Resident Cat Scared of New Kitten

Cats
1

I adopted my 5-year-old Russian Blue when she was 9 months old. :paw_prints: She’s always been loving but also enjoys her alone time. When I saw a listing for an 8-week-old Russian Blue, I thought it would be nice for her to have a companion. However, it’s been 5 days, and my cat wants nothing to do with the kitten. :crying_cat_face:

She hides upstairs and hisses whenever she smells the kitten on me. She only comes down at night when the kitten is in another room to eat and use the litter box. :plate_with_cutlery:

It seemed like she was making progress, but today she started hissing and swatting again. :pensive: I just want them to get along. Any tips?

2

When I introduced a new kitten to my resident cat, it was a tough transition just like yours. My older cat was initially hostile and hid away, hissing and swatting at the kitten. I found that patience and gradual introduction were key. I used scent swapping, where I would rub a cloth on each cat and then place it with the other to get them used to each other’s smell. I also allowed them to interact under a door or through a baby gate, gradually increasing their exposure to one another. It took time, but slowly they became more comfortable. I’d suggest continuing with gradual introductions, giving your older cat plenty of attention, and ensuring she has her own safe spaces. It can be a slow process, but with patience, they often warm up to each other.

3

When I brought in two more kittens, I had a void that dated back to five years. To allow them to become accustomed to each other’s smells, I initially keep them apart and feed them on different sides of the door. The kittens would merely play with each other after they discovered their owner didn’t want to play with them, which happened the same week I introduced them. They were all playing together in a few of weeks.

The intriguing aspect of this tale is that at six months old, I saved the emptiness. He had never seen kittens or their play as I had two elder cats at the time. I observed them practically teaching him how to play.