Why is my cat distant after getting a new kitten? Will he change back?

Sometimes when you bring a new animal into the house you have to be prepared for the fact that it may effect the personalities of other pets. Usually it is related to stress so you could try buying a pheromone diffuser to reduce this. Otherwise it could just be that she prefers the company of the kitten and this has changed her personality.

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!

My guess is that you did not do a gradual introduction with them?? If not, you may have to go back and revert to doing that along with these other recommendations. ( https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/introducing-cats-to-cats/ ) I recommend you put some Feliway diffusers (Multicat) in your house and do some environmental enrichment for them. Usually these two things help. ( https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-MultiCat-Diffuser ) ( https://www.feliway.com/us/Why-Use-Feliway/how-to-stop-cats-fighting ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

I am not sure what you are concerned about as far as safety. I do recommend keeping new kittens quarantined away from other cats for 2-3 weeks so you can monitor them for any illness that could be incubating. It can take time for cats to adjust. Getting a new cat is like getting a new roommate. Sometimes it is a perfect match and sometimes you can't wait to move out! Giving them time and space to adjust is the best thing you can do right now. You will need to have separate spaces, each space with its own food, water, and litter box. Sometimes using a feline pheromone diffuser can help with stress, like Feliway or Comfort Zone. Here is an article you may find helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-steps-to-introducing-your-cat-to-a-new-feline/

Here is a great article on introducing a new cat to the household. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-steps-to-introducing-your-cat-to-a-new-feline/ You might want to back up a few steps and try to start the introduction over from the beginning. The second thing you can try is to help Fiona deal with the anxiety of the new kitten by using Feliway, which is a cat pheromone that can be calming. It is available in a diffuser that is plugged into an outlet and is great for a room in the home. It is also available as a spray, which can be used on towels, or the most common locations Fiona likes to spend time. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8906 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37241 Another product I like is Composure, which is available as a little treat. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews If these do not help, you might consider discussing prescription medication for anxiety with your veterinarian. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cats. I suspect that the carrier ride and the surgery were stressful experiences for both cats. This can cause a cat to act out aggressively. You may want to keep the cats separate from each other for a few days to let them calm down. Then re-introduce them slowly and only when they can be fully supervised. Things should go back to normal between them, but it may take some time. I hope this information helps!

This may be difficult to correct but it generally can be done. Continue using the diffuser. Try switching litter boxes, beds, and rubbing each cat with the same towel to try to get them to smell like each other. Here are some links which may be helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-ways-to-calm-an-anxious-cat/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/bringing-home-a-new-cat-or-kitten/ Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Setting aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play for both cats or switching the food to Royal Canin Calm may help. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with aggression. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.