The best pet tip I've found with cats is to get a couple of small towels - one for each cat. Rub the cats with their own towel, then give it to the other cat to sleep with and get used to each other's scents. Of course, we still take the time to slowly introduce them to each other, but this towel method seems to make the process go much easier in the long run.
This is Spike. He showed up in our carport one morning and we fell in love with him! He's an adorable orange tabby, 13 weeks old and extremely friendly and playful. He's the 3rd cat that we've adopted in the past 18 months and they all get along very well.
By Mary J. from Florence, SC
Anya is a 6 year old black female. She was raised for 6 months in a vet, when my aunt adopted her for me. She has lived with a dog all this time until May of this year, when my brother and I got an apartment.
I'm not going to lie. My cat is odd. She's not the brightest thing, and she's stupidly skittish at random times. It's like she has memory issues. She is a one-person cat (mine) though she will happily love on my brother during the day.
I have been told on many ocassions to "get her her own kitten". Supposedly it would bring her out of some awkwardness and bring her to play (she does NOT play much at all - she'll play with paper or a round ornament bulb for maybe half an hour before she walks off).
We started pheromones in the living room about a month ago. Four days ago, I adopted a 4 month old kitten for my little brother, who was desperately wanting a companion of his own. We named him Walker. He is very playful, super loving, almost dog-like, and just has to sit on you somehow.
I can't figure out Anya's attitude. If I carry Walker around, she right out ignores him. I even gave her treats at my feet while I sat crosslegged while holding him - and she was perfectly content until he got away from me and went nose to nose with her (so, her reaction was absolutely classic).
The moment Walker's feet hit the floor, Anya's done. She hisses softly and growls at him. It's almost funny how quiet she is about him - but I know she's angry, because she will turn on me too.
Walker has his own bedroom (my brothers). Anya's safe haven has always been my room. He stays locked up almost 24/7 with one of us in there with him. She gets the run of the house.
We are currently feeding them between closed doors. I've also changed Anya's schedule from free-feeding to 2 meals a day (8 and 8 am/pm). Every meal is a different reaction. Sometimes she'll eat closer to his bedroom door without a second look. Other times I can't entice her to even look at her bowl from yards away, even though I know she's starving.
The moment he's locked in his room she goes back to acting like nothing's changed. Sometimes she'll want to stick her nose under his door, then just walk off - other times she'll hiss and growl as she walks by, almost like it's for "good measure".
I'm getting super annoyed because I can't judge her. Every time we think we're making process she'll do something completely unexpected. It's been about three days - I know that's too short, but I can't figure out how to judge progress based on her behavior. She's all over the chart.
We did make a mistake tonight. Today was the day she ate treats right at my feet while I held him. So we tried to feed them tonight through a cracked door, with her about three feet away (he's fine, he'll eat out of her bowl if we let him). She wouldn't even look at her food, even though she was hungry enough to be caught munching dried leaves that came in off the porch. I tried backing her up and everything.
We tried a play date with them since both seemed oddly frisky (like I said, Anya doesn't play). We had them in separate sections of the living room, but Walker took off after Anya's toy before we had barely started. That's the first time Anya ever brought claws out - because he chased it almost on top of her. The claws were clearly defense, not offense, but it still made a mess of the date. So back to his room Walker went.
Then we went to the store and got canned meat. She ate that 2 feet from a cracked door, watching him but not once hissing or growling. As she finished, she walked to my bedroom (which she had to walk slightly passed his room to get there), threw a hiss at him on the way, then kept on going.
Even now she's cuddling with me and even played a little, even though she clearly was mad at me about everything today. I don't understand her at all!
I need advice on how to judge her attitude. I read several answers here and I'm encouraged that hissing and growling alone are not actually too aggressive (I've never heard my cat hiss before we got this kitten, though). I need advice on how to tell when she's ready for the next step.
The hardest part of this is Walker's demeanor. He is so sweet, and loving, and loyal. He wants to be with someone always - not just with, but touching them. So I know the moment we try a free-roam for both, he will seek her out. What can I do? Have we ruined any hope of a relationship? Is Anya just not kitten worthy?
By Chrissie
We have a 5 month old male kitten (not neutered yet will be tomorrow). We felt he was lonely especially since we work 9-5's so we adopted a now 4 month old female (who will also be spayed tomorrow).
We didn't know they weren't supposed to see each other in the beginning... so they did and hissed at each other. We then looked up the proper way and we started doing the introduction the correct way and now it's been about 3 weeks and the doors have been opened. They eat together even switch plates and at times share. They have used each others litter boxes. They sniff noses, have slept once in the same room (not together) but in the same room none the less.
