senior cat vs 4 week old kitten dynamics

We have two cats, a 10-year-old senior and a 4-week-old kitten. The senior keeps hissing at the baby and won't let him sleep near her.

I am losing my mind. I thought the senior would just tolerate the little guy, but he is being really aggressive. I have Ziggy and Binx in the other room, they are fine, but the senior is acting out. What do I do? I don't want to stress the old guy out any more than he is already.

This is a common issue when introducing a very young kitten to a senior cat. The kitten's energy level and scent are overwhelming to the older cat. I recommend keeping the kitten in a separate room for at least the first week. This allows the senior cat to adjust to the new smell without the physical threat of the kitten's movement.

You can start swapping towels between the rooms to exchange scents. Once the hissing stops when they can see each other through a door crack, you can begin short, supervised interactions. Refer to Introducing a new kitten to an older cat for a detailed protocol. It is crucial to avoid forcing interaction, as this can lead to biting or scratching.

@donna_w81 totally agree. I did this with Shadow when I got him and my other cat. It took like two weeks for them to stop hissing. If you keep the kitten separate, make sure you are not stressing the senior by putting his food near the door. Check Quarantine period for new kittens for how long to keep them apart. I had to move his bowl because he was too stressed to eat near the new cat.

Gail, I am so sorry you are dealing with this. It is hard when one of your cats is not happy. My Sam is a 4-year-old mix and he is very clingy, so I know how it feels when there is a change in the dynamic.

Have you tried pheromone diffusers? They helped a lot with my cats when we moved. Also, make sure the senior cat has high places to escape to. If the kitten is too small to climb, the senior needs a safe zone. See Reducing stress in multi-cat households for more tips on making the space feel safe for everyone.

I have Tater, a 10-year-old dsh, and she is very picky about where she sleeps. I think the kitten is just too loud and active for the senior to relax.

Maybe try a baby gate? That way they can see each other but the kitten can't get to him. I used this with Sam when he was a kitten and it helped a lot with the hissing. Check Dealing with hissing and aggression between cats if the hissing continues even with the gate. It might be a sign that the senior is just not ready.