Behaviour problems

Question
We have a kitten that is around 8 months old. She has always been loving and playful. She is an indoor cat she hasnt be spayed yet. She has always played around biting lightly and controlled how hard she claws. every morning she would jump on the bed and start purring looking for our hands to pet her.

We recently tried to introduce her to another kitten, hoping they would be life long friends, so she wouldn't be lonely while we were gone. It really didn't go well at all and we ended up taking the new kitten back to her original owners.

Our cat is still very distressed. She wouldn't come in the the bedroom and hissed whenever she came close. She has been a little bit better lately but she is still hissing and snarling at random times. My husband will pick her up and they will lay on the bed then she will trip out after a few mins and start growling.

I do think she probably still needs to time to get over the trauma. I was wondering on how we should deal with her, as i get kinda of fearful when she is like that. I slightly raise my voice at her when she does it, just like when she does something wrong to try and stop her. but i am not sure it is working.

any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated!

Best wishes.
Samantha and unhappy cat Tilly.

Answer
If it hasn't been that long since you took the other kitten back then it is possible she is still catching the other kitten's smell, which is why she is growling.  Any bedding or clothes that you can wash to get rid of the kitten smell should help.  If it has been awhile since you got rid of the kitten then I would also take her to your vet for a check up to make sure nothing is physically wrong with her.  At 8 months she should be going into heat as well, so you might want to get her spayed soon.  That might help with some of her behavior as well.  Cats don't readily accept new family members, especially other cats so it may take her awhile to get over having her space invaded.  Keep reassuring her with attention and hopefully she will bounce back soon.

Amanda