I know it’s been only a day but I’ve never really had this sort of thing happen before and I’ve had MANY cats/kittens over the years.
I adopted a 10 week old little girl from a lady on craigslist, she is a little huffy/hissy/growly when cuddled/kissed too much but is overall really sweet. She kept her and her siblings in a closet most of the time because her lab mix had a tendency to chase them so she didn’t get a lot of one on one interaction. She’s absolutely terrified of my older cats, Sebastian and Vincent (although not nearly as bad as yestrday). I get that. That I can work with. She’s afraid cause they are so much bigger than her. It’s this that I’m worried about though:
Vincent was a rescue that was a kitten thrown out of a moving vehicle and feral for a few weeks before the lady I adopted him from was able to gain his trust and catch him. He does not like ANYONE but me and he gets jealous of Sebastian, who was here first and he grew up with. Usually all he does is butt in for affection when I’m trying to love on Sebastian and it’s never turned ugly.
Okay, now the issue that I’m worried about. I don’t really have the option of separating the kitten from the older cats. Sebastian is used to kittens and is like, get away from me or I’ll hiss at you *runs away* but he eventually adjusts. Vincent on the other hand has been the baby for the last year and he has the jealousy/possessive issues over me and several times he’s intently watched the kitten and then charged her, swatting once or twice and hissing. I intervene, but he’s seemed to be stalking her at times too and if she gets too close he WILL swat her while hissing. I’m SURE it’s just an adjustment period but I’m worried that he won’t get used to her and will continue to swat her and possibly get nastier and hurt her. I don’t really have the option to separate them. They have to remain in my room while I’m asleep, otherwise the boys can get out to get relief until they adjust but then I’m having to close them away from me to keep her in. I do have a large walk in closet, but she yowls so bad being stuck somewhere that I wouldn’t be able to sleep through that. I was thinking of closing the boys in there at night but I’m concerned they will come to resent the kitten.
Is Vincent’s behavior pretty normal? Or do I have reason to worry that he’ll escalate into violent attacks? Will they resent me if I close them in the closet at night? Thanks for any help!