New Kitten, Old Cat troubles (Urgent)

MarcoND7

Hey guys. Almost a month ago at this point, we got a new kitten. At this point, she's almost four months old. Our old cat, about three, disliked her immediately and still does. He is pouncing on her and chasing her. During the day when we are at work and at night when we're asleep, we close her in the spare bedroom for her own safety and push Monty (the older cat) away when he attacks her. This morning after a bad pounce, we found a tuft of fur in his mouth.
We were contemplating giving her to a household where she wouldn't be terrorized, but we really want her to live with us. Any of you guys got a new cat to live with an old cat? How long did it take for them to not hate each other? Any advice on what to do?

I am very worried, thanks for any help.

SwashbucklerXX

Sounds like you introduced the two cats too completely, too quickly. Since you have the spare room already as a safe space for the new kitten, you can easily use it to step back and manage a slower re-introduction. Here is a link to instructions for a slow introduction. You'll need to be patient, as it can take a while, and you may need to restart at least some of the process a few times. Don't forget to spend plenty of time playing with your old cat and lavishing him with love and attention, as that will help alleviate his jealousy. Since there are two of you, one person can spend time with the old cat while the other spends time with the new one.

Also, I'm going to link you to my favourite organization, who you can call for more specific help on cat behaviour issues: http://www.catsinternational.org/ They were super-helpful to me when I had a problem with a new cat who bit, so you can call them if you're having trouble with the gradual re-introduction.

MarcoND7

SwashbucklerXX wrote: »

Sounds like you introduced the two cats too completely, too quickly. Since you have the spare room already as a safe space for the new kitten, you can easily use it to step back and manage a slower re-introduction. Here is a link to instructions for a slow introduction. You'll need to be patient, as it can take a while, and you may need to restart at least some of the process a few times. Don't forget to spend plenty of time playing with your old cat and lavishing him with love and attention, as that will help alleviate his jealousy. Since there are two of you, one person can spend time with the old cat while the other spends time with the new one.

Also, I'm going to link you to my favourite organization, who you can call for more specific help on cat behaviour issues: http://www.catsinternational.org/ They were super-helpful to me when I had a problem with a new cat who bit, so you can call them if you're having trouble with the gradual re-introduction.

Thanks so much with your help. I'll look into the links and keep it in mind.

Bionic Monkey

Yeah, I agree with what Swashbuckler said. Separate them again, and just reintroduce them slowly. And make sure you lavish attention on your old cat. Sometimes it's scary how smart these animals can be, and how jealous they can get.

I had a five-year-old cat when my wife and I found a kitten that had come onto our porch, and wouldn't leave. The older cat definitely didn't like her, and they fought quite a bit early on, even if it wasn't quite as bad as what your two are going through. But we introduced them slowly like Swash suggested, and they're actually rather friendly now. They'll nap next to each other, and even clean each other, though the cleaning usually devolves into fighting fairly quickly.

They'll still sometimes fight, but it's usually play that gets too rough, which is easy when one cat is a maine coon, and the other is a smallish-sized tabby. We just break them up, and they're usually fine again. If they're not, we'll just put them in separate rooms until tempers cool down. Yes, you read that right; we put them in time out.

If you haven't already, look into what constitutes fight vs. play when it comes to cats. Their play is exceptionally rough, and can easily be mistaken for fighting if you're not familiar with the distinction.

bwanie

my cats got on fine.

but, they'd have the occasional fight, especially if we weren't there to stop the skoggcat when it got out of hand.

fur everywhere.

and sometimes one would end up with a scratched nose or neck. they never seemd to be too impressed with these "wounds" and would be back to licking eachother five minutes later.

i don't think you should be too worried about it.

Visti

Also, they totally need to fight once in a while to see who will be dominant. They're not people.

But I also agree that a slower reintroduction would probably be good.

bwanie

now if the little one gets dominated at every turn then yes, you probably need to establish a new status quo.

re-introducing would be a good idea.

Bliss 101

How does your old cat show his dislike, besides pouncing and chasing? Is he hissing or otherwise making noise at the kitten? Does he flatten his ears back against his head when he goes after the kitten? If his ears are up then it's all a game to him. Does the kitten appear visibly afraid and stressed even when the older cat isn't chasing him?

Cats can get pretty rough even when they're just playing. A tuft of hair in one cat's mouth isn't a bad sign in and of itself (try brushing a cat and see just how much comes loose easily). When cats do actual damage to each other, there's a lot of screaming and visible blood involved.

I'm not disagreeing with the above advice about slow introduction. Just making sure this isn't a case of the owners mistaking typical cat dominance behavior (which is in part established through "playing") for something more dangerous.

alexkidd

I've had very similar problems in the past, in my experience they have become less aggressive towards each other over time (never fully got on though)

looking over the link swashbuckler provided I would say that's great advice

OnTheLastCastle

What Bliss said but a bit simpler, does the smaller cat fluff out its fur and tail when it sees the other cat? All the time? Sometimes? Only when engaged?

Yes/no and I will advise you accordingly. Also how does it hold its tail during or after standoffs?

Playing, and evening coming away with a tuft of fur, is not in and of itself cause for alarm.

Awk

Just want to note in another month their behavior will be totally different.

OnTheLastCastle

Awk wrote: »

Just want to note in another month their behavior will be totally different.

Uh, what. That is in no way a given.

Awk

I didnt say it was a given. Their behavior will be most likely different, possibly friendly. Ive lived with cats my entire life. One month isnt very long to get two cats to live with each other well.

It takes time.

Divebommah

Wow, I'm in almost the exact same situation. For a month have had a female kitten, who is now four months, and introduced her slowly (using the method linked up above) to my male two year old. He was NOT happy for weeks and would hiss and swipe at her, but never chase. Eventually he started relaxing...which is when she turned on the crazy, and she now hunts and chases him MERCILESSLY. Between all the chasing and tussling (it's not particularly violent) they do snuggle up together and clean one another now. Took a long time to get here though. Good luck!

ffaristocrat

Cover the kitten in fish oil so that the adult will view the kitten as a delicious treat to be licked clean.

MarcoND7

Thank you all for your words of advice; they were very reassuring. I am willing to put in as much time in this as possible, so thanks again for your assurances it will take a while.

bwanie

get some nice kittytreats and start layin on the love on the old cat.

it will do wonders

ceres

Don't cover your cat in something edible, in case this needs to be said for some reason.