New Kitten Troubles
Discussion
Looking for some advice regarding my 2 new kittens.
Bought kitten A on Sunday night, and she's settled in fine. We bought kitten B last night, but all she has done is hiss, spit and arch her back at kitten A.
I know that they are likely to be wary of each other at first, but is the hissing, spitting and arching her back normal behaviour? Obviously they have only been together less than 24 hours so will they situation improve?
I'm in 2 minds whether to take kitten B back. Is it acceptable to return a kitten back to the place it was bought from? It was bought privately after spotting an advert in the local petshop.
Any advice/help very much appreciated.
Bought kitten A on Sunday night, and she's settled in fine. We bought kitten B last night, but all she has done is hiss, spit and arch her back at kitten A.
I know that they are likely to be wary of each other at first, but is the hissing, spitting and arching her back normal behaviour? Obviously they have only been together less than 24 hours so will they situation improve?
I'm in 2 minds whether to take kitten B back. Is it acceptable to return a kitten back to the place it was bought from? It was bought privately after spotting an advert in the local petshop.
Any advice/help very much appreciated.
bexVN said:
How is kitten B with you, how much interaction has it had with 'life' ie other people other animals etc this can make a difference to how it will cope with a new environment.
Kitten B is fine with me, happy to be picked up and stroked etc.As for interaction with others, not sure. Its only been at it's birth home with the person we bought it off, and then our house.
Will see how it gets on over the next week then, cheers all.
i ws looking into this recently as thinking of getting a new kitten... found this useful..
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/int...
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/int...
XDA said:
bexVN said:
How is kitten B with you, how much interaction has it had with 'life' ie other people other animals etc this can make a difference to how it will cope with a new environment.
Kitten B is fine with me, happy to be picked up and stroked etc.As for interaction with others, not sure. Its only been at it's birth home with the person we bought it off, and then our house.
Will see how it gets on over the next week then, cheers all.
It's a good sign that it is good with you, hopefully in a few days all will be well. What I would say is that a kitten should adapt quickly, if no improvement after a wk there could be a chance it'll not accept the other kitten
Mubby said:
i ws looking into this recently as thinking of getting a new kitten... found this useful..
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/int...
Cheers, will have a read tonight.http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/int...
bexVN said:
XDA said:
bexVN said:
How is kitten B with you, how much interaction has it had with 'life' ie other people other animals etc this can make a difference to how it will cope with a new environment.
Kitten B is fine with me, happy to be picked up and stroked etc.As for interaction with others, not sure. Its only been at it's birth home with the person we bought it off, and then our house.
Will see how it gets on over the next week then, cheers all.
It's a good sign that it is good with you, hopefully in a few days all will be well. What I would say is that a kitten should adapt quickly, if no improvement after a wk there could be a chance it'll not accept the other kitten
If it doesnt get along after a week, not sure what to do. I don't want to hand it over to a rescue centre, they've got enough unwanted animals.
bexVN said:
Don't stress yet. You just want to see gradual improvement over the next wk it's only if you don't see a change for the could you have an issue.
The thing is though, kitten A was spent all day hiding in her bed, where as before kitten B arrived we couldn't get her to stay in her bed!! It's as if she's too scared to come out.(We haven't named them yet, hence the A and B
)Jasandjules said:
Do you feed them next to each other? Also, get them both together for treats. Chances are they will be more interested in the good food than each other.
Can't really get them together. Kitten A steps back to a safe distance and kitten B immediately goes all defensive (growling and pawing the other.http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/introducing/index...
Some of the above may be worth a read, admittedly most of it is based on bringing a kitten into a home with established pets but prob still worth a look at for tips re: introductions.
I could have a chat to a colleague at work on Friday she has a special interest in cat behaviour so I can see if she can help.
Seems harsh that it's caused kitten A to regress, I think they need some time apart, the first kitty would seem to be the more submissive at the moment and needs to start feeling confident in its home again.
Some of the above may be worth a read, admittedly most of it is based on bringing a kitten into a home with established pets but prob still worth a look at for tips re: introductions.
I could have a chat to a colleague at work on Friday she has a special interest in cat behaviour so I can see if she can help.
