introducing resident cat to new kitten

Question
Hi Carol, my husband and i have a 9 year old seal point Siamese Phebe. we recently bought a kitten, Mo, Siamese also. She is about 9 weeks now. We have had Mo for a little over a week now. We let Phebe see Mo when we brough her home, and Phebe hissed. We knew we had to seperate them, but i was just curious! We seperated Mo, put her in our bedroom with liter box, food and water, and toys. We would take Mo out of the room and put Phebe in there and let Mo wondering around the house and smell and leave her smell. After 6 days of doing that we let Phebe see Mo, and there is hissing from Phebe and growling. Phebe just hisses and runs and hides! and Mo will just chase her around. She almost got swatted a few times but she is pretty quick. I know it has only been 8 days since we bought her and 2 days with face to face interaction. I just hope the age difference is not too much. Phebe just seems to want to be left alone, and Mo is so curious about her and just runs right up to her. Is there anything i can do to better the situation? We still seperate them during the day. we dont let them out unsupervised and they only see each other a few times out of the day. Are we doing everything right and what else can i do so that they are friends someday!! Thank you

Answer
Rebecca,

Yes, you are doing the correct things and it sounds like things are progressing well.

It takes time and patience (and lots of love). Usually it will take about 2 weeks but sometimes with an older cat it will take up to a month or more for things to smooth out. Rarely it doesn't work out at all, but that doesn't sound like it will happen in your case.

Hissing, growls, and slaps are normal 'kitty communication' and nothing to worry about. When you need to be concerned is when there is blood being shed, major fur flying, or ears pinned flat back.

Let them be together for short periods at the time and stand back to let them get acquainted in kitty fashion. Phebe will set the kitten straight on the pecking order. Only step in if there is a major problem. Or if Phebe is starting to get obviously stressed. Give them both time outs. Older cats do not take stress as well as a younger cat and it could cause behavior and health problems.

Make sure Phebe has somewhere to go to get away from the kitten and be alone if she wants to. Most older cats do not like kittens. It may be because of their smell, their size, or the fact that they are so energetic. A female cat though is more accepting than a male cat is. It helps too that they are the same breed.

A good thing to do is to play interactively with them. A pet laser light is excellent. That way they are together but their attention is not focused on each other. Feed them at the same time too, but not the same dish. Also for initial introductions feed them first. It's hard to want to run and play, or fight, on a full stomach.

You can put the kitten in a carrier in the middle of the floor where Phebe can come up and smell her without being chased. Also put something the kitten has slept on where Phebe sleeps and vice versa so each cat's smell becomes familiar to the other.

Be sure to give Phebe LOTS of loving and attention so she doesn't feel like the kitten is taking over your affections.

Phebe is approx 52 years old in human years and the kitten is a teenager. It will just take time. But it sounds like "so far-so good".

I hope this helped. Feel free to write if you have more questions.

Tabbi