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My Cat Is Mad At Me For Bringing Home a Kitten

If you have a new kitten you may be wondering why your cat is looking so mad at you…

Why is my cat mad at me for bringing home a kitten?

The reason it seems like your cat is mad at you is that they sense something is different in their environment and they are reacting to it.  Their brains work differently than ours so they aren’t spiteful or holding a grudge against you. 

So, now you know. But, how can you be sure? What can you do to help them get along better? Is it OK to leave your kitten with this cat? Keep reading for these answers, and much more…

How can you tell if your cat is mad at you?

Is my cat depressed because of new kitten?

Mad looking cat.

If your cat is mad at you they will give you some signs to let you know. Cats use specific body language to show their emotions. Usually, when they’re mad their ears will go back and their fur may be standing up.

Another thing they do to let people know when they’re mad is tucking their tail in. When they’re in a good mood they will hold their tail high.

These are usually the first signs you will get that a cat is mad at you. Some cats may also growl, or make other angry-sounding noises, to let you know they’re angry.

Is Your cat shocked at the new kitten’s arrival?

Since you can’t let your cat know ahead of time that you’re bringing a new kitten into their life, it comes as a complete shock to them. It may seem like they are being spiteful, but it’s only because they are reacting to a new situation that may not always seem positive to them at first.

What can you do to make your cat and kitten get along?

To start things off on the right path with your cat and kitten, it’s best to start things slow. Don’t directly put the new kitten in your cat’s environment right away.

Keep them separated at first so you can slowly introduce them. It’s a good idea to have a separate room or closed off area where the kitten can stay when you go to bed or aren’t home.

Cats get to know each other by scent by pet one and then letting the other smell your hand, and vice versa. This will make it easier to slowly transition them into getting used to one another. Something else you should do is make sure they have separate dishes and litter boxes.

Could your cat be jealous of your new kitten?

Your cat may be jealous of the new kitten, especially if your cat was the only pet in the house beforehand. Your cat was used to getting all of the attention. Of course, you are going to be giving the new kitten a lot of attention, but this could leave your cat feeling excluded.

If your cat isn’t used to being around other animals then it’s likely they have become codependent on you. Since they aren’t used to sharing with you, they may show signs of jealousy. Make sure that you still allow plenty of time to give your cat some one on one attention so they don’t feel left out.

Why would a mother cat be mad at her own kittens?

How can I make my Maine Coon grow bigger?

A cute kitten.

Mother cats can be very protective of their young. However, when the kittens mature it becomes a different story. Once a mother cat gives birth to a new litter of kittens she may become mad at her existing kittens. This is because she believes that they may pose a threat to her new babies.

They are very territorial over their babies and may growl or hiss at her existing kittens if she feels they are jeopardizing the newborn’s safety.

Is it OK to leave your new kitten with your mad cat?

You should not leave your new kitten with your mad cat, or even alone with a cat that could become mad. For your kitten’s first 16 weeks of life, it’s very important not to put them in situations where they could get hurt.

At this age, they are too weak and would get injured very easily if the older cat becomes aggressive.

Does your cat hate you for bringing the new kitten home?

It may seem like your cat hates you ever since you brought a new kitten home, but that isn’t the case at all. Your older cat isn’t trying to express dislike towards you or the new cat. If it seems like they are being distant it’s because they are scared of the new kitten. It will take some time for them to get used to one another.

Your cat isn’t holding a grudge, they are just trying to avoid the new kitten for now. Make sure you continue to give your cat plenty of affection so they don’t feel left out. This will help them warm up to the new kitten sooner and eventually they will be acting like themselves again.

How can you keep your cat happy when you bring a kitten home?

Here are some things you can do to keep your cat happy with your new kitten…

  1. Don’t rush it! Always resist the urge to make the kitten your cat’s new best friend right away. They will need time to adjust to the new kitten on their own terms. Their relationship will be better if you integrate the kitten into the cat’s world slowly.
  2. Private spots. Cats can get stressed out when they get introduced to new animals. Make sure your cat has their own private area or room in which they can escape to when they need some peace and quiet. This gives them a spot to go and calm down.
  3. Give them plenty of attention. While you may want to give to the new kitten snuggles every chance you get, don’t ignore your older cat. They require love and attention too, and with the new kitten around they’re likely feeling left out. Schedule some playtime with them too.
  4. Read their signals. Cats will always use body language and certain signals to let you know when they are upset. Be mindful of how your older cat is feeling when the new kitten arrives. They may find new hiding spots so you will have to work extra hard to cheer them up so they will come out.

Why would your mad cat reject a new kitten?

It is not uncommon for a cat to reject a new kitten at first. Most house cats are isolated from other cats, so they are not well socialized. This presents problems when you bring another cat or kitten into the picture.

Another reason they may reject the kitten is that in the wild cats usually only live in colonies with their relatives.

Could your kitten be annoying your mad cat?

Your kitten could likely be annoying your mad cat. Kittens have a lot more energy than older cats and often display aggressive play behavior. When the mad cat is resting (or doing one of their other cat things) can easily annoy it by trying to wrestle.

Kittens love to start play fights. They don’t care how much bigger that mad cat is, they’ll still wrap their paws around them and try to play fight. This could annoy the older cat, leading them to hiss and swat, but often the young kittens don’t get the message (could their mother hate them?) and continue with the aggressive play.

Lindsey Browlingdon