Hi there
I am new to being a pet owner so apologise if what I am saying is sounds quite dramatic.

3 months ago we purchased a beautiful Siberian Cross ..... he is the best cat you could ask for, fantastic temperament with my children ( 7 & 6 year olds )full of character, friendly, cuddly, and is now nearly 6 months and due for his 'op' on the 27th November.
I am due back to work beginning Jan and before I go back I wanted to get Popcorn a friend. Popcorn is a house cat and luckily we have a large home with a fab conservatory which has become a cat playroom !

So I rescued a little 7 week old grey tabby boy. I really would like help in ensuring that I am doing the right thing, whilst the resident cat is a baby himself, he is not happy that another cat has taken up residence ..... I have slowly introduced them have a separate room for baby kitty ( Mushu ) and allow Popcorn 10 - 15 min visits, every time he hisses at baby, and bats him on the head ( is this normal ? / usual ? ) baby kitty just lays there totally submissive.Whilst kitty is alone he is adorable, playful spirited and a typical 7 week kitten, but I hate seeing him treated like this by Popcorn and would like to know if there is anything else i should be doing to help this union .... Popcorn is now hissing at myself and the children and is really upsetting us as he was ( and of course still is ) our little treasure ....

Any advice would be appreciated as I feel that in getting Popcorn a friend, I have just upset the entire family and I am really really upset by it ....
Thanks so much
Dee

Hi and welcome to the forum.I have no first hand experience of introducing a new kitten into a house with a cat/kitten already resident but will try to give you my limited advice.Have a read of this link Living Together - Introducing a New Cat Introductions usually have to be done slowly as trying to speed the process can actually take longer if that makes any sense. Your new kitten is very young to have left mum and littermates,the ideal age being 12/13 weeks,you may find you have a few behaviour issues as this is the age that kittens are taught "manners" by mum and siblings,something we humans just cant manage.Someone with more hands on experience will hopefully be along soon,please feel free to come back and ask any questions and hopefully someone will have the answer.

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i used the above with a year old & kitten - its good, not smooth sailing..but better than 'letting them get on with it' IMO
rather than free access for 10 mins can you borrow large dog cage/ animal run ( i got 2nd hand pop up run on ebay) - this gives sight & smell without contact

hope that helps

oh - photos please!!!!!

ahhh yes I have decided to get a run and try what you have said, I did read the link and very useful but just wanted to hear it direct from someone if you see what I mean ..... 7 weeks is very young but it was either I rescue or a fatal ending..... I will let you know how I get on with a 'cage' ( hate that word ) but I live on the Isle of Wight ( a good thing ) but not many people want to deliver over here a little bit of water and they see me as overseas ! We do have a Pets At Home and I see they have them there so I can pick up ........ Thanks for being there .... I'll get some pics up soon !

Dee

Hi,
Try your vet for borrowing a crate. I have just introduced a kitten to my resident cat and we did it with a combination of the crate borrowed from the vet for £5 a week and through a cracked door where they could see and smell each other but not hurt each other.
We are now at the stage where we leave them on their own together but they are not yet friends. Its a really tough, emotional process (as you're not sure whether you've done the right thing in bringing a new cat into the home) but you will get there.

Good luck..