Older cat will not get along with new kittens after 6 weeks

by Bev
(Dayton, OH)

Will the older spayed female black cat ever get along with the two neutered male kittens? They are not brothers, but were put together when one of the kitten's brother and sister were adopted, but you would think that they are brothers because they are both black and the only difference is their eye color and they love one another and are always together. We have done everything our vet suggested when we adopted them. The two male kittens were isolated in their own room for one month. The female would go to the door are listen and sniff. We let them out while the female cat was closed in her room, she has a room to herself also, so the kittens could get their scent on things around the house. We bought them all little soft blankets, and then switched them, so they could smell each other's scents. Then we let the kittens out of their room, the female cat hissed and growled at them and hide under our bed. We put the kittens back in their room every night. This went on for one week. Now the female cat is finally coming out, but she still hisses and will not let the kittens come near her. We feed them at separate times. Our female cat is eight years old and she has not always been alone. We adopted her when she was a kitten and we had a six year old neutered male black cat, and the two of them got along OK. He became ill and had to be euthanized. She was not extremely upset after he was gone, but we had kept him isolated for one year, so she has been alone for two years. Yesterday she swatted one of the kittens when he got too close to her and she acts if she might bite too. We love cats and spoil them with everything. Both cat rooms have beds, hammocks, cat towers, water fountains, food bowls, large covered litter boxes, tunnels and toys galore. I am just an wondering if she will ever get along with the kittens.

Answer from Kate
Try putting the female cat into a cage or carrier where she can see out and then let the kittens in the room with her. This way they can be together without fear of fighting etc. Do this every day for a hour or so. You can also do it the other way round.

This method allows cats to become associated with other cats without the fear of attack and eventually they will some level of confidence with each other.

having said all this though some cats simply don't like other cats just lie us humans don't get along with every other human. And the best you can hope for is a sort of truce.

often hissing and swatting is a just bravado and is more about fer than anything else. Out right fighting is often the last thing the cats want, its all about warnings and saying hey i'm not afraid (even though they are).

Keep trying things should, fingers crossed calm down soon.

best wishes KAte