Certain cats immediately bond with new kittens. Some people never fully acclimate to a new cat, or it takes them a long time. How old and socialized the cat is when it meets you for the first time will determine a lot of this.
Cat behavior can be confusing at times, but understanding their wild cousins can help explain why cats can't always get along with one another.
Why Do Cats Reject New Kittens?
Cat behavior can be confusing at times, but understanding their wild cousins can help explain why cats can't always get along with one another.
Why Do Cats Reject New Kittens?
Wild cats and domesticated cat species are closely related. Despite their many distinctions, these groupings share many traits and instincts, such as how they get along with other cats.
Wild cats, including servals, bobcats, and lynxes, are solitary creatures in most cases. They are nocturnal, inherently reticent, and rarely seen. They spend the day hiding in their burrows, then at night they emerge to go food hunting alone.
Domesticated cats raised in the wild are known as feral cats, and they also hunt or sleep by themselves. However, if people are giving them food, they might establish a colony under the leadership of a female cat, known as the queen. Generally, cats that are connected form colonies. Toms, or male cats, typically leave their colony when they reach adulthood.
The typical domestic cat does not belong to the same social structure as this one. This is because house cats typically live in a fairly secluded area away from other cats, are spayed or neutered, and are frequently not well socialized with other cats. When you wish to add a new kitten or cat to your household, this may be an issue. Furthermore, feral cats typically reside in colonies with other cats that arrive in the colony and are genetically connected. Unrelated cats seldom join their ranks, but if they do, they often spend several months living on the periphery of the colony before being welcomed entirely.
Sometimes it's best to give your cat some time to get used to having a new kitten. However, your cat can find it quite challenging to get attached to a new kitten if it was not properly socialized before reaching the age of three. Some cats actually do better in homes where they are the only pets.
How to Put an End to Rejection
It's crucial to gradually acclimatize a new kitten to the feline household when you bring it home. If the cats have trouble getting along, try these simple actions to attempt to break the ice, if you've done that.
1 - Meal Bowls
Ensure that the kitten's water and food dishes are separate from your cat's and are kept in different locations. Feed them in different areas so your kitten can eat and your cat doesn't develop a territorial attitude towards its food. Shut the door and feed one of the cats in another room if necessary.
2 - Sleeping Places
Give each cat its own sleeping space. Never attempt to offer your new kitty your old condos or beds. These have already been claimed by your adult cat, who will not be amused if a kitten uses them without authorization.
3 - Observation Domains
Cats often strive to avoid "intruders" and only become overtly aggressive when necessary. Until your cat and the new kitten are at ease with one another, your cats should have a secure area to retreat to. Give your senior cat spaces that are off-limits to the kitten and that it alone is able to access. For a while, your cat might like to spend some time observing the kitten from a high perch. Additionally, these locations might serve as a nice haven for your cat in case it has to escape an unruly or hostile kitten.
4 - Boxes of Litter
A litter box should be kept in excess of the number of cats you have. This implies that you ought to have three litter boxes if you have two cats. If your new kitten and senior cat are in separate boxes around the same time, there shouldn't be a direct line or sight between them.
5 - Phytohormones
Invest in diffusers, wipes, and sprays that contain specific feline pheromones, and use them for as long as required. During the training phase, both the fresh kitten and your existing cat may benefit from these pheromones, which provide cats with a sense of security and relaxation.
6 - Sweets
While you are giving your older cat its favorite treats, pet the fresh kitten and let it sniff you. This could assist in educating your cat about the positive aspects of the new kitten's fragrance. Your adult cat may eventually come to identify the kitten's aroma with goodies, turning it into a pleasant smell. Reward your kitten or cat for their good behavior by doing similarly when you observe them interacting.
7 - A separation
Cats shouldn't be left alone with each other until they've had a few direct encounters without any problems. Make sure the cat or kitten are securely separated if you can't keep an eye on them and are concerned about one of them hurting the other. The new kitten may spend the night in your bedroom or while you're out at work, staying in a bathroom furnished with a bed, a bowl of water, and a litter box. If your kitten refuses to leave its parents alone, this will be extremely useful.
8 - Remain Calm
A cat may occasionally exhibit misdirected anger towards a new kitten as a result of strange objects frightening it. Since cats are creatures of habit, don't make any significant changes to the home when a new kitten is introduced. This covers making adjustments like remodeling your kitchen, removing the carpet, or hosting a backyard fireworks party.
9 - Don't permit fighting.
Don't let your cat do anything but hiss or swat at the kitten, even though they might want to fight. If you think a battle may break out, use a fast squirt of water and a loud clap of the hands to divert the cats' attention. If your cats fight, you should keep them apart for a while before reintroducing them one day at a time over a few days or weeks.
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