Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/2/2009

Question
Hi,
    I have a 3 year old spayed calico cat and a 5 month old female kitten that my daughter brought home 1 month ago. The first time they were introduced, they sniffed at each other while about 3 feet apart, then the kitten hissed and growled at her. After that, the hostilities began. The calico is outside most of the time and my daughter tries to keep the kitten inside. Sometimes they would stare at each other and the kitten would tease her, knowing that the older cat could not harm her. The older cat would become angry and try to get at her through the window screen. It would be no problem to keep them separated, but the kitten sneaks outside every chance she gets. She would follow the calico cat from a distance, the older cat gets angry and attacks her.
    Sometimes when the older cat sneaks into the house, she eats the kitten's food. When the kitten sneaks outside, she'll go out of her way to eat from the calico's  bowl. The kitten loves to sneak outside, but then she is attacked and starts to crap on herself. I don't know why she keeps provoking the calico. I let the calico stay inside for short periods of time, which abruptly ends when the kitten follows her around and the calico attacks her.
    I used to have two dogs, one was a teacup poodle/yorkshire terrier mix puppy. My calico was 2 years old when they were introduced. My cat did not know what to make of this fluffy little creature, but she did not view him to be a threat. They ended up playing with each other many times. They were so much fun to watch. The puppy died from parvovirus 4 months later. 2 months later, my daughter brought home a 6 month old male neutered terrier mix that was about her size. Their relationship was similar to the previous dog. Calico treated him like an somewhat annoying "brother", slapping him with her paw, but not scratching him unless he got on her last nerve. Several months later, he sneaked outside and was fatally injured by a car.           Several months after that, the kitten arrived.
     I used to have 23 cats when I was a kid and none of them ever displayed this kind of animosity and aggression. I wonder if things will change when I have the kitten spayed? Why do the two cats hate each other so much? And I almost forgot to mention that the calico stays outside because she would sneak food from the table, kitchen counters and cooktop whenever she thought we were not looking. I'm a baker and can't tolerate contamination of my working area(the kitchen) by dirty cat paws and floating cat hairs that will make my baked goods, unsafe to eat. So far, the kitten has not done this. She gets squirted with water every time she  enters the kitchen. She may end up outside too if she starts doing it as well. This concerns me because the kitten is attacked every time she goes outside. What is going on? Am I just making all the wrong moves concerning my cats?

Answer
Margueritte,

A calico cat is VERY territorial and she sees the kitten as a threat and intruder in HER territory. The mistake I see is that you did not do the introduction process correctly. You may want to start over from scratch but it may take longer since there was a negative 'first impression'.  It can take 2 weeks, a month, or more for them to start getting along. You can not just put them together and expect them to get along. That very rarely ever happens.
I am attaching a couple of links as a guide on how to go about the introduction process:
(copy and paste, or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library%26act=show%26item=cattocati...

I use a big dog crate for a new cat. I got mine at Petco and I am attaching a picture of it. It has room for litterbox, food and water, small cat carrier without the door for a bed and to get up on, and they still have room. That way they can get used to another cat around, and the other cat can sniff and check them out safely. You can gradually let the cat out for short periods of time as they start getting used to each other. You can switch and let the new cat out to investigate the home safely while the resident cat is in the crate getting used to the new cat's smells.

Once they can be together without fighting feed both cats yummy cat treats (like tuna or pieces of raw steak) TOGETHER. That is so the cats will associate each other with something pleasant.

Also getting a pet laser light (at PetSmart, etc.) is great for interaction between the two cats. They both can chase the 'little red bug' on the floor, ceilings, and walls, and they tend to forget about the other cat as they focus on the 'bug' which helps them get used to each other.

Spaying will definitely help and the kitten is old enough. In fact she is old enough to get pregnant!

The kitten is trying to play with with older cat. When you have a kitten, you need two. A kitten needs a playmate to wrestle with, snuggle with, and be a comfort and companionship, especially when the kitten is alone. It would help her trying to annoy the older cat. Or you may to keep harmony and think about re-homing the kitten so both cats can be happy. But with a lot of time and patience, and when the kitten gets some size on her to protect herself, it may work out. It will all depend on your calico and if she decides to share her space.

Tabbi