About 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).
Education/Credentials ***********
Awards and Honors * One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
Question We have an older male cat that has been neutered and is about 10 years old in human years. We are thinking of taking in a kitten that is about 5 weeks old. Right now the older cat is kind of watching from a far and will hiss at anyone when ever the little one is around. Is this something that will go away over time, or is this something that we should do after the older one has moved on to the more peaceful place in the sky?
Answer Joel,
Older cats usually do not care for kittens because of their energy level, smell, and the fact that they ruin an older cat's routine and peace.
A kitten, if it is healthy, will have lots of energy and will like to play a lot. When the only other playmate for the kitten is an old cat the kitten will try to play with him as he would another with another kitten. That causes problems. For the older cat...and for the kitten, who gets confused and can get depressed and lose heart because the older cat won't play and will growl and hiss at him. The kitten will try to play with the older cat who is really past the age of playing kitty games like chase or roughhousing, like the kitten needs or wants, and that is not fair to the kitten, or to your older cat, who should be your first priority.
It has a better chance of working if you get 2 kittens together. That way they can play with each other and burn off energy and mostly will leave the older cat alone. Kittens need a friend to roughhouse with, play chase and other kitty games with, to snuggle with, to be companions with, and to be comforted by when they are so young, and when they are alone.
The older cat may become stressed, may quit eating, start having 'accidents' instead of using the litter box, and may start pulling out his fur. He will be stressed to some degree no matter what by the kitten, and he probably would be even more stressed by two kittens. But if you have one kitten you should have 2 for the happiness of the kitten. A kind of catch-22 situation.
Though your older cat may surprise you and like the kitten! I have one neutered male that will immediately lick and clean any kitten he sees. All cats are different in temperament and personality. There are very few 'textbook' cats that all rules apply to. You can only try and see what happens and how your cat reacts.
Here are some good links for more information on introductions and older cats:
(copy and paste or type the whole links into your address bar)
Your cat is about 56 years old. Being prepared and knowledgeable about elderly cats will make things easier for the cat and for you. I am including some very good links about elderly cats for future reference :
(Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)
