Your new little kitten makes your cat aggressive towards him and you wonder if can an adult cat kill a kitten?
I asked myself this question when my little Licorice arrived at the house where my little Mistee had previously lived alone. Indeed, the first days the cohabitation of an adult cat and a new kitten went quite badly.
And I was very worried because I know that a aggressive cat can be formidable for a kitten much less strong and more vulnerable. Indeed, a cat or an adult female cat has real weapons to attack a kitten (bites, paws, scratches…).
More can an adult cat get to the stage of killing a new kitten who has just joined the house? To find out, we will try to understand why a cat attacks a kitten, can he hurt him until killing him, how to protect a kitten from an aggressive cat?
Can a cat kill a kitten - Arrival of the new kitten
Whatever the character, the sex or the age of your cat, the arrival of a kitten in the house will always be a problem for him. Indeed, your cat will be disturbed for several reasons:
- Sharing the territory,
- Fear of the other cat,
- Mood incompatibility,
- Problem of jealousy,
- Change in his habits ...
But, even if the first days are difficult, we still manage with patience that cats accept each other and sometimes even get along well! (see : How do I get my new kitten to accept my adult cat?).
However, there are times when the adult cat may run the kitten, kick it with paws, and attack it by scratching or biting it.
Can a cat kill a kitten - Small attacks
In general, the attacks can be impressive, but they are not really violent. Your cat may spit, jump, kick a few paws but will not hurt your kitten or it is unwittingly.
Indeed, the kitten is not a great threat to your cat. And when the latter attacks it, it is simply so that the kitten understands that it is encroaching on its territory and that it is he who commands, that he is the leader, the master of the place!
Can a cat kill a kitten - Fatal attacks
The fights between a cat already installed in your house and kitten that comes to live there do not normally result in death. I did not notice In no case, no testimony on sites specializing in cat behavior or on forums.
The only rare cases where a cat can kill another is when a female kills her young or (seen in the Animogen forum) when a (non-parent) cat from outside has entered a house. where were 5 small kittens. He killed four kittens and got into a fight with the mother who wanted to protect her babies but was unsuccessful.
Otherwise, I have not heard, neither by my veterinarian, nor in my entourage, nor on blogs or on scientific sites of the feline world of cases where a cat happened to kill a new kitten on purpose with whom he was to share the house.
Can a cat kill a kitten - Risks
So we saw that an adult cat does not want to kill the new kitten even if it attacks it. However, when there is a fight, the adult cat can hurt your kitten. Although these injuries are not necessarily very serious, they can lead to infections. It will therefore be recommended to take your injured kitten to his veterinarian.
And to avoid scratches that are too deep, remember to cut your cat's claws regularly (see How to cut a cat's claws?).
How can I prevent my cat from attacking my kitten?
Some cats are less happy with the arrival of a kitten in the house than others. To limit the attacks and ensure that the cat and the kitten manage to live together without repetitive fights, here are some explanations:
Cat attacking kitten - Territory
Because your home has become your cat's territory, the arrival of a kitten will be a source of conflict because the cat does not like to share its territory with other cats or with other animals.
Plus, your adult cat is the one who was there before! It is therefore at home, on his territory that an intruder arrives. And it's perfectly normal that your cat doesn't want to give in to a new kid. Hence the problems of aggression.
For prevent your cat from being aggressive towards your kitten, it will be necessary to go through gradual integration stages of your kitten in the environment of your cat (see my article: How do I get my new kitten to accept my adult cat?).
Cat attacking kitten - Out of jealousy
When we adopt a baby cat, we devote time to it, we give it love, we play with it and without realizing it, we can abandon the other cat. In addition, with the arrival of the new kitten, we will change its habits (move it from room to room, put a protective barrier, shift its outing or play times…).
But since your cat is an animal and is very attached to its habits and routine, it can react and behave as if it were jealous. This is one of the reasons your cat can attack your kitten.
So be careful: Try to compensate and devote even more time to your adult cat, to stroke it more often and to reassure it.
Cat attacking kitten - Aggression
If, despite all the measures in place, your cat continues to attack your kitten, it is because he does not want to make a friend. Indeed, just like humans, cats do not get along with all cats in the world. Depending on ages, races, characters, experiences, a cat will accept the presence of another cat or not!
So what can be done to make an adult cat stop attacking a new kitten?
Cat and kitten fighting - What to do?
Do not try to intervene between them or to separate them. Indeed, it is dangerous for you and it is up to them to manage the conflict between them. However, here are some tips to reduce tension and the number of attacks.
Cat and kitten fighting - A distraction
If your cat is constantly attacking your kitten, then as soon as you see him doing so, it will be time to create a diversion. And to distract its attention, you can try making a lot of noise, clapping your hands hard, or throwing water jets at them with a sprayer. Thus, the adult cat will be distracted by something else and its aggressive drive will be stopped.
Cat and kitten fighting - Punishment
While it is true that there is no point in strictly punishing a cat, we can still make him understand that he must not start over. For that, discover my article: How to punish an attacking cat? ou My cat does not listen to me - How to make a cat obey?
Cat and kitten fighting - Pheromones
To reduce your adult cat's state of stress in the presence of the kitten and make it less aggressive, it is recommended to diffuse pheromones. It will suffice to connect a pheromone diffuser to the place where the kitten and the adult cat will meet. Thus, tensions will be calmed and the atmosphere more relaxed.
Cat and Kitten Fighting - Review
If your adult cat's aggressive behavior towards your kitten does not stop after several weeks, you will need to have her checked out by a veterinarian. Indeed, maybe the cause is other than the arrival of the kitten and that in fact he has a medical problem.
Finally, why not ask a professional for help? Indeed, there are behavioral educators for cats who know how to manage this type of problem. They can help you create a living space that will avoid conflicts between your cat and your kitten and especially to socialize them properly.
Your cat refuses food? Here is: Can a cat starve to death?
Does your cat seem sad? Here is: Can a cat cry?