How do i introduce my new 8 month old kitten to my 9 year old cat and two dogs?

[Melilya]

so we got a 7-8 month kitten yesterday and it seems pretty obvious she hate my 5 year old cock-a-poo and my 1 year old shepard/lab and i thought maybe if she got along with my 9 year old female ginger maybe they could hang out.

boy was i wrong.

i went for a walk around the house and the little one in my arms wouldn't stop growling and hissing at everyone she saw.

and my older cat is very scared so she stays up where her food and water is and never moves.

please help.

 

[-hail (:]

Where did you get her from? It sounds like she wasn't properly socialized. Did she even growl at humans? Or just animals?

You should put the kitten you just got in a pet carrier. Bring your dogs and older cat into a room, shut the door, and put the cat carrier with the kitten in it by the wall, not in the middle of the room. That way your kitten can't be surrounded on all sides by animals, and she has a corner in which to retreat if she's not feeling brave.

If that doesn't work, and they don't end up getting along, I would say give her to a friend or sibling. You can't have pets that don't get along. It's just too hectic.

I really hope my answer helped!

 

[MississippiQueen]

just throw her in the mix. they'll figure it out. Eventually (maybe after weeks) they'll all get along.

 

[Graci]

Week 1: Keep the kitten in your bedroom with a litter box (I know, icky, but it will be worth it), food and water. The other cats and dogs will feel a 'What's in that box?' effect and sniff around the door, maybe even stick their paws under it. They might even try to communicate. This will let them get used to each other, and keep them curious about what's on the other side. Also, give your pets lots of attention so that they know there's nothing to be afraid of.

Week 2: Put up a dog fence in your door. Now the animals can see each other, and they know what they are. If the kitten is scared, he will feel protected behind the gate, and if the other animals want to get in, they can't. (If you want, try getting your other kitty away from her beloved food and water and then putting her near the fence. She may even "adopt" the kitten as her own.)

Week 3: Take the kitten on 30 minute walks around the house twice a day. You can do this in her arms at first, but later I suggest getting a cat harness and lead so she can explore on her own. Encourage friendly behavior between the animals. If there is any aggression, repeat weeks 2 and 3 until they are respectful to each other.

Week 4: Release your kitten into the rest of the house, but closely moniter her and the other animals. If you see any signs of unfriendly behavior, repeat weeks 2-4 until they are nicer to one another.

Week 5: You are done. However, make sure you re-train your kitten to go in the litmassageplanetox outside of your bedroom.

- Graci

 

[Bob N]

Here's how we introduce new comers to our gang:

Cats need to be introduced very slowly.

First of all, we do not allow a new cat to have any contact with our other cats until a vet has given the new cat a clean bill of health. This includes tests for such things as FIP and Feline Leukemia.

Cats can be successfully introduced to each other regardless of their ages or sexes.

We have successfully added adult cats to our family containing both young and old cats as well as introducing very young kittens to the other cats.

It has to be done slowly. If you simply put them together, you will fail the vast majority of the time.

The new cat has to be given time to get used to you and the new environment.

The existing cat has to get used to the smell of the new cat.

We introduce cats by keeping the new cat in the back room for up to a month. My office is there as is my wife's sewing table. There is a sofa and bookshelves.

We spend a lot of time with the new cat to get them used to us, the new environment and the new smells.

After they accept us with no problems, we put a screen door on the back room door frame and let everyone see each other for a week or so.

It may take a lot less time than a month to get to this point but we just take it slow and easy.

Once we judge it safe to do so, we let the new cats out into the house and chaperon the first encounters.

We've only ever had one problem introducing cats like this and that problem was resolved in a couple of weeks.

We've had 26 cats over the past 22 years and many of them were adults - 12 and older - when they joined our family.

We've also introduced several kittens, ranging from ages of 7 weeks to 4 or 5 months, to the rest of the crew with no problems.

You have to take it slow.

If you can't put up a screen door, perhaps two baby gates, stacked one on top of the other, will close off the door but still allow the cats to see each other.

If you can't use a screen door or baby gates, try letting the existing cat into the room with the new cat for a few minutes while you chaperon.

If things get bad, take the cat out of the room.

You just have to introduce cats slowly

There are cats who could be thrown together and become pals but they are few and far between.

 

[Messykatt]

I agree with Graci. I've done this numerous times in my life with cats and dogs, and I've never had it not work out, but you've got to do it slowly. My very first cat was 9 when I brought in a 6 week old kitten and everyone told me she was too old and too set in her ways, which was nonsense. But it's a process of everyone getting used to it.

And then keep your expectations in check. Right now, I'm in a condo with 2 cats and a dog and the dog was the later addition. It has worked out fine, but it didn't resolve itself in the first few weeks. In fact, it was fun to watch as their "relationships" evolved. But it all starts with doing it slowly and keeping the new one separate when you're not there to supervise them and show the other 3 that they're still important and there's nothing to be scared of.