Growling Cat

[sazzle84]

I brought my new kitten, Snuggles, home yesterday and she's getting on great with my two year old dog. The problem is my 20 month old cat who keeps hissing and growling at her. I think she's a bit jealous so have been giving her plenty of attention yet whenever she sees the kitten she growls and then runs away. I just want them to get along. I was told with the cat being 20 months old she should adapt well to bringing a kitten into the family. I just don't know what to do!!!

[bensmum]

It will take a while for the older cat to get used to the newcomer, however young she is. I have had cats for years and had to introduce new ones and there are always hissy fits while they get the pecking order sorted out. Just be patient and make lots of fuss of the older cat and they will eventually get used to each other.

[andy-hughes]

Bensmum is quite right. Cats are territorial, and hierachical creatures, so they fedel the need to remind the newcomer just whose house it is.

You will find they will settle after a few weeks, and then there will be the occasional spitting and hissing between them, which is perfectly natural and normal, so ignore it.

Cats have a way of working out how to live together, and they are best simply left to get on with it.

[purplepoodle]

Don't worry just yet! I recently got a new kitten and my two 2 year old cats reacted exactly the way you describe - hissing at the kitten, running away and sulking.

It took a week or two but gradually they came round - just give it some time and keep them in separate rooms while you aren't in the house.

My three get on just fine now, the kitten chases the two older cats around the house and only gets the occasional bat around the head when he annoys them too much!

[sazzle84]

Thanks all. I know its early days but was starting to panic as my dog has taken to her really well. Will keep them in separate rooms for time being whilst i'm out and i'll just have to be patient.

[Brinjal]

I dont mean to be a prophet of gloom and doom but my two cats despise each other. They are so jealous of each other they hiss and spit and fight the whole time. I hope you have better luck than I did.

[sazzle84]

How long u had your cats Brinjal? My two haven't been too bad tonight so fingers crossed.

[tabytha]

good grief give it time i recently adopted an 18 month old cat i already have a 3 year old cat. the 18 month old lived under my bed for 4 an a half weeks then they spat at each other for 2 weeks not hey get on brilliantly!! try keeping both cats in at night for a few weeks in the same space they will get 2 know each other much quicker. trust me please iv been doing this for years with cats they will manage promise x