Need to know how to get outdoor cats to get along with kittens?
Recently, a friend wanted to know how to stop an older outdoor neutered male cat from being upset when two female kittens were present.
If you’ve got the same or similar problem, we’ve got your back with 5 incredible tips on cat introductions.
Just keep on reading.
5 Unique Tips on How to Get Outdoor Cats to Get Along with Kittens
Cats might be fond of people\other pets, but they aren’t fans of sharing food, attention, and territory with unfamiliar felines.
So, It’s normal for an outdoor cat to be upset about any new kittens that sneak into the yard for a snack.
Bringing an indoor kitten might also stress an outdoor pet and lead to behavior changes.
Fortunately, in many cases, older cats and kittens can get along or learn to tolerate each other.
You just have to employ the right strategy and be patient.
Let’s see five tips that can help your outdoor cats to get along with your new kitten.
#1 Make Slow Introductions
Usually, you introduce new pets by keeping the animals separated and letting them get used to each other’s presence through a barrier.
However, that might be difficult for outdoor cats and stray/feral kittens that come into their territory.
Try feeding your outdoor cat and the kitten in close but separate locations.
You want the two parties to connect each other’s presence with positive things, such as food but without triggering a negative response.
When your outdoor cat seems less upset about the kitten’s presence, you can move the food bowls closer. Keep shortening the distance in small steps.
If your older cat is upset by your new indoor kitten, you might take the kitten outside in their carrier. Then let your outdoor cat approach to sniff the kitten.
Keep the little one in the carrier until both cats are calm and don’t hiss or yowl at each other. In time, you can allow short supervised interactions.
#2 Manage the Environment/Resources
If the kitten upsetting your cat is an outdoor one, make sure that it has separate food/water bowls, beds, and toys.
Cats are protective of their belonging and become territorial and aggressive, especially around food.
If the kitten is inside, you might consider keeping the little one in a room where the outdoor cat doesn’t have access.
The adult cat will calm down if they can’t smell or see the kitten.
After a while, bring something belonging to the kitten and let your outdoor cat get familiar with the scent. Then start the introduction process.
Also, to stop your outdoor cat from being upset about new kittens, spend enough quality time with them.
You don’t want your pet to feel neglected or become jealous of the kittens.
#3 Observe, Intervene, and Reward
Cat specialists tell you never to leave a kitten and older cat alone before they can tolerate each other’s presence.
However, it’s almost impossible to do so when you’ve got an outdoor cat and kittens in the yard.
Still, observe how your outdoor cat and kittens interact whenever possible. Hissing, swatting, and angry meowing is expected at the beginning.
Don’t intervene as long as the behavior doesn’t escalate into a fight. Instead, reward your adult cat and kitten whenever they’re behaving well around each other.
Choose something delicious (tuna treats, for example) that both kitties won’t resist and give it every time the cats are calm and relaxed.
If there’s a fight, you should stop it as soon as possible before someone gets injured. Then leave the cats to calm down before you approach them again.
Don’t punish or use any negative reinforcement. It might make the cats more hostile against each other.
#4 Provide Physical/Mental Stimulation
Kittens are small balls of endless energy, and all they want to do is play with everyone and everything in sight.
On the other hand, older cats spend most of their time sleeping, grooming, and patrolling their territory.
As such, kittens are often overwhelming for senior cats because of their playfulness and naughty behavior.
Make sure that you provide enough physical and mental exercises to keep the kitten happy.
In this way, the little one won’t bother the older cat and will be too exhausted to get into trouble.
When your older cat starts to accept the kitten’s presence, you can let them play with each other.
#5 Consider Pheromones
Pheromones can be an excellent solution to your problem and stop your outdoor cat from being upset when kittens are present.
It can make the socialization process easy and remove the tension and anxiety between the cats.
These pheromones are available as sprays, diffusers, or wipes. Nutritional supplements can also be useful in relaxing a cat.
Talk to your vet about which calming aids are most suitable for your older cat, especially if your pet has a chronic condition.