Seems harsh that it's caused kitten A to regress, I think they need some time apart, the first kitty would seem to be the more submissive at the moment and needs to start feeling confident in its home again.
bexVN said:
http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/introducing/index...
Some of the above may be worth a read, admittedly most of it is based on bringing a kitten into a home with established pets but prob still worth a look at for tips re: introductions.
I could have a chat to a colleague at work on Friday she has a special interest in cat behaviour so I can see if she can help.
Seems harsh that it's caused kitten A to regress, I think they need some time apart, the first kitty would seem to be the more submissive at the moment and needs to start feeling confident in its home again.
Cheers for the link, well have a read tonight.Some of the above may be worth a read, admittedly most of it is based on bringing a kitten into a home with established pets but prob still worth a look at for tips re: introductions.
I could have a chat to a colleague at work on Friday she has a special interest in cat behaviour so I can see if she can help.
Seems harsh that it's caused kitten A to regress, I think they need some time apart, the first kitty would seem to be the more submissive at the moment and needs to start feeling confident in its home again.
If you could speak to your colleague on Friday, that would be great. Kitten B (newest one) seems to growl at kitten A, and kitten A then arches her back in response. Hasn't been any physical contact just growls and hissing. Both are female (we think).
I've been in this situation!
I brought a new kitten into the house when the other was about 3 months old. The new kitten hissed, growled, arched it's back and I honestly thought I'd have to give it back.
However I kept the 2 kittens separate for a few days with neutral territory being the hall where the litter tray sat. Then I left the room doors open so both kittens could explore and gradually they became best of pals, and remained that way for 18 years.
I think my new kitten was just terrified of being in another kitten's territory initially, although my older kitten didn't respond in any way.
As they got older, and became pals, if one of them was hidden away the other would start calling for it. Sweet!
I'd give your new kitten a few weeks to settle in and all should be well.
I brought a new kitten into the house when the other was about 3 months old. The new kitten hissed, growled, arched it's back and I honestly thought I'd have to give it back.
However I kept the 2 kittens separate for a few days with neutral territory being the hall where the litter tray sat. Then I left the room doors open so both kittens could explore and gradually they became best of pals, and remained that way for 18 years.
I think my new kitten was just terrified of being in another kitten's territory initially, although my older kitten didn't respond in any way.
As they got older, and became pals, if one of them was hidden away the other would start calling for it. Sweet!
I'd give your new kitten a few weeks to settle in and all should be well.
We introduced two kittens to our older cat after his brother died. Followed the guidelines from various sources - separate rooms, gradual intro, etc. Kittens were kept in one room and the old cat had the normal run of the house.
It took a few months until they became comfortable with each other but, a year on, they're often found in a heap sleeping.
Cats, even kittens, don;t like too much change and they take time to adapt.
Don't rush it.
It took a few months until they became comfortable with each other but, a year on, they're often found in a heap sleeping.
Cats, even kittens, don;t like too much change and they take time to adapt.
Don't rush it.
ds.
As the others have said, cats don't like changes & B has had the major shock of leaving mum & litter brothers & sisters to go to a new home with an unknown cat.
She's not going to be happy.
A isn't going to be happy becuase she is just getting used to her new home when along comes a strange cat
Try & follow the advice in the links above, given them both their own 'safe' rooms. Let each out into the rest of the house at different times so smells can be gotten used to. Put each in the others safe room for a few minutes, again, so they can smell the other without feeling threatened.
Swapping over litter trays can be a good smell transferrance as well.
Good luck, sounds like they may not need this ^^, mine still have odd spats with each other tho after nearly 2 years.
She's not going to be happy.
A isn't going to be happy becuase she is just getting used to her new home when along comes a strange cat
Try & follow the advice in the links above, given them both their own 'safe' rooms. Let each out into the rest of the house at different times so smells can be gotten used to. Put each in the others safe room for a few minutes, again, so they can smell the other without feeling threatened.
Swapping over litter trays can be a good smell transferrance as well.
Good luck, sounds like they may not need this ^^, mine still have odd spats with each other tho after nearly 2 years.
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