Expert: Norman Auspitz - 6/16/2009

Question
Hi,

We(my husband and i) have had our little 'Boochie' (a female Persian cat) for a year now. She is the most calm and people friendly cat I've been around and is very loving.

However, last night we added a new member to your little family, another female Persian kitten (about 40 days old).
When we tried introducing Boo to the little kitten, she completely freaked out and started hissing insanely and making really strange growling/ groaning noises that we have never heard from her before.She's had her guard way up ever since.

I understand that she is scared and has automatically gone into alpha female mode, but I'm not sure of the best way to get her to calm down. She stays away from the kitten mainly but is also curious from a distance and doesn't take her eyes of it.

My husband and I both work and don't really know how to leave the two alone at home. We don't want boo to hurt the little kitten in anyway as she is much bigger than it.

What is the best way to calmly introduce the two?

Thanks for your time...LeeLo.


Answer
Lee,

The best way to introduce a new kitten is to start it out in its own room for a few days to let it get acclimated to its new home.  However, as they say, once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it is very difficult to get it back in.

Part of the normal "getting to know you" ritual between cats is the posturing, the spitting and hissing, and the like. IGNORE IT! After a while, they should begin chasing each other about and still have the occasional hiss or spit as they get accustomed to each other. Cats tend to make a whole lot of noise and even loosen up some fur. Rarely will two cats hurt each other. So, I would not worry about leaving them be when you are not home.

Now that they are introduced, there are a couple of things you must remember to do or not to do. Do not separate them again, they will get along, eventually! Do not interfere in their "discussions" as they need to sort it out amongst themselves! Any human intervention is counter productive and prolongs the getting to know you ritual!

It does not hurt to give the established cat treats and extra attention nor that new kitten is introduced (yes, cats do get jealous!).

A couple of things you may have to do are to feed them on separate dishes. Provide more than one litter pan in different areas of the household (as cats can be very territorial about litter pans).

Please remember that they may make up pretty quickly or it may take a few weeks.

Please let me know how they do.

Best regards... Norm.