A cat hisses at a kitten - reasons and what to do

Many cat owners don't realize that their friendly, single adult cats may have problems with a new kitten. A new kitten often wants to make friends, but the older cats in the house want nothing to do with them. Older cats often appear sad, lonely, whistle a lot, and sometimes even stop eating if they are not adapting well to a new family member.

This behavior is explained by the fact that cats do not like change, especially when it comes to their established territory. Introducing a kitten to an adult cat can be very stressful in your home, but there are a few things you can do to help acclimate your cat to being a kitten.

When cats hiss at kittens

Watching a cat hissing at kittens, you can notice that often its visible aggression in this case is a kind of lesson. It is not uncommon for babies to be trained in the form of outwardly aggressive play, in which mother and kittens mutually attack each other. In this way, babies gain the skills they need in the future to defend themselves and provide food for themselves.

When playing, the cat growls, hisses and looks very intimidating, but her aggression is not directed against the kittens, she tries to recreate possible life situations. You should not interfere with their game. If you try to take the cub, the mother may hiss at you. This defense of the kittens by hissing is her natural reaction in the current situation.

Behavioral tests and challenges

Don't give up if the first few meetings aren't positive. It may take time for older cats to get used to younger ones. A common mistake is rushing to socialize cats and then getting annoyed or disappointed when it doesn't work. Stay calm and work gradually to kitten-train your cat. Try to time your communication and gradually increase the amount of time you spend together. If your older cat is particularly aggressive towards your new kitten, consult your veterinarian or behaviorist.

Alien smell

Changing the smell of kittens, as a result of our indiscretion in handling babies, can disturb the cat and cause an aggressive reaction in it. A person, holding a kitten in his hands for just a little while, changes its smell. The mother may not recognize him and may even growl at him in order to drive him away. However, as a rule, the mother licks the kitten to return its characteristic smell.

If the cat hisses at the kitten and does not want to accept him, you need to try to return him to the smell familiar to his mother. To do this you can :

wrap it in your mattress for a while;
put next to the rest of the kittens;
rub his fur with mom’s toy.

After some time, the kitten will get rid of the foreign smell and the cat will stop hissing at him and recognize the cub. But it is possible that the mother will reject the baby because of the foreign smell, as if he is not from her offspring. For this reason, it is not recommended to handle small kittens.

Calm your old cat

Pheromones are useful in creating a calm environment for any cat. A few weeks before your new kitten arrives is a great time to use them. Diffusers, sprays and wipes are available to help your cat relax without the use of medication. Try using pheromones for at least a few weeks before bringing your kitten home.

If you suspect your adult cat will be stressed and anxious about a new kitten, consider supplements that are designed to calm your cat. They won't cure your pet, but they will help him stay calm and relaxed. They usually work best if administered several weeks before the expected stressful event and can be continued after the new kitten arrives. Ingredients typically include L-theanine, phellodendron, magnolia, whey or milk proteins, and other natural ingredients that are considered safe and effective for pets.

New pregnancy

In cats, the period between conceptions can be quite short. If she had the opportunity to leave the house, then a second pregnancy is not excluded. Then she will not be able to feed the kittens and will try to get rid of them. Expecting new offspring, the cat will show aggressiveness towards her kittens and will hiss at them in an attempt to drive them away. In this situation, it is necessary to isolate the kittens from their mother and feed them from a pipette or nipple.

How to train a cat to be a kitten

Although an older cat will sometimes accept a new kitten right away, it usually takes some time to adjust to the changes. Sometimes cats never fully accept a new kitten; they simply coexist, staying away from the other cat in the house. It's important to make sure that no matter how your cat feels with the new kitten, things remain calm and that you have a better chance of forming a friendship from the start.

First week

When you bring your kitten home, let your cat smell him while he's in the crate or in your arms. Go straight to the previously assigned room, groom your new kitten and let him explore. His litter box, food bowls, bed and some toys should be easily accessible. Do not allow the older cat to have unsupervised access to the kitten.

