Tony is a better cat name! It can definitely be a long adjustment period. I find female cats to be a bit more challenging with new kitties. Only my experience and all my girl kitties were stars in their own right. All the male cats I have lived with were way more laid back. Anyway…some tips I have used over the years…
Brushing each kitty with the brush and letting them smell the hair of the other and also brushing with the hair onto the other kitty.
Being sure they have their own very separate food and water, as well as individual cat boxes.
I would always keep new kitty in a separate room as long as possible and allow a little visiting in the day.
Lots of praise for old kitty. Lots of petting and treats.
Kittens are resilient and have a TON of energy, which means they can overwhelm older kitty.
Once Tony is free to roam about, I tend to let the kitties work it out and only intervene when I hear the squeak of pain. Here it is generally Ziggy (new) chasing Clifford (old)…the littles just want to play.
If your older cat is a senior kitty or having a rough go, if they are okay with it, having them have a safe room or a high perch can help.
Patience is key. Please post more Tony pics as time allows, I adore kittens!
@SassyRocks …thanks so much!! I actually did much of what you suggest. Some Googling, some common sense.
We still have kitten sister Alice until 12/27. She is moving to FL with my son and his girlfriend. I’ve been taking care of her for them. I know 2 kittens against one adult would be too much.
I have been putting them in the bathroom while I’m at work, penned in the kitchen when I’m home (becoming more of a challenge), and in a large dog crate at night.
Today I allowed them to play in the living room/kitchen/foyer. Kitty came down for a bit to investigate. She has a room upstairs with all her own stuff. No kittens allowed. She is fine until they charge her. She bopped Alice on the head. I’ve been advised to let them work it out. Rosie, adult cat is 5, and a sweetheart. Tolerates the two dogs. I have no reason to believe she would hurt the kittens. But at less than 3 months old one scratch would do much damage. That is my fear. They are so little still. But I’m a worrier by nature.
Thanks again for the advice! No shortage of kitten pictures.
Oh the soft fluffiness!!! I am sure your Rosie knows just the right amount of pressure to get her point across, but not do damage. It definitely sounds like you know what you are doing! As long as Rosie has her space, all is good IMHO. More stressful for you I imagine than Rosie. And those little fluffballs, not a care in the world for them except for their next meal.
My kittens first Christmas and they aren’t even interested in the tree, just the tree skirt. This is Levi, his brother Pepper is under the tree out if frame.
We didnt even bother! There were other extenuating circumstances (non-drinking) that just made it more of a pain in the butt than a delight. Next year should be different. I love Christmas decorations. This is all we got this year…
Me and my wife are loving all over these kitten pics. Oh boy. You named one of them Alice and you didn’t tell me? You know our orange is an Alice? So the gray one is Alice? Ya ours always work it out. Patience is key. Eventually they’ll be fine. Probably butting in where I don’t belong. But I just love the kitten pics too.
Always love your pet pics and commentary. And you were so kind when I lost my Guy in October. My son and his gf adopted the sweet grey kitty and they chose the name! I’m losing it…I thought your beautiful white kitty was Alice. We are on our way back from helping them move to FL. I will miss Alice as will Tony. Not the safest practice, but Tony has been sleeping in my arms since we left Jacksonville. He was distraught and scared by himself in the crate. He has bonded a bit with the golden. Not so much with his big sister but her hissing has markedly decreased. The changing dynamics of one kitten, not two will hopefully help.
I can’t keep with with all the names. I’m always calling the wrong one and I live here.
Beatrix is the white one. We basically call her B. She’s a real pain so is usually yelled BEE! ours always work it out. I’m not surprised he was distraught by himself in the crate.
It’s Mavy time. Gray tabby.
It can definitely be a long adjustment period. I find female cats to be a bit more challenging with new kitties. Only my experience and all my girl kitties were stars in their own right. All the male cats I have lived with were way more laid back. Anyway…some tips I have used over the years…
Please post more Tony pics as time allows, I adore kittens!
ours always work it out. I’m not surprised he was distraught by himself in the crate.