Think bringing home a new kitten is going to be rough on everyone in the house? Think again.
It's time to bring home the new bundle of fuzz: that gorgeous little kitten you fell in love with at the pet store. The only problem is that your other pets aren't going to welcome her into their lives. They'll feel a little threatened by the new presence, especially if said kitten gets lots more attention than they do (which is almost inevitable). As you're driving home with the screaming sweetheart in her new carrier, you're wondering what to do in order to make the transition as easy as possible for everyone in the house.
The good news is that there are several things you can do to make things easier. As cat lovers know, the more comfortable the cats feel, the less they'll shred you with their razor-claws.
These tips will help give you a head-start on the adjustment process. However, pay attention to how your pets, from oldest to youngest, react: their responses will help you determine what to do (or avoid) in the future.
-Prepare a special place just for the new kitten, that's away from areas the other pets have claimed as their own. Moving the new cat in right on top of the adult cat's favorite sleeping spot will not bode well with either creature. Try to find a dark, quiet place that belongs solely to the kitten. Prepare it by including a warm towel, food and water, and a very low litterbox. Note: if you put her in the bathroom (which isn't a good idea because people are in and out all the time), be sure that the toilet seat stays down. If children can drown in just a couple of inches of water, an open toilet is DEFINITELY dangerous for a one- to two-pound kitten. The same applies to the laundry room: be sure that dryer and washing-machine lids and doors are firmly closed, and that the dryer vent is inaccessible.
-Once you bring her home, leave her in the carrier. Take it into her special room, set it down, and open the door. Let her come out on her own, which she'll do soon if she smells food you've put out for her. In some cases, she might find that the carrier is a safe hiding place; don't take that away from her or make her leave it until she's ready.
-Leave her alone as much as possible, especially the first couple of hours. Let her sniff out her surroundings: if she's in a safe place where she can't escape or be hurt, she'll eventually begin to come out and investigate the rest of what will become her territory. If you try to force it or make her come out before she isn't ready, it'll only be worse on everybody in the house.
-Let the other animals get to know her through scent. Put something on her towel, like a dry washcloth, so that it can absorb her scent. Take it to the other pets in the house and let them have a few good whiffs. This way the kitten will be more familiar to them when she emerges from her hiding place, making the transition a little less painful.
-Go visit her occasionally and reward her with petting and treats. Don't hover for thirty minutes on end, but don't forget that she's there, either. Make sure that she knows you're welcoming her into her new home without pushing it. Speak to her in soft, gentle tones while petting gently: she probably won't purr for you, especially in the first few days, but she'll begin to relax and understand where you're coming from.
-If all the people in the household are excited about the new kitten (and why shouldn't they be?), make sure that they go in to visit one or two at a time. Your pet's already overwhelmed with the new sights, sounds, feels, tastes, and smells: don't send the little creature into burnout mode. Supervise your younger children: they might not quite understand that kittens are fragile and must be petted very gently.
-Give everybody else the same amount of attention as always, if not a little more. Bring home special treats for the other cats, as well as the dogs, and spend plenty of time playing with them. They'll quickly understand that they still have a place in your home, and they'll be more receptive to the new pet.
-Once she starts to come out, don't interfere unless the situation is dangerous. Pay attention if the older cats start hissing at her, but don't rush in to break it up. Hissing is part of the "I'm bigger than you and I own this house - not to mention all the people in it" ritual, which must play itself out if either cat is to be satisfied. Let them have their "words" with each other; it may not sound like a happy chat to you, but it's necessary for them.
Your new cat will eventually come out and say hello, not to mention stake out her turf in the house. Before you know it, she'll wander through, claim her own spot that catches the best sunbeams, and stretch out for a nap. In other words, it'll be just like she was always there with you.
