We just got a kitten yesterday and we were worried about our current cat not liking her but it’s basically the other way around! Our cat hasn’t shown any signs of aggression towards her, just more curious and wants to play with her. But the kitten keeps hissing at her and growling, is this normal behavior?
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Answers & Comments
Yes its normal behavior. You need to set up the kitten in your bedroom with own food, water and litter pan for a few days. You don't bring home a new pet and just turn it loose in the house and expect the resident animals to be friendly. The kitten is scared, it will take time.
Be sure the kitten is neutered/spayed by 4 months old and I hope your older cat is spayed too.
Your kitten just went from a familiar home to a new one, she's scared obviously. This is why it's recommended to put new kittens/cats in their own room for awhile so they can first acclimate to their new home before having more stress thrown at them.
Leave your kitten in a room with the essentials (litterbox, water, toys, food) and spend as much time with them as you can when you can. Once your kitten warms up to you and seems more comfortable, then work on getting her used to your other cat. Scent swapping and feeding them on opposite sides of the door are good places to start.
Once they are comfortable with that, then let them see eachother. It's a process and it may take awhile. Usually new kittens/cats should be confined to their own space for 10-14 days, but it's taken me as long as 1.5 months to integrate a new cat with into my "pack". It's better to do your research and take it slow than to rush and create problems that are easier avoided than fixed.
Male cat, right? Normal behavior as the kitten is use to being around a female. Give the kitten a few days and it will settle it. Cats have a dominate/regressive order, and the older cat will eventual set the order and the kitten will submit to it.
It's normal while they are getting to know each other. Remember it's all new for the kitten, so s/he might be overwhelmed by the new surrounding, people, smells and other animals, so s/he hisses and growls to keep away and give her space. Once the kitten settles in (may take up to a couple of weeks), the dominant vs. submissive feline dynamic will emerge. Hopefully they will eventually get along or at least not fight.
Yes, its very normal. Let the two of them sort it out.
Yes, for at least a week or so.
Absolutely, she's just scared, she'll get over it in time the more she realizes yer big cat means her no harm.