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Step 1
Allow your old cat to gradually familiarize itself with the kitten. For example, if it is a stray kitten that spends most of its time outdoors, let your old cat observe it through the window most of the time and bring the kitten indoors for short periods of time.
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Step 2
Set aside a room in your house where the kitten can live most of the time, if it is spending most of its time indoors. Take the kitten out of the room for short intervals and gradually introduce it to your old cat.
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Step 3
Establish a litter box for the kitten. If possible, place it some distance away from your old cat's litter box. Later, your cats may use each other's boxes, or even the same box, but its best to introduce your kitten to his own box at first.
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Step 4
Give the kitten its own food dish and water bowl. The cats then can use the same water bowl, but it is best if the kitten has his own bowl at first.
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Step 5
Talk nicely to the kitten and your old cat as you are introducing them to each other. Cats understand emotion, and your old cat can adapt to your emotion if it knows that you are friendly toward the new kitten.
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Step 6
Play with the kitten using balls or other cat toys, and let the old cat watch or join in. The old cat then realizes that the kitten is a great playmate.
Comments
MaternityBride said
on 4/30/2009 Good tips! Our old neutered male cat (13) was very grumpy at first with our new kitten (7 weeks) and I was afraid he would attack her - but 3 days later and they are already becoming buddies.
marissa806 said
on 10/4/2008 I have 2 older cats,age 11 and have just received a kitten. It is proving very difficult for them to get along. How long might it take. They just hiss at him whenever they see him. What is an estimated time frame i should be looking at or expecting? It has been about 7 days.