Introducing a new kitten to a cat

I'm probably not the best person to speak to as it didn't work out for me!! But I know what the tips are:

1. If you can, swop the scents before you even bring the kitten home. Get a cloth and wipe the cat around the cheeks, face etc with it, then take it to the kitten and do the same, etc. Even maybe let the cat sleep with something of the kittens, and vice versa. Cats know each other by scent, this way they won't be complete 'strangers' when they meet.

2. When the kitten comes home, give it it's own room with toys, litter tray, food, bed etc. Keep the cats separate, this stage can be quite slow I'm afraid! The cat may start to sniff at the door and will hear the kitten. It's good for the kitten to have a safe room of it's own aswell, to encourage them to feel safe.

3. Open the door slightly but still so the cat can't get in and the kitten can't get out. They might get used to seeing each other for a while.

4. Face to face introductions- need to be taken slowly! Expect some hissing and maybe even swatting of paws, the kitten will probably want to play and the cat will want to establish who is boss. This dominance process takes a while to establish, but they need to sort it out amongst themselves unless you are too concerned, if they fight too much throw a towel in between them, don't attempt to pull one off or you will get a good scratch!

5. Helps to feed them together in the same room but not next to each other, then slowly move their bowls together over time. They then associate each other with nice things. Same goes with playing, play with them together.

They might never be best buddies, or they might be. The whole process is sooooo slow, and it's best not to move to the next stage until the current stage is completely comfortable, or you risk having to start over again!

Hope it goes well, pics please!

Sorry I have written an epic there!

Argh, that sounds scary.

At the moment we're thinking of moving the cat into her own room and letting the kitten have the run of the house (we really only have two rooms with doors, one is our bedroom and the other the spare room, which is how are cat gets in and out of the house).

Good tip on the cloth, I may start get that sorted this weekend.

don't let Jam eat her

If you do that, then swap them over the next day so they get a good sniff of each other. We did that and then after a few days of swapping gave them limited exposure to each thoer (walking through a room holding the other, then sitting with them at oppsotie ends of rooms. After about a week they were fully integrated and get on pretty well.

You might end up googling to work out the difference between playing and fighting! It seems that if one is chansing the other all the time it's not ok.

Good luck.

The book 'cat confidential' has a chapter on this, and they suggest having a large wire crate, and using this to help integrate the cats, especially at feeding time.

I hired one from my vet for £5 a week, and had it for 4 weeks. I think it helped, although George still jumps on S&S whenever she sees them....they've taken to hissing at her now before she's even done anything!

The fights are less now though. I think the light evenings help as they spend more time outside with more space for George to run around and tire herself out (and more hiding places from George)

THey get on fine when they are asleep or eating!

I'm hopeful they may even be friends when George grows up/slows down!

Sorry didn't mean it to sound scary! Some cats you can just bung together and they get on fine, those are just the official tips!! I would be wary of putting the cat in their own room, you don't want them to see it as punishment and they might hear the kitten and think their territory is invaded. Just don't want it to cause more harm than good!