Integrating kittens into a home with cats- GREAT update post #15!

[Kelly G]

Well....since New Years Eve, the kittens/cats have had full visual contact from a distance (kittens in one room and cats in the other room across the hall)....all went really well....

So yesterday we allowed Frosty to have full contact (supervised) with the kittens. We did two seperate 45 minute sessions, and it went really, really well. Frosty wanted to play with them, but held back. When the kittens got too pushy, he gave a half-hearted hiss so we distracted the kittens with toys - which Frosty wanted to play with too.

Tugger was left behind the baby gates for now. He seems like he needs a little more time to warm up to them. This morning he was reaching towards them through the gate to try and play, so things seem to be moving in the right direction.

We could hardly be more pleased! The whole process is a bit of a pain in the neck, but it sure has paid off (so far) for us.

 

[Tylt33]

Honestly Kelly, I don't think you're going to have any issues. When we got each of our new Bengal kittens (over the past few years) we just let them have at it with our other cats. There were a few days of hissing, but once the social hierarchy sorted out, everything was fine and dandy. Our older female Bengal adopted both kittens and groomed them and watched over them like an anxious mother cat

The only issues with integrating cats that I've ever had is between adult female cats.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
It sounds like your doing it exactly right and I agree with Tylt33, I don't think your going to have any trouble at all aside from an occassion "leave me alone!" hiss from the older two. You've put a lot more effort into it then I ever have! I usually keep the newbie separate for a day or so, letting everyone see and sniff and then the kitten has access to the whole house. There's an occasional hiss at first from the older ones but things settle down pretty quickly.

Good job, sounds like your well on your way to a happy cat family!

 

[bock]

I tried to do a slow intro when we brought both Bella and Casper home around 8 weeks old (two different times). But, no matter how many times I explained the process to my sister, she brought them out to meet the other pets about an hour after we got home, despite my pleading.

When Bella was introduced, Oliver went nuts. He would hiss and spit, but really he just seemed scared. Pretty funny to see a big, tough male cat scared of an 8 week old kitten.

Eventually, they did get used to each other through brief meetings, and really just avoided each other. With Casper, it was much easier. Unfortunately, Oliver was no longer with us (

), so Bella and Tigger were left to welcome him. There was some sniffing and evil eyes, but it was a fairly smooth intro over all. Both of the kittens stayed in a large dog cage when we weren't around to supervise.

Mostly, I was really worried about diseases, since they both came with worms and fleas, and the shelter we rescued Casper from didn't test for Leukemia. Thankfully, aside from a small bought of fleas, nothing worse came from just throwing them together. I still far prefer slow intro, like you are doing. It sounds like your cats are ready to start seeing more of each other, best of luck!

 

[Kelly G]

Tonight we have all four cats loose together - and they are doing GREAT!!!

They are playing and relaxing together all over the house....the kittens are rubing and purring on them - and the boys are letting them!

We will sepeerate them at bedtime again (leave them wanting more)...but I couldn't be more thrilled/relieved!

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!! I'll try and take some pictures - but they are zooming all over the house!

 

[Sherry]