Why is my girl cat rejecting the new kitten, but my boy cat isn't?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I would put the new cat in a room by herself. This allows them to sniff each other under the door and get used to each other that way. Purchase Feliway diffusers for the room the new cat is in and where Muezza sleeps the most. After a week either use a baby gate at the door or put the new cat in a carrier and let them see each other through that. Then let the new cat out, again after a week, only when you are home to watch them closely. Over the 3-4 weeks of slow introduction, hopefully it will go well. If the new female cat has never allowed a male to breed her I am a bit concerned she will not allow Muezza either. I do not think age makes a big difference in animals. I hope this helps! http://pet-supplies.drsfostersmith.com/search?view=grid&w=feliway&visitorID=&cartcount=0&wishcount=0&division=dogs

The Step by Step Process Put other cats away before you bring the new cat home, so that you can take the cat to its room without encountering the other cat(s). Then close the door securely and go visit your other cats. They will smell the new cat on you. Give them treats to positively reinforce this experience. A few days later, in order to further acclimate the cats with each other’s scent, it is good to exchange the new cat's bedding with that of the resident cat. The next step is to rotate rooms daily for at least 2-3 days. This allows the new cat explore the rest of the house while the resident cat spends some time in the new cat's room. This will give your resident cats a chance to smell the new cat and rub their own scent on objects. The cats should be fed in each area with wet food twice daily, and it is also good to play with the cats in each area at least twice daily. The practice of setting up a schedule of feeding treats of wet food, as well as a playtime routine, minimizes anxiety and makes the cats feel more secure. Keep the cats in separate areas for as long as it takes to allow them the chance to become desensitized to the smells and sounds of the cats in the other area. When they all seem particularly relaxed with this process, begin to expose them to the sight of each other. A good way to accomplish this visual introduction is to bring the new cat(s) in a carrier to meet your cats and sniff each other through the carrier wire door. Place the carrier on the floor and allow them to meet this way several times a day for about an hour. Continue these meetings for several days or until they remain calm in each other's presence. If and when the cats are able to stay calm in each other's presence during these meetings, it is time to let the new cat out into the rest of the house for a few minutes. The length of the visits can be increased gradually each day. Depending on the personalities of the cats involved, this process may take a few days or a few months. If it appears that any fighting maybe be close to occurring while you are supervising, put the newcomer back in his/her room and proceed more slowly. If those supervised play times go well, you can begin to allow them to cohabitate in your home. If any aggressive behavior occurs at any time, begin the introduction process again. It is very important to understand that this process can take as little as a few days, to sometimes much longer. It is all dependent on the cats involved. If things don’t go well right away... One of the most important steps to dealing aggressive behavior between cats is to recognize the different types of aggression and understand their underlying causes. A short list and description of some commonly seen aggressive behaviors include: chasing; ambushing; hissing; swatting; and/or biting. If you see these behaviors, seek help from your veterinarian. Most cats get along fine if the introductory process is done correctly. Please seek help from your veterinarian if you feel that things are not progressing well, or if you have other questions.

Most cats will settle down within a few weeks. Kittens do play rough and it can be hard to tell. If they willingly come together, play willingly and you don't see any bullying behavior (avoidance, hiding, arching the back and puffing up the tail) they are likely playing rough. If they play too rough they could injure each other by accident so continue to separate them when not supervised but most kittens will not require this. Giving each kitten one on one play time with you to burn energy, feeding out of a food puzzle and providing cats trees/other environmental stimulation can also help. Continue the current therapy as well. I hope this helps.

Do it gradually. First, allow them to hear and smell one another but not see each other. This is best accomplished by keeping her in a small, closed room. Once your male has accepted her presence, have them see one another form a distance for ever increasing periods of time. The next step would be to place her in a closed carrier in the same room as your male. The final step step would be a supervised physical introduction. Use leashes on both for safety. The entire process may take days to weeks. A pheromone product, such as Feliway Spray or plug in diffusers, may decrease any anxiety or aggression. Ideally, you will also need to provide a litterbox for each cat plus an additional box in a neutral area. Extra bowls, toys and beds should also be provided to prevent resource protection.

Hi. The gender of the kitten probably doesn't matter but many think male cats are sometimes friendlier. Be sure the kitten has been tested negative for Felv and FIV before coming home as you don't want to expose your older kitty. I would also make sure she has been treated for internal and external parasites for the same reasons. When you bring the kitten home I would recommend giving the kitten its own room for a bit to allow the other pets time to get used to it through a door. Make sure that it's not someplace your older cat loves to be though! Adult cats can take a while to get used to a new kitten. So be prepared to weeks to months of her not getting along. If it happens more quickly, GREAT! Also- to prevent future litter box issues. A good rule of thumb is one litter box for each cat plus 1. So if there is room in your house for 3 litter boxes that is ideal. Here are some articles that may help on introductions. Good luck. Hope this helps! http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1384 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=46&S=1&SourceID=18

Introducing a new cat into a household can be very stressful. Cats do not try to act masculine, but another person can certainly change the dynamic of any relationship. I would recommend finding ways to decrease stress in the house. One option for decreasing stress is to add a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected ) to your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month and may be beneficial for both cats. I have also had luck with Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ) which can be added to the water. Again, this may be beneficial for both cats. If Bear continues to hiss and growl despite these additions, it may be time to take him to your veterinarian for a physical exam and discussion about possible anti-anxiety medication. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I'm so sorry for your loss. In general, cats tend to get along better with members of the opposite sex so you may want to consider adopting a male. Kittens can be quite annoying to older cats, but with an older cat it may be difficult to determine what their personality is like prior to adoption and older cats are not quite as adaptable as kittens are. If there is a rescue group or shelter in your area you may want to ask about young adult cats with easygoing personalities - there may even be a rescue that would allow you to take a cat home for a trial period. If you do end up adopting a new cat be sure to introduce them to each other very slowly, make sure they have separate resources at first (food, water, resting areas and litter pans) and consider a pheromone spray like Feliway to reduce stress.