I Just Got a New Kitten & My Older Cat Hates Them: 6 Vet Approved Tips on What to Do
Bringing home a new kitten can be stressful not only for your new addition but for your existing pets as well. There is an adjustment period that should be expected with the addition of any new pet to the home, but you’ll need to take steps to make this period go as smoothly as possible. It is not uncommon for older cats to react negatively to the addition of a kitten to the home. It can feel like your older cat hating your kitten is something that will never end, but there are things that you can do to ease the transition.
How to Safely Introduce Your Cats
1. Quarantine Your New Cat and Introduce Their Scents First
The first way you should introduce your older cat to your new kitten is to allow them to smell each other while keeping your new kitten separated, such as in a spare room where they have access to their own food, water, litter box, and bed. You can rub a towel or blanket on your pets and then put the pieces of fabric in the other’s vicinity so that they start to get used to the other’s scent. Next, put them in the other cat’s “territory” to explore without the other cat being there. You can also rotate the cats between the two rooms. Avoid letting them see each other immediately. This should be a slow process that takes at least a few weeks.
2. Slowly Increase Access
After the cats seem comfortable with the smell of each other, then you can slowly start increasing their access to each other. First, let them see each other without any contact, and let them interact through the door. Then a face-to-face interaction can be done by putting one in a crate and allowing them to be in the same room under your supervision. Split them up if any aggression starts to show, as this can make the situation stressful for both cats.
Make sure the earliest visual introductions don’t allow the cats to physically access each other. Over time, you’ll be able to allow them to get close to each other with only a screen or gate between them. Increase their exposure to one another until you feel comfortable putting them in the same room as each other, but always with your supervision. Over time, they should get used to each other and will hopefully become good friends.
If there is any aggression, go back a step. Don’t get impatient with this process. Introducing your older cat to your new kitten and helping them learn to like each other can take a while!
3. Monitor for Issues
Once your cats are fully introduced to each other, there may still be tension between the two of them. This is a difficult adjustment for your older cat that requires a lot of patience. Cats hate change, after all. Monitor them closely and try to allow them together only with supervision for several weeks. If your cats are left to their own devices, then aggression and stress may occur without you even realizing it’s happening.
4. Provide Safe Spaces
Your older cat is used to the entire home being their territory, but now they have been put into a situation where they must share the space. Ensure that both of your cats have safe spaces they can go to when they need a break from each other. This may be on a shelf, in a closet or bedroom, or somewhere that only one of the cats can reach. If your older cat isn’t allowed a way to escape from the kitten when they’re overwhelmed or stressed, then they are likely to resort to aggression or withdrawal.
5. Keep Their Belongings Separate
Along with having their own safe spaces to retreat to, cats should have their areas to eat, sleep, and toilet. For litter boxes, the rule is to have one per cat, plus one extra.
6. Praise Their Progress
Whenever you notice that your cats are behaving appropriately toward one another, be sure to reward the good behavior with praise and treats. This encourages your cat to continue the good behavior and creates a positive association with the other cat!
In Conclusion
Slow, controlled introductions are the key to helping your older cat adjust to the presence of the new kitten. Kittens can be little energy bombs that are a lot to take in, especially for an older cat that isn’t used to the energy. Be patient as you allow them to learn about each other.
In some cases, pheromone plug-ins or calming supplements may be needed to help during the adjustment period. If one or both cats seem to be experiencing extreme stress or aggression, then you need to contact a vet for help. Some behavioral issues can be managed with prescription medications, and some may need the assistance of a specialized trainer or behaviorist.
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Featured Image Credit: KristiBlokhin, Shutterstock
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Brooke Billingsley, a former veterinary assistant for nine years, became a nurse in 2013. She lives in Arkansas with her boyfriend of five years, surrounded by her beloved pets: three dogs, two cats, five fish, and two snails. Brooke has a soft spot for special needs animals, caring for a three-legged senior dog and a widely known cat with acromegaly and cerebellar hypoplasia. She has developed a keen interest in fish keeping and is always learning how to provide the best environment for her aquatic pets. In addition to her passion for animals, Brooke enjoys gardening and maintains a vegetable garden during the summer. She stays active with yoga and received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2020. Brooke also hosts a podcast that delves into folklore and myth, dedicating her spare time to research and writing. She embraces the philosophy that every day is an opportunity for learning and growth, continually working to acquire new skills and knowledge.
