new kitten introduction - confused?!

[caoimhe]

today they seem to be sharing food, caoimhe (the older one) was pushing the new kitten towards her own food and they ate out the same bowl, they both have their own but seem to enjoy eating a bit of each other's even though its the same food, the only difference is the colour of the bowls.

sharing food must be a good thing right?

[ChrisB]

I think it takes a fair while for things to settle down, even if the introductions are done carefully and gradually.   I think we all hope that they will instantly love each other and be happy together but it seems to be a much more complicated process in the cat world.   I know it is upsetting but I wouldn't worry just yet.

[caoimhe]

lol thanks guys its not nice being given the cold shoulder by your own cat. i guess it will sort itself out eventually. it is sooo funny seeing how completely unaware the new kitten is to the hissing and threats, taking every opportunity to take a swipe at the older one's tail then quickly running off to get chased. how can any older cat not love something that cute?

my 1 year old is called CAOIMHE (pronounced KEEVIE) and the 9 week old is called LUGHAIDH (pronounced LOOIE) they are irish farm cats so gave them old irish names. visits to the vets are fun they never attempt to pronounce them.

[Christine (Blip)]

  to Purrs, caoimhe: glad you found us and decided to join.

I agree with Trigger: this sounds like play to me and good acceptance of the newcomer by your resident cat.  What are their names?

[bunglycat]

Sophie was like this with me ,many years ago when i brought Smartie into the room .
She can spit for England ( and still can at 15 !!) she was also very "off" with me and once when i went to stroke her , she smacked me with her paw -no claws .
I very firmly said to her "you can pack that in , he is staying for good and thats that , end of " - do you know she was fine with me after that talking to 

[Kay and Penny]

I think you are very lucky so far

your older cat is just growling and hissing occasionally to assert her no 1 cat status - sort of  'don't think just because I am willing to play hide and catch with you I am a complete pushover, mate' - and yes, it sounds only playing to me

she is a bit hissy with you because she is a little disturbed - I have a cat who will round on me sometimes when she is bothered by something else - it's nothing to do with her feelings about you - just an instinctive sort of behaviour - I would be very surprised if it lasts very long

[caoimhe]

OK followed the step by step introduction process i.e. scent introduction, etc. so today was the day of introduction where they were left to roam the house freely.

i am confused about their reaction!

my 1 year old female cat threw a hissy fit this morning upon seeing the new 9 week male kitten (the new kitten acted completely oblivious to the hissing and growling and carried on as normal) my 1 year old did this hissing and growling for a couple of hours. at about lunchtime today she went to investigate the new kitten closer smelling it and pawing it (not with claws). about 1sh they started to chase each other around the room in a playful way, chirping at each other and pawing each other from under the bed. they knackered each other out and stared at each other and doing slow blinks and yawns until they both fell asleep next to each other purring.

but after they woke up my 1 year old started playing with the new kitty again and everything seemed alright but every now and then when the kitten approaches her she does a low growl or a hiss. they still play fight (i think its play fighting because the don't use claws just paw each other, they chirp at each other and don't have their ears tucked back (although every now and then my 1 year old will hiss and growl but only for a couple of seconds then carry on as if nothing happened.

they pounce at each other and roll around the floor playing with a toy. the kitten will run from under one side of the bed and the 1 year old will chase him to that side and paw each other, then the kitten will go under the bed again and come out the other side, the one year old will jump from one side of the bed to the other to catch the kitten as he pops out. is this bullying or actual playing? again there is the occasional low growl, and hiss.

they also seem to like to paw each other's tails very lightly.

i don't know how to interpret these signals because my 1 year old cat keeps growling and hissing every now and then, also am i interpreting the play fighting wrongly? do you think its actual fighting?

also my older cat doesn't like me touching her, we were very very very close, and today for the first time she hissed at me and everytime i go to stroke her, she moves away from me and even tried to paw me this morning, i want to give her love so she can be comforted but she won't let me. we are keeping her in our room tonight and the kitten outside our room

any ideas whether all this is good or bad? will my older cat ever like me again?