New Kittens and 3 year old cat!

[DixieDaisy]

My wife and I just adopted two 8 week old female kittens. We have one 3 year old cat "Daisy" (her sister got ran over a few weeks ago). I quarantined the kittens for a few days and made sure their sent was all over the place and have slowly allowed the three to "meet" but the reactions are weird. I've had lots of cats (mostly farm cats) and am pretty comfortable with cat behaviour but this is pretty strange. The kittens are FEARLESS. When I let them out, they run rampant around the house and my three year old just hisses and runs away, or stays her ground and hisses. The funny thing is that the kittens are undeterred and want to get closer to the Big Cat. I'm kinda afraid that Daisy might hurt one of the kittens if they get too close too soon. Any thoughts? I've never seen such fearless kittens.

[DixieDaisy]

Advice?

[Catlady711]

Try putting the kittens in a carrier and letting the 'big cat' sniff them without having to worry about the little fellas crawling all over her. Sometimes cats are intimidated by a group of little crawling kittens approaching them. By putting the kittens in a carrier, it allows the 'big cat' time to sniff and adjust without fear. See how that goes for a while, then maybe if she's ok with that, then try one kitten at a time and see what happens, but always supervise them!

Good luck.

[Freedom]

This actually sounds pretty normal. Kittens are like kids - they don't know enought o be afraid of what they don't know! And, being felines, they are CURIOUS, so they head over to investigate!

Since they are siblings, they are used to being rampbuctios together, and they just egg each other on. Daisy hasn't been around young ones in a while and is uncertain what they are.

Keep are water squirt bottle handy for the next 2 or 3 weeks. Anytime you see Daisy advancing threateningly towards a kitten, warn her verbally and then squirt her. Command should always be her name first, then the command. "Daisy, NO!" "Daisy, LEAVE IT!" She will learn to heed your verbal warning and then you can issue the command without the water. It will take 2 to 3 weeks for her to accept them in HER home. (May even be longer than that, but I doubt it.) Don't leave her and the kittens alone together until you are sure they can co-exist happily. When everyone is out at work and school, leave the kittens in a bedroom with litter box and water, and Daisy in the house. Next day, Daisy in the bedroom, kittens in whatever part of the house you have kitten proofed!

Gpood luck and keep a camera handy for all the fun ahead of you!

[callingallcats]

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