nwr, hard time bonding w/ my new kitten

I made a few posts lately about adopting a new kitten. I already have a wonderful year and a half old cat. She is without a doubt the ideal perfect cat in every way! I wanted to get another because I thought it would be fun and it would be cute to watch the two of them play and sleep together, assuming they do become friends.

Well, now my original cat hisses at the little one and she is miserable. Today is the first day she hasn't hid for hours (so far- it's only the AM, but yesterday by this time she was already in hiding) I feel like until my original cat stops being miserable, I can't bond with the new one DH and I thought this was going to be such a happy time but now we both are having second thoughts about adopting a new one. The new kitten is really cute though, I just want to be able to bond with him but I can't! Playing with him feels more like a chore because it keeps me from being with my original cat who I love. (we're keeping them in separate rooms until the hissing stops)

Anyway just bummed out and came on here to vent I'm a huge cat person.

Dont be sad. It could take a few months for them to get comfortable. You did a good thing by adopting. I used to go through this alot when i was fostering kittens. My house cats hated me lol.. But i knew they would get over it and that the new kitty's needed me. Is your old kitty fixed? And if so is it a female? Females seem to take longer to take to new kitties for some reason. FM me if you have any questions. I do cat rescue so i know alot about introducing new kittys and everything kitty related in general.




EDIT: also dont feel too bad about not bonding with the new kitty.. You will. I keep new kittys in my bedroom so I can snuggle with them at night... although kittens can be a PITA if they are in the running around like mad biting your feet stage.

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Posted by queenbean

I made a few posts lately about adopting a new kitten. I already have a wonderful year and a half old cat. She is without a doubt the ideal perfect cat in every way! I wanted to get another because I thought it would be fun and it would be cute to watch the two of them play and sleep together, assuming they do become friends.

Well, now my original cat hisses at the little one and she is miserable. Today is the first day she hasn't hid for hours (so far- it's only the AM, but yesterday by this time she was already in hiding) I feel like until my original cat stops being miserable, I can't bond with the new one DH and I thought this was going to be such a happy time but now we both are having second thoughts about adopting a new one. The new kitten is really cute though, I just want to be able to bond with him but I can't! Playing with him feels more like a chore because it keeps me from being with my original cat who I love. (we're keeping them in separate rooms until the hissing stops)

Anyway just bummed out and came on here to vent I'm a huge cat person.

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The same exact thing happened to me, I adopted a kitten from the shelter and my cat that i've had for five years reacted in the same way and I was so sorry for him..he looked completely out of his element, he literally couldn't function..so I ended up giving back the kitten.. I really hated that I had to do that, but I didn't feel like I had any other choice..

Don't worry.. she will adjust. #1 make sure she's fixed... that helps a lot. and also..keeping them in separate rooms is actually best at first... usually u introduce them slowly..
like letting them be in separate rooms where they can sniff eachother under the door.. try feeding them at the same time near the door in opposite rooms so they associate eachother with something good. then switch room so they can pick up on the scent. Hissing is normal.. it means they are scared or unsure of something.. it doesn't always mean it's a bad thing that can't change. We rescued 2 kittens from a lot around the corner.. they were already 6 months old and had been living on the street..although they were friendly.. it took time... my cat was the only cat for 4 years.. he would hiss me.. hiss the cats.. his the cages the cats came home in.. and now they clean eachother and sleep together. it's a process but it will get better. Don't let the new kitten have the run of the house.. keep her confined and let your kitty roam.. it will let your kitty feel she is in charge and the new kitten will start to know that there are boundaries for now. If you need more help feel free to IM me.. i just brought 7 kitties i was fostering to be adopted and still have 2 and my cats were mad .. but they got over it pretty quickly. good luck and congrats on the new kitty.. you did a great thing

I had something like this happen to me.... I have Mr. Noodles who is 5 and we brought 2 new kittens into the house....he hated life for about a month. He seemed like he was mad at us and was always attacking the kittens. But they just have to get to use to one another and I have to say that Mr. Noodles is even more lovey now than he use to be.

Hang in there...I use to have to wake up so early to watch them so they wouldn't fight at first but they really do love one another now and like I said Mr. Noodles seems happier...and believe me when they first showed up he was the saddesst maddest cat ever!