If you are planning on getting a new kitten and have an older cat already. You may be worried, or concerned if the cat will harm, or even kill it…
Will my cat kill a new kitten?
A cat could kill a new kitten. This could be for several reasons such as by accident, for example, a mother cat could smother the kitten. Or, a male cat may feel jealous or want attention from a female, etc.
So, now you know it’s possible. But, when should you avoid mixing them? Will your cat ever become friends with the kitten? Is this behavior always intentional? Keep reading for these answers, and so much more…
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Other reasons a cat may kill a new kitten
Male cats can kill kittens (Click here if it’s carrying it away). In many cases, they will intend to cause serious harm to the kitten. Males could also potentially kill their kittens if they feel a need to do so, although they are more likely to kill the offspring of another male.
To follow on from earlier, cats can also kill kittens without intending to do so. Cats are, of course, a lot more powerful than your average kitten.
So, if playtime gets a little bit too rough, then the kitten could end up seriously injured. This could lead to death.
When should you avoid mixing a kitten with your cat?
An angry-looking cat.
Under absolutely no circ*mstances should you be leaving a tomcat unattended with kittens (Click here to see when it’s OK), especially if the mother of the litter is not there.
If the male cat had been neutered before 6-months old, then this is something that shouldn’t really be an issue. Those cats will not have the ‘drive’ to want to kill kittens. Although, it should probably still be avoided wherever possible.
If a cat has also shown any sort of aggression towards other cats, particularly unprovoked, then they probably shouldn’t be mixing with kittens either.
Why will tom cats hurt kittens?
There are a few reasons why tomcats may harm kittens. A lot of this is going to be due to the raw instincts of the cat.
In the wild, cats will often kill the offspring of other males because they want to reduce the amount of competition in the area. You may also see tom cats killing their own male young for the same reason.
Instinct
This instinct never really disappeared in domestic cats. While it is likely still there, it is not going to be anywhere near as strong as if the cat were in the wild.
However, it is still going to be a very real risk when you introduce a tomcat to kittens.
Getting a female into heat
In rare cases, a tomcat may kill kittens in a bid to draw the female into heat. The tomcat wants to mate with the female and create his own offspring,
And thus it will kill the kittens in the hope that this will happen. Again, this is incredibly rare. There will often need to be a female cat in the picture for this to be a real possibility. In the majority of cases, it will be for territorial purposes.
Could a female cat kill a kitten?
Yes. Although, it is going to be a whole lot rarer than a tomcat killing kittens.
Some female cats donot have that maternal instinct. They have absolutely no desire to raise their young, so they just kill them. Sadly, this is something that is going to be dreadfully difficult to predict.
You never really know whether a mother will bond with her young before she actually has them. It can be quite devastating to see for cat owners.
Sickness
If the female cat only kills one of their young, then there is a chance that the kitten was sick. Most of the time, when a female kills a kitten it is due to sickness or injury. She is trying to eliminate one of the cats that may be competing for resources.
Accident
Mothers may also accidentally kill their young when they are playing. It is very rare for a female kit to kill the offspring of another mother.
How long will my cat hate my new kitten?
Your cat will likely take a few weeks to a few months to bond with a new kitten. In rare cases, it may take upwards of a year. If the kitten is the offspring of one of yours, then the bond should be pretty much instant.
Will my cat ever stop hissing at my kitten?
It is likely that they will only be hissing at the kitten for a few weeks or, at a push, a couple of months. Once the cat is used to the kitten, the hissing should stop.
It is just the cat showing off a bit of their natural behavior at the start. They are a little bit wary of new additions to the household.
Do cats intend to kill kittens?
Some cats do intend to kill kittens. If a cat kills a kitten, it is likely just relying on its instinct. For example, when a kitten is killed by a male cat, the male cat is killing them because that is the way the cat has been ‘programmed’.
