Hi, I've got a 8 month old female kitten which I have had since 8weeks old, was bought privately. I have now just acquired a female 2 year old cat from Bluecross. Both have been neutured, jabs etc. I've now got the job of attempting to get these two to get on with each other. Any suggestions on best practice? The kitten is more than happy to have a new friend to play with, sniffing around her a lot, "working her out" etc but the 2 year old hisses and claws at the kitten. Is there anything I can do to make things easier?

Reading other threads it seems to be existing cat not accepting a new cat but my problem is the other way round

Got the 2 year old on Sat 2nd May 09 so had her 3 days. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

All the advice is the same which ever way round it is - think about scent swaping, feliway, patience and time, 3 days is a very short timeto expect them to get on. 2 weeks is considered okay for tolerance and longer to befriends. Imagine it for yourself - if you suddenly had to share your house with a complete stranger (or had to share a strangers house) would you be settled and comfortable within 3 days? - and you are a human who can talk!

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At the minute while I'm at work I've got the kitten locked in the kitchen and the 2 year old upstairs in the spare room which she has settled in to great. When I get home I let them both out for an hour or so and let them try work each other out, so far just hissing and a few paws thrown, nothing serious, chasing each other now and again etc.

Is this advisable just to let them "get on with it" or should I try the things suggested above first?

Thanks for your help

both all at the same time - as I said in a different thread - if you keep removing one after a short period of time the one left will think it has won and wonder why the other keeps coming back for more. Yes, split them up if it gets nasty - but hissing and spitting is just a warning to back off and give space, even batting ewith paws isn't really aggressive. I'd let them get on with it a little more BUT do all the other things AS WELL!

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We are having the same problem. Got Millie when she was 7 weeks old, she is now 9 months. Spayed 6th April. Got Lily, 2 years old on 16th April, spayed 7th April.
Millie was fine, but Lily hissed and growled. We put it down to her being frightened as she had been neglected and locked in a room for a year with no interaction with anything.
Things have improved in so much they will tolerate each other. They don't seemed threatened or scared of each other.
They keep chasing each other, really fast then pawing each other but it seems quite nasty. Lily does not hiss so much now. They will eat at the same time but now Millie seems constantly to torment Lily.
It will be 3 weeks on Thursday so still early days but vast improvement in alot of areas but still a long way to go before we have peace and harmony.
Millie is a moggy and Lily is a long haired persian so perhaps it may take a bit longer to be friends, not sure. Bloody hard work!!dawn 071.jpg

Thanks for all that, bought Felliway today, £28!!! not cheap, hope it works! lol they do seem to be tolerating each other slightly more. Hard work but hopefully worth it in the end.

Thanks again

I have the exact same problem, Alfie is a longhaired persian and Millie is a british shorthaired but he seems so much bigger than she is. He goes for her all the time and it seems really vicious. He was here 3 weeks before her and she arrived yesterday. I know its early days but im so worried she will get hurt. Plus she was diagnosed with Cat Flu so now ive had to separate them, so its going to be even harder when they get back together, any suggestions??