My kittens hiss at new ones. What steps help them integrate?

Congratulations on your new kitten! Sometimes it takes a while to gain their trust. Try to get him to play as this will help him to bond with you. Make sure to put the toys away after the play session so that they remain fresh in his mind and always associated with you. Sit quietly near him at mealtime and gradually work up to petting him or hand feeding him. Feliway does help and I recommend to use this product but it will not alter his behavior on its own. Make sure to provide an area for climbing such as a tall cat tree or shelves as this will help to satisfy his natural instinct and decrease stress. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

Unfortunately it's going to take time. That said, there are a few things you can make sure of to help reduce stress, especially in a four-cat household (which is a lot!). Making sure each cat has their own space where they can eat, drink, play, observe, etc without the other cats bothering them can help reduce territorial disputes over these items. Pheromone collars and plug-ins (Feliway) can also be placed on stressed out individuals, or in shared rooms (since everyone seems to be stressed) to help reduce inter-cat aggression. Making sure to have at least one litter box per cat will also help reduce stress and competition over them, and reduce the chances of accidents elsewhere. Otherwise, continued slow introduction of the cats is best. If anyone starts to get agitated or too excited, removing them to let everyone calm down and settle back in is best. Continued aggression and upset may also need a trainer or veterinary behaviorist's help. That said, if your home is very small, four cats may just be too much for everyone to get comfortable.

Separate Lilly from the kitten for a few days. Gradually reintroduce them. Start with a closed door between them so they can hear and smell each other. Progress to seeing each other but without physical contact. Once they are acclimated, try short periods of supervised contact. Use a pheromone prodcut such as Feliway Spray or the plug in diffuser to decrease any anxiety or aggression.

I would try a Feliway spray, diffuser or collar. It is a pheromone that helps with relaxation and anxiety. There are also supplements for anxiety. Set up separate areas for feeding and two litter boxes so they each have their own space with an area that they both have access to. Usually over time they will adjust if left alone. If she’s still aggressive there are prescription medications to give her for a little while to help her adjust so please discuss this with your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kaji.

It does take time. I can give you a method that has worked for me, but know hissing and growling is ok. It's her way of letting the dog know she isn't comfortable. Aggression is not ok (hitting and biting), but the behavior is ok. I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure your kitten has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the dog's smell in the kitten's room, and a blanket with the kitten's smell in the odg's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your kitten and a DAP for your dog. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the kitten in the dog's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce the dog on a leash to the kitten while she is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the dog for being calm and quiet near the kitten. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure your kitten has a cat tree where she can escape from the dog as needed, and don't allow the dog to chase the kitten. I hope this helps!

It sounds like Sally is stressed in her new home environment, but there are many things that you can do to help alleviate stress and help her feel better. Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day) and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=33&S=2 , and healthcareforpets.com for tips on stress reduction, and https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/felinelifestressors/new-pets for information on how to introduce new pets into the family. Also look into Feliway, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in cats http://www.feliway.com , and Feliway Friends (on the same site), a pheromone that helps cats get along with each other. Take your time and allow Sally to slowly get used to all of the changes, and hopefully she will feel better soon.