It is a good idea to have plenty of litter trays, food, and water bowls available (more than the number of cats!). Scent first, and only scentĮven once they have their established zones, cat and kitten will need to learn to share space. Pheromone sprays or diffusers can help some cats if they seem unsettled. So making sure your older cat has had time to unruffle after a bad first encounter is useful. Introductions are best done calmly and slowly. This clear boundary of territory can help both parties to have their own comfort zones with their own resources, reducing the need to clash and compete.Īt the same time as the kitten is settling into their new area, your older cat can ‘reset’ their territory, calm down and replenish their comfort level. Their scent will soon be covering the room, marking it as definitely ‘theirs’. Include a litter tray, food and water so that the kitten has their own resources. This may seem counter-productive to getting them more used to each other, but your older cat will need time to settle down and re-establish their comfort level in their own home.Īllowing the kitten to occupy a room will also allow the kitten to establish some territory of their own. Separate the kitten into its own area, which is completely cut off from your older cat, for example in a spare room.
The introduction of a boisterous new ball of cuteness may well have taken your older cat by surprise, and left them with ruffled fur – either metaphorically or literally! The invasion of their territory will have been most unwelcome, hence the struggle to get the two cats to bond. But this is fairly unusual in non-related cats, and so definitely best not to rely on this. Cats can form strong social bonds, and then they will happily share beds, toys, food, etc. The key to having two (or more!) peaceful feline occupants in one house is for them to have their own space and their own food and water. But whether you did or didn’t, you need to backtrack!Ĭats are territorial, and can find it difficult to share both territory and resources. You may or may not have done a phased introduction, starting with scent swapping and proceeding on through visual contact before a full physical introduction. If your established cat is not tolerating the new kitten (either through overt aggression or by hiding away), it is best to re-start the whole process.
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