I brought my new bengal kitten home on saturday, she is very playful and is quite happy to approach my other cat (figo, 7 years old tom). Until the weekend he had been the only cat in the house. He is not happy about the new addition and will not approach her at all. He would rather stay out of the house and will not even come to me any more.
When he does see her he growls and hisses at her but then runs away like hes scared.
Does anyone have any advice on how i can get him used to my new kitty so hopefully they can be friends.

Plenty of people reading this post, but i still do not have one reply ................ please, any advice would be worth trying

Thanks

Hello trace, I am by no means an expert but I am going through a similar situation with my resident cat (Amber - 2 year old spayed female) and my new 6 week old kitten (Millie). I got Millie on Saturday and as of yet, I have not let her and Amber meet. I have been keeping her in my spare room with everything she needs, litter tray, food etc and allowing Amber run of the rest of the house. Amber is aware of Millie's presence and is being very off with me, she seems to be sulking, and she hisses if she ever happens to go near Millie's door. I am attempting to swap their scents by stroking one, then the other, by swapping blankets and toys as recommended on here (thank you siamesekelly and janee). If Amber happens to go outside, I allow Millie to walk round the rest of the house to spread her scent that way too. I have let Amber in Millie's room and shut Millie in mine while Amber investigates. I did a lot of reading up on the subject and am really worried about their first introductions but I think with time and patience it will be ok. I am sure you will be ok too and in time your two cats will be best of friends. Good luck!

Don't expect them to get along straight away. Imagine it's you and a new person comes to live with you, a total stranger, it would take you some time to get to know the new comer.

Remeber your Tom may feel jealous. Be sure to get him alone in a room and give him lots of love and praise etc.

You should have introduced the kitten more slowely. Leaving her have one room then swapping blankets and beds between both cats to swap scents etc.

Cover both cats in talc, they will smell the same and it may help. Play with the together with a dangly toy or something.

When your tom is being good praise him, give him a treat etc. Though as I say it's early days and he's used to being alone.

I could take a couple of weeks or more but so long as it's just hissing and he's not attacking then that's good. The hissing will lessen and I'm sure he'll enjoy having some one to play with and run about with soon enough.


Try not to frett too much either, the cats pick up on this and makes them stress too. Also, maybe try a feliway plug in, it contains feline scent which helps calm and ease cats.

True, i remember introducing a kitten to our tom cat jeez there was so much back arching and hissing it was unreal, it took about a few weeks i think,when we look at the photos of them together you wouldnt have imagined they hated each other when they first met lol It all turns out right in the end, it may not look it but it does.

is your cat fat by any chance? it makes a difference...

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The Bull and The Bear

Read this link - it might help:

Cat Rescue and Adoption - Sheffield - Wizz Catz

Yes Figo is quite a big cat, lol,

Please elaborate on the difference this makes?