Socializing cats, part two

[cyan_blue]

It's generally not safe to leave an existing cat and a new kitten unsupervised together until you know that the older one won't try to off the younger one. So, we've been keeping the kitten behind closed doors in my room, and giving the older cat the run of the rest of the house.

The flaw in this notion is that Penwiper's been hanging out a lot in my newly re-arranged room lately, and is deeply unhappy at the closed door. So at 5:30 this morning, a half-hour's worth of meowing ensued, waking all of the adults in the household. This after the kitten had been playing pounce across the bedsheets.

I finally put the kitten back in her carrier and opened my room door, allowing Penwiper to come in. A couple of rounds of "approach, investigate, hiss, retreat..." - but the meowing lessened. The third time, Penwiper came up on my bed and let me pet her for a bit and then wandered back out - without hissing at the kitten. I think she might have a better time learning to tolerate the kitten if she isn't kept out of rooms, or away from people, that she considers to be hers.

Not sure what to do with this. Clearly the closed door is not happymaking, but it's still not safe to let them alone unsupervised. And we can't keep the kitten in the carrier for long periods - that is upsetting to the kitten.

Penwiper just approached a 4th time, coming up on my bed and being petted... she hissed at the kitten on her way out. And then she came through several more times, sometimes with and sometimes without the hisses. The meowing is still there, but has lessened, and - given the glances at the window - has to do in part with her existing annoyance about not being allowed outside, which we haven't been letting her do as much lately after she disappeared for 3 days on one excursion. It's been a hard time for her lately, with the 18yo going to college and lots of furniture being rearranged in the process. What with the new little kitten, we're worried she might choose to stay away even more.

The other adults seem to have gone back to sleep - me, I need to be up in 20 min anyway for work, and further sleep doesn't seem to be happening. Given that it's a holiday, with much of the household home today, perhaps they can supervise the two cats together or something when they are up again. I've been spraying some of that pheromonal cat calming agent into the air - hopefully it helps. It seemed to last night, when they first met.

Comments

[deedeebythebay.livejournal.com]

I don't know, I guess we just have different opinions/experiences. We didn't buy fancy sprays, use cat carriers or keep doors shut. Little Seth does just fine with Solveig and Moxie. Now, Moxie hates the kitten with a passion but she doesn't hurt it...no, she just doesn't want it around. Solveig (who is not peeing on things to not protest, just for our history of info), tolerates the kitten enough to do nose kisses (amazing for Solveig) but won't play with the poor thing. Same is happening for the dog, though Solveig there is just more disdainfully present than uptight or nearing acceptance.

The kitten and dog are happy together and best friends.

I think, based on the years of experience I've had with cats and the current experience that you might be being a bit over cautious, but I understand your concerns. They will work it out.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Nods, you are right... they seem happier just being allowed to both romp in the common space. Penwiper was more upset about being kept out of HER territory than about the kitten. That being said, we'll still likely keep them in separate rooms overnight for a bit, when we aren't around to supervise.

[deedeebythebay.livejournal.com]

I'm glad they're working it out. We did keep the kitten in dragon_fairie's room for a couple of weeks even though he'd been out for the daytime. Now he's just "out". Good luck with it all.

[bdot.livejournal.com]

so, i know *they* say to keep new and old cats apart... i have never done that. i have never had a problem with the old cat hammering on the new one and with the furniture being rearranged, this is a good time for both of them to be out together...before penwiper reestablishes territory! the fact that they are only occasionaly hissing could mean that they could be together without much of a problem.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

As noted to Darla, "Nods, you are right... they seem happier just being allowed to both romp in the common space. Penwiper was more upset about being kept out of HER territory than about the kitten. That being said, we'll still likely keep them in separate rooms overnight for a bit, when we aren't around to supervise."