How to make established adult cat to accept a new kitten.

Adopting a new kitty and bringing it home is always exciting, but not for the old established cat that now has to share its space. Bringing new cat home might make the older cat feel irritated and angry.

The older cat might hiss at the new kitten or even attack it. There is hope, and there are many happy houses with more than one cat in them. However, for the older cat and the new kitten to get along, the owner might have to think ahead.

It is important to consider that cats are very territorial creatures. Cats consider everything around them, including house and people in it, their property. They mark their territory and humans many times over; they enjoy familiar smells. Smells they know make them feel comfortable and secure. A cute little kitten brings new strange noises and smells, which could make the other cat feel invaded and irritated. Suddenly the older cat has to share its space with a high-pitched meowing guest, who, being cute, new and cuddly, gets lots of attention from humans.

To make the older cat feel friendly toward the new kitten, owner should prepare ahead of time. The new kitten should smell as familiar as possible to the older cat, so she would consider the newcomer her property.

Here are some ideas:

• Gather some of the older cat's feces. (The easiest way would be from the litter box, if your cat uses litter box.) Rub the new kitten with soiled litter to make him smell familiar to the older cat.
• If using feces or soiled litter is just too difficult, you could use older cat's sleeping blanket, a favorite pillow or a toy in the same way. Just hold the kitten down and give it a good rub. Any item that makes a new cat smell familiar for the old cat would work toward a successful introduction.
• Make sure that each cat has a food bowl and a litter box. Sharing these two essential items would most likely cause more conflict.

When the older cat decided that the little kitten could stay in the house, it will start washing and grooming it.