How to Deal With Kitten Vs. Kitten Aggression?
So, you’ve got your outdoor cat to accept kittens. However, what do you do if the kittens are hostile against each other?
While kittens tend to make friends quickly, aggression isn’t that uncommon, especially among kittens from different litters.
Aggressive behavior can be due to excitement, fear, or resource guarding. Bossy kittens also tend to bully shy/timid ones, no matter if they are related or not.
So, here are some tips on stopping an aggressive female/male kitten versus a non-aggression kitten:
- Put a bell on the aggressive kitten to give the non-aggressive a chance to escape before they’re under attack.
- Play with the kitten as much as possible to burn off their energy. An exhausted kitten is unlikely to go looking for fights.
- Spay/neuter the kittens as soon as possible. Both female and male kittens can be quite territorial and dominant, especially when in heat or pregnant.
- If the kittens are from different litters, start the introduction process anew. Separate the little ones and slowly get them used to be in each other’s company.
- Provide suitable hiding places for the shy kitten.
- Break up fights and don’t allow them to escalate.
Unfortunately, some kittens don’t play well with others. They might bully the older cat around to establish dominance or chase them away from the territory.
If your older cat is really upset, they might find another home/yard where they can be a single pet.
So, think about turning your outdoor cat into an indoor one or talk to a feline behaviorist.
What do you think about these 5 tips on how to get outdoor cats to Get Along with kittens? Tell us about how your cats get along Below!
Olfa knows how to get things done and has a keen business sense that others admire. She’s always on the go, coming up with new ideas! Her ability to anticipate the needs of her readers and deliver information that they want is what makes CatVills such a success. She loves cuddling her cat Picaciu. He is her inspiration.
Good tips for a cat owner!
Those pictures are so cute. I have not had a cat in many years but a kitten like that one is adorable. You have so much patience to be able to train an outdoor cat.
We could have done with reading this a little while back. We had to introduce a kitten to our older cat. Luckily they eventually learnt to get along.
These are some great tips. I always hope cats get along. My cats fought at first but then they got used to each other.
My friend just got a second cat. I have to send this information to her.
Great article! We just welcomed a new kitten in our home last December and it took a while for our 4-year-old cat to get used to her but they are now great friends. We always rewarded our cat when she was being nice to the kitten.
My friend has 2 kittens. I will have to share this info with her.
This is such an awesome resource for anyone introducing kittens to adult cate. It can be a dicey situation at times.
These are very interesting tips! We don’t have any outdoor cats around, but I know someone who deals with strays a lot, I will pass this info on to her.
Though I do not have any cats, this post is really informative.
Great tips! And the pictures are seriously adorable! We have barn cats that we just love, and our kittens always get so much love and attention!
These are some great tips. I know that slowly introducing them is always a great idea. I’ve always done that myself.
Those kittens are so cute! Thanks for all the tips about outdoor and indoor kittens!
The kittens look so cute! Thanks for all the tips for indoor and out door cats!
These are really great tips! Fur parents will definitely find this blog very helpful.
It’s nice when kittens go along with everyone. Even with outdoor cats. Thanks for these tips!
One of my close friends is in this position. Will share this post with her.
This is a wonderful post. Such a great tips. I can see this being useful with any other pets.
I didn’t know they don’t get along. LOL. These tips would be helpful for cat owners.
These seem like good tips that will help avoid all kinds of problems.
These seem like great tips! My friend has the opposite situation. Her older indoor cat is adjusting to some kittens that were living in the basement. (The Mama cat apparently pushed through the screen and the 3 of them come and go as they please.) I’ll share this with her. My friend is hoping to find homes for them as the rescues are full and won’t take the kittens or mama cat.
These tips are really helpful! I am sure fur parents will be able to use these tips. It’s not really easy to make outdoor cats get along with kittens.
Thanks for sharing this I don’t know anything about kittens. These are great tips.
Definitely this is the go to website to read on if you are really into Cats and for those who are thinking of owning one.