Introducing a female cat with a kitten to my own cat

Question
I have recently taken in a cat found abandoned with a kitten of about 7 weeks which is still partially suckling from her mother. I have a 9 month old neutered male cat and I wonder what the best way is to get them to tolerate each other. I am keeping them separate but they have seen each other. My cat is spitting and the mother cat is miaouwing in a warning fashion. I have let my cat get their scent by allowing him in the room when they were not in it and vice versa, but what would be my next step. I wondered whether to introduce the kitten separately but I don't want my cat to hurt her. I know mum will be protecting her baby but can you advise me please.  I have only had her for 2 days so it is early yet.

Answer
HI Patricia,

This is a tough one as the mama will deffenitly not want this strange cat anywhere near her kitten.  Personally I would leave them seperated for at least another week or even longer, let the mama and baby get used to you and thier new surroundings and then I would introduce her to your current kitty on her own with the baby nowhere around.  Taking the baby out of the equation will help but there will still be hissing and spitting, if however she is still doing the low throated sound it is not yet safe to put them together this is a warning sound that means the next step is a fight.  If she does this get her back in her room and try again in a few days.  Hissing and spitting is normal and to be expected though.  Do allow them to sniff at each other through the bottom of the door.  

Unforunately though, in my experience, until the baby is about 12wks plus she will not want the other cat around it even if she is doing ok integrating with him.  Hopefully you can keep them seperated for this long?  I know it is a pain but would be much easier on all involved if you waited until this point to introduce anyone.  

Some Feliway would likely be helpful in this situation.  Let me know how it's going and I can try to advise further.

Natoma