Posted on 04/23/2012 4:55:07 PM PDT by carton253
Just need some advice on how best to introduce two kittens to a 9 year old male cat.
On Saturday night, I just got two kittens (very cute) and Smeagol (the male cat) spent the first two days hiding in the bedroom. Now, he is making an appearance and he is a third curious, a third scared, and a third hostile.
My question is this... when I go to work, should I keep Smeagol and the kittens separated? Would it be wrong to keep Smeagol in the bedroom (where he has been hiding out)? As silly as it seems, I don't want him to think tht he is being punished. Should I confine the kittens? Or would it be okay just to keep the status quo and let Smeagol come to terms with the kittens.
I don't know if Smeagol would hurt the kittens...whereas the kittens could care less about the Smeagol. He's just the cat that runs back and forth from the kitchen to the bedroom.
Thank you for you help.
Any help you can give me would be appreciated.
Replace the food in his bowl with the kittens.
That’s helpful.
The 9-year old is NOT going to like the change. That’s just a cat’s nature. They like things to move SLOWLY.
If you can, keep the two kittens in a separate room for a while. Allow the 9-year old to smell them through the bottom of the door. Eventually, he will become used to the scents. You’ll have an idea of this when he stops growling.
After this, slowly introduce the kittens. Be patient! I suspect that the 9-year old won’t exactly LIKE them, but he’ll come to tolerate them.
Speaking from experience...
Your mature cat and the kittens should be fine out together and alone. If the adult gets too rough, the kittens need free run of the house to find a good spot to hide.
Smeagol will act as the dominate cat as it was his house. the kittens will learn to accept that.
I’m no expert, my 5 are all from one big happy family, mama and 4 kittens
But I would not leave everyone alone, unsupervised until I knew the old man accepted the youngins or until the youngins got to be the old man’s size.
I would try to confine the kids and let the old man have the run of the house rather than confine him.
I would suggest you introduce the kittens under your supervision...and pay much attention to your older Tom. Cats do respond to feedback...but their natural urges are powerful.
See if you can nuture your older cat's paternal instincts.
Male cats do have a pateral instinct...but it needs to be encouraged.
Also, cats, if they trust you implicitly, will respond to negative feedback. I use a spray bottle of water and after using it give much reinforcement (saying that I love you though I want a different response).
Good luck...you are attempting to thread a very difficult needle!
Ping ,Cat.
I love cats!
I’d keep the grown cat seperate from the kittens while at work for awhile.
Congrats on the new kettehs, and best of luck.
Get a dog to separate them fighting. Series!
Try having some real fun, like I did. Introduce a 10 year old cat, the household’s Senior Fur Person, to an insecure nine week old Great Dane puppy who outweighs her my more than two to one.
Try having some real fun, like I did. Introduce a 10 year old cat, the household’s Senior Fur Person, to an insecure nine week old Great Dane puppy who outweighs her my more than two to one.
There’s one in every crowd.
CusinArt.......short quick pulses 1 min
I bet you did have fun.
A male neutered young is unlikely to hurt kittens, but I'd still take it very slow.
Thank you... I just want to make sure everyone gets along.
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