Kittens are fun to have around. Their playful hilarious antics and personalities will keep us entertained for hours.
But if you already have another cat in your house, you probably wonder if they can get along peacefully when left alone.
So, Can You Leave a Kitten Alone with Another Cat?
Yes, you can leave your kitten alone with another cat if they do no impose any violence on your kitten. However, if you feel the other cat is extremely dominating, possessive, or may cause harm to your kitten, then you will be required to reconsider.
So, now that you know you can leave a kitten alone with another cat under certain circumstances, read on for more insight about this topic and much more.
When Is It Not an Ideal Idea to Leave Your Kitten Alone with Your Cat?
As discussed above, you can leave your kitten alone with another cat in some circumstances. However, some signs might indicate it’s not a good idea to do so. These include;
1. Growling And Hissing
One of the main red flags for leaving your kitten with your cat is growling and hissing.
Cats usually growl and hiss as a sign of being aggressive. They might also do so when a new member is introduced to the family.
Therefore, if your cat is constantly hissing at your kitten, do not leave them alone.
Other cats hiss as a sign of being scared.
Therefore, if your kitten is constantly hissing, it might indicate that they are scared, and hence you should avoid leaving them alone unsupervised.
2. Destructive Traits
Each cat has different behaviors from other cats.
Some might warm up to the new member when a new kitten is brought home, while others might be reluctant.
If they are very reluctant, they might begin damaging furniture and even knock-off stuff from the table to indicate their dissatisfaction.
Therefore, if you notice any destructive traits out of character, you should consider not leaving them alone.
3. Kitten Acting Aggressive
Finally, it is not always the other cat that might pick fights.
Sometimes, the kitten might be the one that starts the fight.
Therefore, if you find your kitten is aggressive and continually fights with the older cat, it is a perfect idea not to leave them alone unsupervised.
This is because if the older cat is also aggressive, there is a probability that both of them can get hurt.
What Could Occur If You Leave Your Kitten with Another Cat?
If you are wondering what could occur if you leave your kitten alone with your cat, there are two likely results:
1. Positive Outcome
One of the probabilities is getting a positive outcome where both your kitten and cat bond well or at least are not hurting or fighting each other. This will most probably happen if your cat is well-trained or non-aggressive.
2. Negative Outcome
Alternatively, if either the cat or kitten is aggressive, some of the negative incidences likely to occur include;
Injuries
In particular situations, you might find that older cats are likely to hurt the kitten. Sometimes, both can get into a fight resulting in injuries for both of them.
The Kitten Might Escape
Remember that most kittens are generally timid. So, if they find the older cat is hostile and chasing after them, they might try escaping.
Fatality
In the worst outcome, lethal injuries or death might occur. Therefore, it is necessary that you take the necessary precautions before leaving your kitten and cat alone.
How Should You Properly Introduce a New Kitten to Your Cat?
A new kitten brings in new and fresh energy to your home.
If you already have another cat in your household, you will want to ensure the introduction is smooth and stress-free for you, your kitten, and your resident cat to avoid any of the above-discussed adverse outcomes.
Fortunately, with little planning, consideration, and good psychology, the introduction can be stress-free and create a solid foundation for great friendship. Some of the tips include;
1. Introduce The Cats Slowly
Cats are territorial animals. Your resident cat believes it’s the owner of your home, and a new kitten might feel like a threat.
It is hence essential to make the introductions slow and keep them separated for several days.
After about two days, provide each of your cats with the other cat’s scent through items such as a cushion, blanket, or fabric toy.
Put the item with scent in a place where the resident cat feels comfortable instead of approaching it with the item; otherwise, it might seem like a threat.
After your cat starts getting used to one another’s scents, you can leave them to interact limitedly, such as allowing them to see each other through sniffing under the door of the kitten’s designated space.
You should only allow your cats to meet when they start behaving normally when close to each other.
2. Give Them Love and Some Extra Attention
Introduction and acceptance of a new kitten go more smoothly if the other cats are not feeling neglected.
Ensure the cat gets the love and attention they require during this time.
Depending on what the other cat loves, ensure to nurture your bond with the cat while developing the growing and new bond with your kitten.
You want to show your cat that the presence of the new kitten will not affect the quality of time with them.
This way, you will be setting them for many joyous years. But ensure not to neglect the new kitten either.
3. Keep Everything Separate
Cats can sometimes try being territorial over their bed, toys, food bowl, and other stuff after introducing a new kitten.
This may result in a lot of hissing and fights. Hence, it is preferable to prepare and keep everything separate from the bed, toys, and most significantly, the food bowl.
4. Put An Escape Plan in Place
Your cats will require a place to escape if the kitten becomes too much for them.
The escape plan might be a counter, vertical space, stairs, or another room based on how small the kitten is.
This will help give the grown cats a break when the kitten becomes too much to bear.
You should also provide the kitten with enough space to escape from any aggressive behavior from the other cat.
5. Keep Close Watch for Any Warning Signs
A new change can be disturbing for both the resident cat and the kitten.
Your resident cat might feel its space is becoming intruded, while your new kitten might struggle to get used to a new environment.
If any cat starts being aggressive, you should begin the introduction process all over again by separating them.
This measure will decrease the threat your animals feel to their safety and autonomy.
If the kitten or cat starts to show extreme signs of distress such as abnormal grooming, excessive vocalization, and inappropriate urination, you should immediately see a veterinarian before it hurts the health of your feline severely.
Bottom Line
While leaving a kitten alone with another cat is possible, you need to consider various factors.
Before leaving them alone, ensure the cat is not showing any signs of aggression or hostility to the kitten.
If not, be patient in developing a good bond between the two and take your time so they will both get used to each other first.
Related: Should You Get A Kitten Or Puppy First?
References
Leaving cat and kitten unsupervised? – Cat Chat Feline Forum
New kitten and resident cat–when can they be alone together? – eNotAlone.com
How long can a kitten and a cat stay home alone? – Quora.com