Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/introducing new cats

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 3/10/2009


Question
ok I have a 5month old female kitten not yet fixed and found a stray male kitten guessing 7month old and the male seems fine he is calm and at times seems to be trying to engage but also sits and waits or lays down the 5month old female hisses and growls non stop she hides he stalks her but just sits and waits actually meowing friendly. Will she get over it or is it because they aren't fixed not sure if I should keep the stray but the female 5month kitten has up unitll this point needed a playmate she is biting a lot and seems bored because I work a lot. She never claws but before today bites too hard trying to play. Should I give up or let them do there thing?

Answer
Maggie,

I recommend getting them both fixed as soon as possible. They are at the age where she can be in heat and he is starting to be a tomcat.
Spaying and neutering solves a LOT of behavior problems.

Kittens need another kitten or cat for companionship and comfort when they are alone. They also need another cat to play kitty games with and snuggle with. It is better to have two cats than one.

It takes a while for the introduction and get acquainted period, but if you get them both fixed you should have two nice cats which are good companions for each other once they get used to each other.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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