Brought home new kitten-now my cat hates me

[Victoria Ertelt]

After thinking about it for a long time, yesterday I brought home a
kitten to keep my cat Miaow company while I am at work. Miaow hates the
kitten, which I think is a normal reaction that will last for a week or two.
What I didn't expect was that her hatred extends to me. I can't approach
her without her hissing, spitting, and swiping at me, after she first
meows pitifully. This is really abnormal behavior for Miaow, and it
makes me feel heartbroken to see her so upset. I've given her Pounce
treats and a little bit of turkey, her favorite food, to try & make her
feel better, but it doesn't help. The 2 cats are in separate rooms, so
Miaow doesn't have to be around the kitten, but she can still hear him
playing & meowing. Is there anything I can do to make Miaow not hate
me? Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Victoria

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[Johanna L Botari]

Victoria Ertelt (ert...@sun.lclark.edu) wrote:
: Miaow doesn't have to be around the kitten, but she can still hear him

: playing & meowing. Is there anything I can do to make Miaow not hate
: me? Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Time, Victoria, take some time.

Miaow likely can smell the kitten on you. Separate rooms is a good
idea. Maybe after a couple of days, you can let them be together while
you're there to keep an eye on them. There will be some hissin' an' some
boppin' and some racket while they decide who runs the house, but I have
rarely heard of this kind of fuss continuing indefinitely. If Miaow is
nasty to you, it is probably an idea to leave her alone... just ignore
her and let her be until she decide she wants to be nice. Give her
treats when she settles down, or when she comes looking for your
company. She's just out of sorts at the smell/sound of the newcomer, and
probably just smells him on you.

When I go to the shelter for visits, Lenny will often hiss when I come
home. He smells other cats, and seems to hiss without really realizing
what he's doing or why (he sometimes looks really confused that he just
hissed, like he's not sure what that noise was). Its a reflexive sort of
reaction to sensing another cat, even if it's just the smell on my clothes.

Johanna

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...sorry, teacher, my cat ate my .sig.