are instantly fond of brand-new kittens. Others may take a long time or never completely acclimatize to a new cat. When your cat is introduced to your new family member, a lot of this will rely on how old and socialized your cat is.
Even though cat behavior can be challenging to comprehend at times, learning from their wild cousins can help us understand why cats and other animals don't always get along.
Why Do Cats Disapprove of Fresh Kittens?
Wild cats and domestic house cats have a strong genetic relationship. Although there are notable distinctions, these groups nonetheless share some traits and instincts, notably how they get along with other cats.
Bobcats, lynxes, and servals are examples of solitary wild felines. They are nocturnal, rarely seen, and inherently secretive. They hide out in dens during the day and emerge at night to go on solitary feeding expeditions.
Feral cats—domestic cats that were raised in the wild—also hunt and slumber by themselves. If people are giving them food, though, they might establish a colony headed by a female cat (queen). Cats with close family ties typically live in colonies. When they are a few years old, male cats, or toms, typically leave the colony.
In contrast to the typical domestic cat, this social structure is more complex. This is so that they can live in relatively secluded areas away from other cats, where they are frequently not well socialized with other cats and are typically spayed or neutered. When you wish to add a new kitten or cat to the household, this could be an issue.
Additionally, feral cats typically live in colonies of cats that are born into the colony and are connected genetically. Unrelated cats rarely join their ranks, and when they do, they typically reside outside the colony for several months before being fully assimilated.
Sometimes it's best to give your cat some time to get used to the new kitten. However, it could be quite challenging for your cat to get along with a new kitten if it was not thoroughly socialized before the age of 3. In actuality, some cats do better living alone in a house.
Getting Rid of Rejection
It's crucial to introduce your cat slowly to any new kittens you bring home. If the cats aren't getting along, whether you've already done that or not, there are a few steps you can take to try to break the ice.
Food Dishes
Make sure the kitten has separate water and food dishes that are not near your cat's bowls. Feed them separately so that your kitten has a chance to eat and your cat doesn't become possessive of its own food. If necessary, feed one of the cats in a different room while keeping the door closed.
Areas for Sleeping
Give each cat its own sleeping space. Don't try to give the new kitten your cat's old bedding or condos. These have already been claimed by your older cat, who won't appreciate a kitten using them without authorization.
Watching Areas
For example, your cat might enjoy spending some time watching the kitten from a high perch. These locations can also serve as a good haven for your cat if it needs to escape a hostile or bothersome kitten.
a litter box
Make sure there is one more litter box available than there are cats. This implies that you need three litter boxes if you have two cats. If your older cat and the new kitten are both in different boxes at the same time, there shouldn't be a direct line of sight between them.
Pheromones
Purchase special cat pheromone sprays, wipes, and diffusers, and use them as long as required. During the introduction phase, both your new kitten and the senior cat may benefit from these pheromones, which make cats feel at ease and safe.
Treats
While giving your older cat one of its favorite treats, pet your new kitten and let it sniff you at the same time. This could assist in teaching your cat that the smell of the new kitten is not necessarily a bad thing.
Your adult cat may eventually begin to link the aroma of the kitten with goodies, turning it into a pleasant scent. When your kitten and cat are interacting well, repeat the action to encourage positive behavior.
Separation
Cats shouldn't be left alone together until they have interacted directly multiple times without any problems. Make sure your cat and kitten are safely separated if you can't keep an eye on them and are concerned that one might damage the other.
When you're at work or asleep at night, the new kitten can stay in the bathroom with a litter box, bed, and bowl of water. If your kitten won't leave your older cat alone, this is extremely useful.
Maintain Calm
A cat may occasionally exhibit misdirected anger toward a new kitten as a result of being startled by odd objects. Avoid making significant household changes while introducing the new kitten because cats are creatures of habit.
Changes like remodeling your kitchen, pulling up carpeting, or throwing a party with fireworks in the backyard fall under this category.
Disallow Fighting
Don't let your cat engage in more than hissing and swatting at the kitten, even though they might want to fight.
Distract the cats with a loud clap of your hands or a fast spritz of water if you think a battle is about to break out. If your cats fight, they should be kept apart for a while before being gradually reintroduced to one another over a few days to weeks.