Will they calm down after being spayed and neutered? And with the biting of the back of the neck is he asserting his dominance or trying to hurt her? Is there any way to get her to stop hissing and spitting at him? I feel if she does he wouldn't be so rough because you can tell he, at times, just wants to lick her, smell her and or just play
Please help. I want to keep my female kitten. We know she has the potential of being a good companion to him and our male isn't a normal kitten he's awesome just all around sweet and playful. He doesn't scratch any furniture. When we rough house with him he keeps his claws away. They're both calm cats and we want them to play together and all those cute things cats do but it kills us to see them not getting along so well.
By J. Denii
My 6 month old Siamese cat doesn't allow any other cat in my home. I don't know why she started making some weird noises, and even tries to attack. She show the same behavior to my friend's baby dog. I need one more cat. How can I make my Siamese cat's anger end, and make my new cat friends with my old one?
By Cat Lover
I have a thirteen week old kitten raised alone since it was three weeks old (mother killed). My brother wants me to care for his cat who is an older, male, neutered cat (five to six years old). Will my kitten be safe with him?
By Linda B
My cat Zuzu has been skinny ever since I got her as a kitten. She is now about 5-6 years old. I saved a kitten back in October and she's been acting very differently since. The kitten plays around with her too much and Zuzu is the type of cat that gets scared easily. The kitten doesn't always let Zuzu eat. Zuzu has also been acting differently with my other cat, Taby. Is there something wrong? I can't afford a vet right now. I've always feared of her having worms and just passing away in front of me. She's my favorite cat please help.
By Jamie
My 3 year old male (who I hand raised) is growling, hissing, and stalking the 9 week old kitten I just rescued. What should I do, we are on our 3rd day together.
By Virginia
Until recently, my older cat (Hazel) was the sweetest, loving, most well behaved cat. I got a kitten (Luna) who is 6 months old and does not know her boundaries. She has been bullying Hazel - jumping on her, and biting her in a playful way. The problem is she is very persistent and Hazel gets very annoyed.
Two other big problems are Luna will gorge on all of Hazel's food whenever shes gets the chance, and claims all Hazels "safe places" as her own. Luna is very pushy. I'm not sure how to establish her territory and Hazel's. We have tried spray bottles, separating and even yelling at Luna, but she doesn't know when to stop. I think Luna might have a problem with territory. She was kept in a box the first two months of her life! Neither of them are spayed.
By Elizabeth
I have a 3 month old female kitten (Hermione) and a male (Binx) who is the same age. I got Hermione when she was 4 weeks old and she adjusted very quickly, but I wasn't able to get Binx, who is actually her brother, until yesterday. And since I got him, she's been hissing at him and doesn't really let him come out from under the bed unless she's on top . Is this normal for her to act this way toward her sibling? And how long will it take for her to adjust to him being here?
By Mia-Marie H.
How do I make my older cat get along with my new kitten without her growling and attacking her?
By Orlando
I'm thinking of getting a new kitten, but I have heard that most cats and kittens don't get along. How do I stop them from fighting?
By H.L
My older female cat (approximately 1 year) has never been friendly to other house cats. We've had her since she was a kitten and she has been the only cat at the house apart from the strays my mom takes in. They stay only for a week or two (she is inside and the guest cats stay in a separate room outside the house). Recently we got a new male kitten, maybe a month or two old.
She hasn't attacked him yet, but whenever she gets even a little bit close to him she starts puffing out and hissing. The little kitten doesn't really mind her, he just stares at her like she is some crazy lady.By Maria H.
I am very worried about my 12 year old female cat that has been desexed, but never had any kittens of her own. I have had these two kittens, now 7 weeks old, in my house. They have been separated for two weeks. Initially my older cat was very cranky, hissing, and even attacked me, the owner.
They can see and smell each other, but are separated. I have my older cat in my bedroom; she has access to the kitchen and both lounge rooms. The kittens have access to the laundry, a very small hallway toilet, and the bathroom, as well. I have blocked half of my back room that goes outside in the backyard. My older cat seem scared.
She is hissing at the kittens, as well as us, when we have the smell of the kittens on myself and my two children (one 13 years and the other 14 years). My older cat is extremely angry, hissing, scratching, and biting us. She seemed to have settled a tiny bit in two weeks. We put the kittens underneath a washing basket. She looks and hisses, but won't go near them to smell them or look at them closer. Will my 12 year old eventually like these two kittens, or is she likely to hurt them or kill them?
Please help with any ideas.
By kyljacha from Melbourne V.I.C
My 7 month old female cat is very aggressive with my 8 week old kitten. Why does she growl, hiss, and attack the baby kitten? When will this stop?
By Lissa C. from Silver Spring, MD
I'm totally new to cats, until this year. So I really don't know much about them. Where I work there is a wild cat that keeps having litters (no one can catch her to try and get her spayed), but 5 months ago I took home a little boy kitten at about 5 weeks old....
I want another kitty. I have a female cat, indoor only, declawed. Would she get along better with a female kitty or a male one?
By DeDe B
