Old cat and a new kitten.

[reineeday]

Hello,
About 2 weeks ago I got a new female kitten and she is about 3 months old, while I already had an 8 year old female cat. The kitten when i got her was in a room full of other kittens so she's used to other cats. Before the kitten, the cat used to warm up to me but now she doesn't. The kitten has front claws and the cat doesn't have them (not my choice, it was my mom's when i first got it). The cat used to always have another animal in the house so I'm sure that's not the problem (one was a male cat, and a male dog), however the dog passed away 5 years ago and the male cat passed away 4 months ago and the cat got along well with both of them and i thought it was time for her to have another companion. The kitten tries to play fight (i believe) with the cat but the cat is constantly stressed, hissing, and growling at the kitten. At times the cat will try to warm up to me but once she sees the other kitten she will immediately tense up and hiss at me and growl (or get a strong enough of smell that the kitten has been in the same room as me). The cat also will hiss and hit the kitten with her paw if she walks by sometimes and the kitten will always run after the cat anytime it moves. I tried putting a 'cat calming' liquid i can put in their water that i got from a pet store, however only 1/4 of the amount a regular cat is supposed to get is allowed for a kitten so i only put 1/4 of a teaspoon in, and the cat doesn't want to drink the liquid straight so I cannot monitor it at all times of the day. I'm afraid the kitten will grow up and consistently attack the cat and stress her out. How do i get them to get used to each other and not hiss and attack each other?

[Piparskeggr]

When we adopted Buff and Cooper in the middle of October 2014, we kept them in the "nursery" for a couple of weeks so Teia would get used to their scent being in the house,  Also, used Feliway diffusers.

Once the boys were let out, for longer and longer periods of time, contact was supervised for another couple of months.

While not cuddle buddies, Miss Teia (who is 17 years old) and the boys (both a little over 1 1/2 years old now) have an understanding.

Part of the reason for getting two kittens was as pointed out above, a matching playmate.

[zodiacqueen]

YES, a slow intro and another kitten to play with is the key to a happy home.

[opus88]

I totally agree....the kitten I took in last fall was so bored and would chase my older cats....they did not appreciate the attention. This summer I took in another kitten, after the slow intro I could see how attached the two younger ones were becoming. Now 5 months later they are still the best of friends, love to play and cuddle one another, neither bother my older boys...but again I strongly suggest the slow intro of any cat into a new environment

[zodiacqueen]

Totally agree with Opus.  I would like to also say that a 3 month old kitten needs to play.  It's not easy on either the older kitty or the younger one.  The kitten's only chance to play is with the older kitty.  She needs a distraction-another kitten around her age.  That way, the kitten plays with the younger kitty and leaves your older kitty alone.

This is what worked when we got a new kitten in the home with other older cats.  It worked great!!

[opus88]

Hi, you just started all wrong...you cannot just put any two animals esp cats together and expect them to be friends, kittens yes but not an older cat. Older cat has territorial rights and resents the new kitten in her space plus coming at her wanting to play when older one isn't ready yet.
Separate them in rooms of their own, each with food/water and their own litter box.
Allow older kitty to slowly become used to the new scent and presence of kitten WITHOUT physical contact, this could take weeks....than began slow daily supervised introductions, the kitten has to learn not to run at and get in others space, they can and will become gradually accepting of one another but it takes time. Play lots with both individually. Sorry I'm on my iPad and typing a quick response for now, hope I'm making sense

Also plz stop that water additive, this is not a good idea and could discourage them from getting the much needed liquid they require. Rather use FELIWAY a room spray, only need a small a few spirts into a room to help calm and not mess with water supply

Good luck, start over your older kitty is just very stressed out right now and sees kitten as an intruder