At night, when you are not at home and cannot supervise the kitten and the older cat, keep the kitten in a specially designated room with the door closed. When your cat gets curious, she can stick her foot under the door, sniff under the door, and listen to the kitten. Do this for about a week, depending on how your cat deals with the changes. Remember to pay close attention to your older cat after playing with him. They will need your attention and support, and the smell of the kitten on your clothes will help them get used to the newcomer.

Encourage time together

After a week, allow the kitten to explore the house under your close attention. Allow your older cat to observe this exploration and leave if she wishes. Do not force interaction between cat and kitten. If your cat has a favorite interactive toy, such as a feather wand or laser pointer, try playing with both cats at the same time. This will stimulate mutual activity. You can also feed them treats at the same time and feed them from different bowls at the same time. Make sure there is enough space between feeders so your older cat doesn't feel threatened.

Reward any positive interactions your older cat has with your kitten with praise, treats, and physical affection. You want your cat to associate the kitten with joy and positivity.

Let your cat establish a hierarchy

Cats need order, and the new member of your family needs to know where he stands. Your older cat may have a period of time where she tries to establish a hierarchy with the new kitten, this is one of the steps in how to train a cat to be a kitten. They may hiss and hit your kitten when they do something your older cat doesn't want. This is completely normal, and while they are just whistling and knocking, try not to disturb them. Your older cat begins to take on the role of the dominant cat in the house, and the kitten is taught its limitations as the new cat.

Mature kittens

Cats are very sensitive not only about territory, but also jealously protect their offspring. If the mother shows aggressiveness towards the kittens, then there is a good reason for this :

She might be sick.
There is no milk.
The kittens are already teething and they are causing her pain.
The kitten is weak, not viable, she does not allow him to have a pacifier so that there is more milk for the rest.

Cats sometimes nurse kittens for up to a year, but most often the maternal instinct lasts for up to six months. After which the mother refuses to feed them, showing that they have already grown up enough and it’s time to cope on their own. You notice that the cat has begun to hiss at her kittens.

No matter how cruel such behavior may seem to a person, it has a good reason. When a cat hisses at her own kittens, this does not mean she is cruel, it’s just that ancient instincts that guide her have awakened in her. You can't punish her for this! A cat's hissing at kittens always has a good reason.

At this moment, the babies must be given to another owner. If you want to keep one of them for yourself, you need to monitor the behavior of your pets, since the mother, emphasizing her primacy in the hierarchy, may be aggressive towards the baby. In this situation, she will not only hiss at the kitten; more aggressive actions are also possible. After a couple of weeks, the cat will calm down, take a position and stop hissing at the kitten.

How to Prepare for a New Kitten

Preparation is key to successful kitten training. If you prepare your cat for the new arrival and make the changes less drastic, she will be more likely to adjust to her new roommate. Give yourself (and your older cat) plenty of time to prepare for this adjustment by following these steps.

Calm your big cat

There are pheromones that can be used to create a peaceful environment for any cat. A few weeks before the new kitten arrives is a good time to use them. Diffusers, sprays and wipes are available to help your cat relax without medication. Try using pheromones for at least a few weeks before bringing your kitten home.

If you suspect your cat will be stressed and anxious about a new kitten, consider supplements that are designed to calm your cat. This will not poison your pet with the medicine, but will help him calm down and relax. They usually work best if administered several weeks before the expected stressful event and can be continued after the new kitten arrives. Ingredients typically include L-theanine, phellodendron, magnolia, whey or milk proteins, and other natural ingredients that have been shown to be safe and effective for pets.

Prepare your home

Before your kitten comes home, you will need to introduce new items such as food bowls, beds, another litter box, and toys in and around the house. Start putting these items in new places a week before you need to kitten train your cat so that your cat can get a feel for them and get used to all the new things. If you can, try including items that already have kitty scent on them. Make sure you are prepared for your kitten. If you are stressed and unprepared, your older cat may notice this and be negatively affected by it.

Designate a small room, such as a bathroom, for the kitten to have privacy in for the first week or so. Your older cat should be able to walk up to the door of this room to hear and smell the kitten, but without interacting with it in any way. Place your kitten's things (litter box, food bowls, etc.) in this room along with a toy that belongs to your older cat.

