Why is my cat acting timid and weird since getting a new kitten?

Hopefully you got your neighbors permission before rehoming the kitten! Cats can have a hard time with change, and the sudden move to a completely new household can be very stressful, thus leading to a change in behavior. As with any new kitten, it is also always a good idea to schedule a first wellness check with your vet to get caught up on vaccines, deworming treatment and check for any potential health issues. If kitten checks out healthy, using something such as a Comfort Zone which is a pheromone diffuser designed to help calm cats during change, and adding in plenty of fun toys, easy access to food and water and litter can help. Giving it some time and letting your kitten settle into her new home for a few days is also a good idea to help her relax.

Poor girl! There could be something that has spooked her. Or she could be not feeling well. Or there could even be an internal conflict with another cat in the household. The first thing I would do is make sure she is healthy. I would see if your vet can look at her and make sure she isn’t painful, no infection, no fever, no urinary tract infection, etc. if she isn’t feeling well, this definitely can cause a change in behavior. If everything is normal then I would make sure she is getting along with everyone in the house. Make sure there are plenty of litter boxes as this is something they commonly will become territorial over. You can even put out some feliway diffusers which are pheromones they help calm down cats. Unfortunately these don’t work on everyone. You make also look into vetriscience composure treats as a natural calming supplement. I hope this helps!

Cats in general are hard to introduce to each other - they don't generally get along, especially at first. Number one, you may want to consider having Meepo [neutered](https://www.petcoach.co/article/benefits-of-neutering-castrating-male-cats-kittens). That usually lessens the aggression/moodiness and makes them more mellow. Number two, I suggest you get some [Feliway diffusers](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/feliway-30-day-multicat-diffuser-plug-in-starter-kit) for the house. These often work wonders. I don't think his personality will be permanently changed. Finally, in the future, be sure to [introduce new cats](https://www.petcoach.co/article/bringing-home-a-new-cat-or-kitten/) to each other very gradually. This will minimize tension. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

He may be experiencing some stress and anxiety from having another cat in the house. You could try Feliway Spray or a diffuser and see if that helps. You could also try Solliquin and see if that helps. If he is still having issues than your vet could prescribe an anti-anxiety medication, like Prozac. http://www.feliway.com/us/#redirected http://www.solliquin.com/

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This behavior is likely due to the new kitten. The good news is that Nolan is very likely to go back to his normal self fairly soon. This is not an uncommon reaction in cats when a new cat is introduced to the household. Good luck and have a good night!

It is concerning that Luna has had a change in behavior and has lost weight. While it can take time for a cat to adjust to a new member of a household, it's an extreme reaction to lose weight. I would be concerned that she may have an medical illness causing her change in behavior. Lethargy and anorexia are unfortunately very general signs of illness and can be caused by systemic illness, infection, inflammation, or injury. I'd recommend a visit to the vet this weekend. The vet can diagnose if there is medical cause behind these symptoms, and can discuss treatment with you if there is one. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Cats can become stressed by other cats but they do often work things out eventually. There are a few things you can adjust to help decrease stress. Cats are sensitive to the type of litter, size of the box and location of the box. If you have more cats, you need 1 litter box per cat + 1 additional box. You should also have a litter box on every floor of the house. This article discusses different types of litter and litter boxes: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cat-litter-finding-the-right-fit-for-your-cat/ In general though, cats prefer large, uncovered litter boxes, clay-based clumping litter that is scoped every day and a private, quiet location. If you have other cats or dogs, if they can access the litter box, it may cause Luna to be afraid that she could find herself trapped in the box. Cats are a prey species in the wild and they still retain those instincts. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with anxiety. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.