It believes it to be the right choice. So, yes, the cat does intend to kill the cat. However, on the other hand, they are just relying on their instinct of being a cat. It is what they are supposed to be doing. They are just relying on instincts.
The same with female cats. Their instinct is to weed out the weak kittens and allow the stronger ones to thrive. The female cat doesn’t know that some illnesses in kittens can be treated, after all.
If a cat is killed during playtime then, no, the cat never intended to kill that kitten. It just greatly underestimated how strong it is.
Should cats have their own territory within your home?
Ideally, yes. Cats are very territorial animals. As a result, giving cats their own territory can help.
Many people will confine their kittens to a single room in the home. The adult cat will then be able to have free rain on the rest of the property. This should, hopefully, help to eliminate most of the issues tied to violence and territory.
This is because the adult cat will feel as if the other cat is not encroaching on their territory.
Why is it a good idea to supervise an older cat with a kitten?
Because kittens can be quite annoying. Kittens are still trying to find their limits. As a result, they will always be pestering older cats in a bid to get them to play with them.
The older cat probably won’t want this to happen most of the time. This means that the older cat will probably end up getting annoyed with the kitten (click here if you fear it’s going too far), and this can lead to violent consequences.
It will almost certainly lead to the older cat having a bit of resentment towards the kitten.
If you are supervising the older cat and the kitten, then you can stop these issues before they become a problem.
It will also allow you to break up any fights that the two animals may end up having. It should be pretty obvious if the fighting is a little bit too aggressive.
Will treats help a resident cat and kitten bond?
Yes. This is because resident cats may feel jealous that a kitten is getting all of the attention. So, if you lavish praise on your kitten, particularly when it comes to treats, then give the same to your adult cat.
This way the cat will not feel as if they have lost some of the love that you used to give them. Over time, the adult cat will start to realize that they are being treated the same. This causes less resentment and less of a chance of violence towards the kitten.
Is it better to get a cat the same size?
If possible it is better to get a cat the same size. But, it does not mean they will get along fine though. When a cat sees a smaller cat or animal it can see it as a challenge to its territory or even its prey.
If you are lucky they will get along well. And, sometimes this takes a little while, but you can get there. Other times there could be a fatal attack, or even an accident if it plays too rough.
Could a stray cat be more aggressive with a kitten?
A stray cat will likely be more aggressive with a kitten, especially if it is not their kin. This is because they may have never learned the limits of their rough play. Or, they may just have not been socialized enough.
This is a defect of their upbringing rather than a deep-rooted show of evil. It is hard to make this distinction if you have an injured kitten in your hands, but this is how it can be.
Should I resent my resident cat for attacking my kitten?
You should not resent your resident cat for attacking your kitten. This is because it was likely acting on instinct and didn’t understand how far to go when playing rough.
Or, it may have felt genuinely threatened by the new addition of this kitten and took its claim of territory too far. I know, it’s easy for me to say, but in the heat of the moment, it can be tough.
Could a male cat kill a kitten to put a mother back in heat?
Yes. A male cat could kill or injure a kitten to put a mother cat back into heat. A male cat does not have the same emotional remorse that we humans have.
The male cat will focus on its needs first, which is ultimately eating, sleeping, and mating, assuming it is not neutered that is.
Do all male cats attack or hurt kittens?
No. Not all male cats attack or hurt kittens. There are many of these cats that play well with kittens and befriend them. You may even see a male cat grooming a kitten.
So, it’s down to the individual cat’s personality, environment and upbringing. So, if it is a domestic male cat, neutered, and used to be around other pets and cats, it is more likely to respond better to a kitten than a stray male cat, for example.
How long will my cat hiss at my new kitten?
Your cat may hiss at your new kitten for a few days. But, this can be more depending on your cat. It can help to reduce the time taken to get used to each other by introducing them slowly.
For example, keeping your new kitten in its room for a few days, then letting them get used to each other’s scent. This can be done by rubbing towels on them and letting the other cat smell it, or from under a closed door, etc.