Prepare your cat

Make sure your older cat is healthy. The added stress of an unhealthy cat will only make things worse, and you want your cat to not only be mentally prepared for a new kitten, but also physically ready to handle it. Take your cat to the vet to make sure she is healthy and up to date on her vaccinations. Respiratory illnesses are common in kittens, and you want your older cat's immune system to be ready to handle whatever comes her way. If your cat or kitten is itching or biting, you will also need to update your rabies vaccine to avoid any problems.

How to introduce cats

Experts do not recommend bringing a second pet into a house where an old cat lives. A young and active animal will take a lot of attention from the owner. And the old man, feeling unnecessary, will fall into depression and may die.

You cannot bring a kitten under 3 months into a home where an adult, uncastrated cat lives. A sexually mature male poses a serious threat to the baby. Therefore, you will have to wait until the kitten grows up, or castrate the cat.

The presence of a new pet is also undesirable where a pregnant or lactating female lives. Protecting its offspring, the cat will fight with the “uninvited” guest. And if she gets stressed, she might kill her own kittens.

The appearance of a second animal is justified in cases where the cat living in the house is left alone for a long time and suffers from a lack of communication. But even in this case, much depends on how the first acquaintance goes.

To ensure everything goes smoothly, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

All windows in the apartment are closed and doors to rooms are opened so that the animals have room to maneuver.
The carrier with the second cat is brought into the corridor and the first pet is allowed to sniff it.
The door of the carrier is opened and they wait until the animal decides to get out on its own. If the newcomer immediately hides in the nearest room or hides under the sofa, he should not be reached. As soon as the cat comes to his senses a little, he will crawl out on his own.

In the future, the owner should only observe the behavior of the pets and intervene only if necessary. Pets can be left alone only after full adaptation.

To make it easier for cats to get along together, you cannot:

Pushing animals together. Each cat will protect its borders. As a result, fights will inevitably arise between them and making them friends will not be easy.
Lock two people in one room. Since the newcomer has not yet gotten used to it, and the old-timer intends to defend his territory, conflicts will begin between them. And this will greatly complicate the reconciliation of the two cats.
Lock yourself in different rooms. According to experts, separating unfamiliar cats is not the best way to introduce them. The animals do not see each other, but they smell an unknown smell that frightens them. As a result, the cat perceives him as a threat, and this may prevent them from making friends.

Encourage time together

After about a week, allow the kitten to explore the house under your close attention. Let your adult cat observe this exploration and step back if she wants to. Do not force communication between cat and kitten. If your cat has a favorite interactive toy, such as a feather wand or laser pointer, try playing with both cats at the same time. This will stimulate mutual activity. You can also give them both treats at the same time and feed them from different bowls at the same time. Be sure to leave enough space between food bowls so your older cat doesn't feel threatened.

Reward any positive interactions your older cat has with your kitten using praise, treats, and physical affection. You want your cat to associate the kitten with joy and positivity.

Prepare your cat

Make sure your adult cat is healthy. Adding additional stress to an unhealthy cat will only make things worse, and you want your cat to be not only mentally prepared for the arrival of a new kitten, but also physically ready to handle it. Take your cat to the vet to make sure she is healthy and up to date on her vaccinations. Respiratory illnesses are common in kittens, and you want your older cat's immune system to be ready to handle whatever comes into the house. If your cat and kitten scratch or bite, you will also need to keep your rabies vaccine up to date to avoid any problems.

Although older cats sometimes take on a new kitten right away, it usually takes them a little time to adjust to the changes. Sometimes cats never fully accept a new kitten, but simply coexist, staying away from the other cat in the house. You want to be sure that no matter how your cat feels about the new kitten, things will remain peaceful and you'll have a better chance of forming a budding friendship right from the start.

Prepare your home

New items for your kitten, such as bowls, beds, another litter box, and toys, should be placed in and around your home before the kitten comes home. Start putting these items in their new places about a week before your new arrival so that your adult cat can smell them and get used to all the new things. If possible, try to include items that already have kitty scent on them. Make sure you are prepared for the kitten's arrival. If you are stressed and unprepared, your older cat will be able to tell and feel the negative impact.

