My Cat HATES my New Kitten - Help? How to Introduce Cats!

Here at Kitten School, the happiest days are when my foster kitties get picked up to go off to their forever homes. Often the adopting family already has a cat, or cats, at home...so I try to prepare them on how to introduce the new kitty to lessen any drama. But cats are highly territorial and when a new cat suddenly appears in their home it can cause confusion and chaos. A cat who has always been relaxed and mellow can suddenly turn into a growling, hissing beast who lashes out at the newcomer, and even at his beloved owner! The new cat is often terrified - it is not only in a brand new place, but there's another cat who clearly does not want it to be there! This can all be very emotional for everyone involved, and sometimes it can seem that the existing cat will NEVER accept the new cat. Well, as someone who has experienced many years of introducing new cats to my home, I can give you some tips on how to make this process easier. You first have to understand that most cats will act hostile (or scared) of a new cat or kitten. This is normal! It just takes time for the cats to get to know one another...sometimes this can be a few days, other times it can be a few weeks. You want to introduce your cats SLOWLY, and always monitor the situation to prevent any serious fights or attacks. Hissing, growling, swatting - this is probably going to happen. Be patient and calm. NEVER yell at or hit a cat who is acting out- it won't help and will make things worse! You just have to be calm, encourage the cats to play and eat together, separate them if there's aggression, and BE PATIENT. The cats will need to first get used to each other, and then establish their social order in the household. But they usually DO work it out. And sometimes, even the hissiest, swattiest of "enemies" can eventually become the very best of cat friends!

Here's a few things you can get to help ease the transition when introducing a new cat. I have used them all and they have often made a difference:

Feliway - This plug-in diffuser mimics natural feline pheromones that the cats can smell and is calming to many cats. We have used this here at Kitten School for years and I think it has helped keep the peace with my resident cats, who sometimes resent the "intrusion" of foster kitties on their territory. The scent is not noticeable to humans and you just plug it in the wall, where it will waft the calming pheromones into the air. Might take a week or so to notice a difference, but many multi-cat owners swear by it!

Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets - This homeopathic herbal calming formula has been used to help people relax for ages and is now available in a pet formula safe for cats. A few drops in your cat's food or water can help calm him or her in stressful times, such as a trip to the vet, moving, or the introduction of a new kitty into the house

Kitten School is a foster home for cat and kittens who need a safe place to stay while they grow, heal or learn to love. Saving cats is not always easy, but there's plenty to learn with every foster who stays at Kitten School...be it a week old orphan kitten or an elderly cat abandoned at the shelter. We also have a TON of fun! Watching a Kitten School video is guaranteed to make you smile and to feel a little better about the world. Subscribe now and join the Kitten School family...a place for cat lovers of all ages and nationalities!

Please note, I will occasionally put affiliate links for products that I have used and trust to be of good quality. If you buy these products through one of my affiliate links, I will earn a small commission on the purchase.

[faithmichelle]

my kitten just simply doesn’t care- my older cat throws fits, hisses, and swats. my kitten just wants to play with her 😭

[susiequebec]

They do end up really liking each other, but it is stressful at first. Hang in there.

[xChaoticx]

"Don't shout at the cat."
Me: *already shouted at my cat for hissing and growling at my kitten.*
Also Me: *watches this part of the video* Damn it!

[isobelb]

Feeding in the same room "after a day or two" without any barrier is too soon for some cats, as I found out the hard way.

[Rain_MG]

My cat be like " *GET OUTTA MA SWAMP* "

[joannak]

This video made me feel so much better! I was worried about my older cat hissing at the door!

[miskyloo]

Patience is the key and not to rush it.. My male cat was horrified when we brought in another male.. Of course we kept them separated initially but the few times they did see each other they would scream and yell.. And on the odd occasion had a couple of punch ups.. It took about 4 months of feeding them in separate spaces but also able to see each other.. And later having them both on leash during little introductions.. Its also best not to leave them Alone together even after they seem reasonably friendly.. Now they absolutely adore each other and quite frankly even ignore us😀

[ro]

i feel awful lmao i just brought a new kitten home and while introducing my older cat hissed at me i couldn’t help it i burst into tears that cat is like my best friend lmao and i feel like he hates me or i’m scared he’s going to think i’m replacing him

[itzxanahi]

It’s been 1 week in half almost 2 weeks since I brought a new kitten home & my resident cat has finally accepted her new brother! They groom each other, take naps together, & play with each other. I was super stressed & felt awful the first few days bc my resident cat was very pissed about the new kitty but literally doing everything in this video helped me. Dedicate a lot of time & effort into the introduction process. Your kitties will love you for it!

[mandyroxurworld]

I can’t even begin to explain how much calmer this has made me feel already!

[RichLopp]

This video is a HUGE help!!! My cat is VERY pissed off at the new kitten we brought home!
Thanks for this video! I’m officially a new subscriber 🙏🏻

[MaysamR]

I watched many "how to introduce cats" videos and this one is my favorite. It is reasonably easy to do, to the point, and concisely tells many useful tips. Thanks!

[caitlinware]

the amount of cats she has makes me feel better about getting 2 kittens with my 2 older 11 year old and 8 year old cats.

[anatheaeolian]

I was so worried my cats were not going to get along because i heard my first cat hiss a few times and I thought that ment it was not going to work out. But my cat is just behaving the way you explained so I will continue to strive for progress with my kitties.

[marcocosta]

As someone who just got a new kitten with an already existing cat, this video was extremely helpful and encouraging. Thank you!

[Dannythegirl]

Thank you this is the most logical and useful tips. Cause separating for weeks in just insane

[achritushunter]

my cat is not only hissing it is doing the bruce lee sound to a tiny kitten and on attack mode

[squidlings]

It's been a year and existing cat still hates new cat. Unfortunately new cat got bigger and now bullies existing cat. 😔

[lisapellegrino]

Thank you for your positivity! Your video is so encouraging! I have been very worried about introducing my 13 year-old Chloe to a new cat we adopted. Your video has given me the confidence to persist with calm and patience. Thank you!

[kimhimes]

This was super helpful & reassuring! We were starting to get worried but this helped so much! Thank you!