Conference misery::feline_v1

    IT will get better... I brought Pookie home a baby sister, and she
    did not believe me either.. :*)...... as a matter of fact she still
    growls at Happy on occasion.. AND Happy  harrasses  Pookie
    whenever she gets achance.. I have Pookie in my room during the
    day.. with her toys, food , litterbox.. etc,, our bedroom
    was always Pookies kingdom.. her day suite.. and Happy was determined
    to "take the hill".. and I let Happy have the livivngroom.. I
    tried the reverse and POOKIE WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.. when
    I get home.. I bring pookie out carry her to sofa..
    set up her toys etc.. we cuddle and talk.. then later on I
    play with  Happy.. at bedtime.. I BRING POOKIE BACK TO
    HER SUITE.. Happy sleeps in the livingroom.. and POOKIE
    HAS CALMED DOWN considerably, RIGHT CIN?.. HE-HEH..
    ftw. POOKIE IS 12, AND HAPPY IS 6.. I keep telling 
    pookie this is you house.. you are still and will always
    be my no 1 baby, but HAPPY here. she is going to live with us..
    (this point I get a scowl.. picture this on a persian face !..
    Itell pookie that happy wants to play with her.. that also
    gets me another scowl.. but it will work.. no more growling...
    the same goes for you Happy.. no haraasing your big sister..!!!!
    etc... welcome to your new baby.. enjoy them both!!!!!
    regards
    Kate

Give them some time....things will settle down.  Meanwhile,
DON'T let your anxiety about this feed the conflict.  Take reasonable
precautions (if you feel they are necessary) to protect the kitten when
you are gone, and then just let the cats work it out.  I've always ASSUMED
my cats would get along eventually, and they have all managed to do it....
at friends' houses where there was trouble, the OWNERS were all adither
about the issue and the cats reflected that....

Remember, YOU are in control of the situation.  If you act as if the house
is normal, the kitten is a welcome part of the family, and part of the
world, your cat will learn to not only accept it, but enjoy the entertainment
the companionship can offer.

Finally, as time goes on you WILL see them "tussle" a little about who is
top cat.  This usually happens about the time the kitten gets strong and
has been around for a few months.  Barring possible injury, you will have
to let them work it out themselves.  If they seem REALLY mean, separate
them for awhile until things cool down.  After pecking order is established,
they will entertain one another for hours.  Just be patient.

    I had a one year old Lilac Burmese, WalksFar, and then I had a six
    week old Abyssinian kitten, Venom. There was no doubt in my mind
    that WalksFar viewed Vens as an object to first viciously attack,
    kill, then eat.
    
    I was beside myself when I had to go to work the next day. 
    
    That night when I got home, there was WalksFar protectively curled
    up around Venom. When a noise startled Venom, he woke, jumped in
    the air behind WalksFar and tried to hide, with one paw slung around
    her neck.
    
    I have the most beautiful photos of this and many more happy moments
    of these two ex-enemies together.
    
    It will work out. I think that they were left together to work it
    out for the nine hours I was away made it easier. No human intervention
    or overprotection of either taking place. I don't think I could
    have ignored it if I had of been there.
    
    This worked for me but it was an accidental discovery.
     
    Good Luck!!!
    
    Alison

    I hope you are all right!  Thanks!
    
    So far my husband and I are trying to keep things as normal as
    possible.  We give Mandy just as much affection and attention as
    before (if not more!).  The only problem is I don't think Mandy
    has eaten but it is hard to tell.  She refuses to come to the kitchen
    because that was where the kitten is all day but we don't want to
    bring her food upstairs - again trying to act as if everything is
    as it should be.  It's like two camps - one is upstairs and one 
    is downstairs. All the paths are open to each other - but they are
    staying away.  THanks for the advice!  I will keep you up to date.
    
    Suzanne
    
    
    

    I'd take Mandy some food upstairs; no need for her to go hungry
    while they are adjusting.  When I brought Holly into the house,
    I _know_ Sweetie thought he was about to be taken out and abandoned,
    it was really heart-wrenching.  Prescription:  a lot of love and
    cuddles for the "old" cat.  xxooo to Mandy the cream cheese pussycat.
                             

    Suzanne,
    
    I just recently went thru the same situation...I brought home Bustopher
    Jones to RumTum and McCafferty...at first it was hiss, hiss, hiss
    (from all three); and then RumTum kinda took over as "surrogate
    mom" (and he's a he!) when the kitten would cry, RumTum would run
    over and look at him real worried and then lay down and just _watch_
    Bustopher..of course Bustopher would romp over and "attack" RumTum
    and then they'd start playing (this started on about the 2nd or
    3rd day).  McCafferty on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with
    this 'stranger'...she would hide upstairs all the time, under my
    bed...I would coax her out at meal time and put the kitten in another
    room while she ate.  I also gave RumTum and McCafferty _alot_ of
    extra attention...they loved it!
    
    Well, we've had Bustopher for just over a week, and guess what??
    They all get along really great!!!  Yesterday I walked in and found
    Bustopher curled up with McCafferty sleeping...it was so cute. :-)
    
    AFter I took Bustopher to the vet and had him checked out, I let
    him out of 'his' room and now he has the run of the house with the
    other two.  This I believe is the best thing...I kinda forced them
    all to be with one another...I closed the bedroom and bathroom doors
    so they can romp in the livingroom and kitchen all day and also
    during the night.  They all have adjusted rather well to each other
    and it looks like this is going to be a very harmonious existence
    for us all :-)  including our dog, Reggie who just _adores_ them
    all :-)
                            
    Good luck to you !!!!
    
                            
    

    Thanks for all of your replies!  It has been one week today and
    things have improved so much.  Things still aren't normal - but
    what ever is???
                     
    The first three days were pretty crazy.  They wouldn't go near each
    other.  Koko slept downstairs the first two nights.  Then she decided
    the to sleep with us.  So Mandy in her refuge under the bed.  Mandy
    finally decided she wouldn't let this little thing take her sleeping
    spot.  So they romped around all night kind of fighting and playing.
    Needless to say we didn't get much sleep. 
    
    The hissing and growling are infrequent now.  And there is alot of
    romping around.  Mandy still spends alot more time than usual upstairs
    but she is getting soooo much better.  Last night they spent an hour
    playing in the basement where it was cool - it was so cute.  The only
    time Mandy gets really pissed off is when Koko tries to snuggle and
    then nurse Mandy!!!  But Koko will grow out of that.  I am now sure we
    have done the right thing and in time they will keep each other
    company.  I am thoroughly convinced that if Mandy can get along with
    another cat that anything can happen!
    
    Thanks again!
    
    Suzanne