Designate a small room, such as a bathroom, where your new kitten can retreat and spend the first week or so. Your adult cat should be able to come to the door of this room to hear and smell, but not have any interaction with the kitten. Place kitten belongings (such as a litter box and food bowls) in this room along with a toy that belongs to your older cat.

My pet is being attacked by the cat living next door. What can I do?

Sometimes aggression associated with the manifestation of territorial rights goes beyond what is necessary. The so-called hooligan cats deliberately appear on “foreign land” in order to claim it. They enter properties and houses, attacking furry residents (and sometimes their owners if they become an obstacle), and also mark vertical surfaces before leaving. These impudent people rarely encounter resistance on their way, because... choose the victim wisely - an older, weaker or timid cat. Interestingly, in the UK the largest number of “criminals” are found among pets of the Burmese and Bengal breeds. However, aggressive behavior associated with invading someone else's territory can be exhibited by any cat (this is more typical for males), no matter whether they are purebred or not.

It is very unpleasant when your cat is attacked in her own home. There is a desire to demand that the owner of the “shaggy insolent” take action to prevent future attacks, since it is he who is responsible for his robber. However, the reality is that the owner of an abused cat often has to take matters into his own hands. If a furry friend is unable to stop the attack, a person should intervene to protect the pet and its territorial rights.

There is debate as to whether the intrusion of some individuals into someone else's space is considered normal. At the moment, there is no evidence that attacks on relatives for territory are something unnatural for representatives of the cat family.

Both purebred and street cats have been living next to each other for many generations. It would seem that it is time for them to moderate their territorial appetites. However, natural cat aggression has not disappeared. It’s just that a significant portion of individuals exhibit it to a lesser extent.

When faced with a furry aggressor, you must first determine whether it has an owner. If a cat lives on the street, you need to contact employees of a specialized service who humanely catch, castrate and rehome the animals.

If the owner is identified, you need to try to negotiate with him about the “confinement” of the despot at night within the walls of the house (if the invasion occurs in the dark). To motivate an aggressive animal to return from a walk at the appointed time, the owner can treat him with some kind of treat before bed. A cat that goes on “raids” during the day may be subject to a curfew. If other pets suffer from his aggressive behavior, it is necessary to inform their owners about the restrictive measures introduced; owners will know that during this period of the day their animals are not in danger. It would also be useful to attach bells to the collar of the aggressor cat, the ringing of which will warn of the approach of the bully and will enable pets and owners to take the necessary measures.

To make an attacked cat feel calmer, you should “tightly” close the cat flap, as well as other passages that allow a stranger to enter the house. An additional safety measure will be to calculate the route of an aggressive cat and block the path. A prey cat, even one accustomed to going outside, must be provided with a home litter box. When a suffering furry friend leaves the premises, it is best to accompany him. If the cat is accustomed to using its own entrance/exit and insists on free movement, you can use modern technologies and install a special damper “customized” for the resident of the house. However, some sneaky people who want to get into other people's houses manage to fool such devices.

The owner of an aggressive cat, in addition to confining his pet, should take additional measures. Restrictions on movement can cause stress in an animal, so it is necessary to create an atmosphere conducive to relieving emotional stress: place several soft and warm loungers around the house, as well as arrange play sessions in the morning, evening, and during those periods when the bully is usually overly active.

For some cats, aggressive behavior is so deeply ingrained in nature that the only solution may be to move to an area with fewer cats.

How to reduce the risk of aggression and raise an affectionate animal

An affectionate animal can only grow up in a caring and loving family. Never, under any circumstances, use physical punishment. Your hands should only be associated with affection.

Try to talk with your pet often and study its habits. If dissatisfaction appears, accompanied by warning signals, do not test his patience, but immediately stop the unpleasant actions.

If a cat grows up next to a child, make sure that the child knows how to handle it carefully. Stop sudden grabbing and squeezing.