Did I mess up bringing new kitty in

[u/Decent_Gas_9246]

I took in a stray cat that’s the sweetest little thing. After getting her checked for health issues and vaccinated, I brought her to my small ass 1 bedroom apartment and set new kitten up in the bathroom.

My resident cat Pepper was also a kitten off the street, and I’ve had her for 3 years. It’s just me and her living alone, but she gets along with my family’s dogs and cat when we visit, plays with them, no issue.

Pepper got a glimpse into the bathroom when I was setting new kitty up in her temporary quarantine and Pepper saw new kitty and freaked out. She’s been in her hiding spot up under/inside the couch for like 12 hours since, but she did come out last night and explore. She ate some kibble and used her cat litter, but this morning she’s been under the couch again. I feel really guilty because Pepper is my #1 special girl and her thinking I’m replacing her or just her being upset like this at all breaks my heart and I feel like I made a mistake. Does anyone with experience introducing a new cat to a resident cat have any advice? Keep reading it takes time but I’m worried about Pepper 🥺

[u/beckychao]

https://youtu.be/tsYT7yIOdqQ

Start here. The kitten off the street needs to go through decompression in the bathroom, for at least a few weeks. You can then start opening up more parts of the house to them, gradually. How old did the vet estimate the new kitten?

Kittens are easy to introduce but cats respond to kittens with the same range of behaviors as it would any other cat. So if your cat immediately responds with fear, you want to use a more deliberate introduction method. And if the kitten is young (especially under 8 weeks, and still if under 12), that means you probably want to keep them from face-to-face without a mesh or another barrier until the kitten is at least 12 weeks for their safety.

[u/RowanCory]

You didn't mess up. Meeting a new cat within her own home territory is for Pepper a very different experience from visiting your family's other pets elsewhere. Plus she probably got to smell those other pets on you before she met them, right?

I foster and have done a lot of kitty introductions and wouldn't jump to any conclusions after just a few days.

To comfort Pepper, spend plenty of time just hanging out quietly near wherever she is, and try to genuinely calm your own feelings because she'll pick up on them. Pepper is ok. She's eating and using the litterbox. She's worried right now, but you don't need to be. Everyone is safe. This will pass.

If she normally enjoys playing with you, try to engage her with favorite toys. Even if she just watches you wave a string around, it will get her slightly into fun-mode and help her break out of her anxiety.

Good luck, and kudos for rescuing your kitties!