A cat owner had high hopes when she brought a new kitten home to her senior cat—but she did not expect his reaction to meeting the young kitty.
In a viral Instagram post shared on Friday under the username @bambi_theminkragdoll, the small kitten, a ragdoll named Bambi, can be seen trying to initiate play with the older cat, Milo, who doesn’t seem very interested in a friendship.
As Bambi tries to approach sleepy Milo, the tuxedo cat starts hissing at him, pushing him away. Visibly sad and disappointed, Bambi backs off, looking defeated after getting rejected once again.
“Day 20 of our new kitten trying to cuddle the elderly cat. Another heartbreak for Bambi. Look at that sad little face. Please love him already Milo”, the caption says.
“Milo came a long way in past 20 days, he is a good boy letting Bambi come this close. But it’s heartbreaking seeing Bambi’s lil sad face when his affections are rejected.”
But not all hope is lost for little Bambi. In a further update shared later in the week, Milo can be seen slowly beginning to warm up to his little brother, allowing him to come near him without hissing or growling, and even sharing meals together.
When bringing a new kitten into a home with a resident cat, introductions should be handled slowly and mindfully to reduce stress for both kitties.
According to 1st Vet Veterinary Centers, the first thing to do is setting up a separate, comfortable space for the kitten with food, water, litter, toys and hiding spots so he has a safe retreat.
It’s important that you also schedule a visit to the vet for your kitten right away for a wellness check, vaccinations, and to discuss spaying or neutering options.
Introduce the cats slowly and gradually. Keep them separated at first, then exchange items with each other’s scent before allowing limited visual contact through barriers like baby gates.
Watch both cats closely for warning signs of stress or aggression, and if either of them becomes agitated, separate them and restart the process from the beginning.
Patience is key in this process, as proper introductions can take a week or even more, and it’s also important that you spend quality bonding time with each cat.
Finally, understand how to respond to aggression during free interactions, distracting them or separating them safely if needed. Do not allow them to be together unsupervised until you’re sure they’re comfortable with each other.
The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 82,200 views and 3,537 likes on the platform.
One user, Maimes113, commented: “Poor guy, he needs time to understand that loving two is not dividing love, but multiplying it.”
Jhdesignsco wrote: “This is so sad to see this darling face so unhappy! I hope soon they can be friends!!”
Stitchgirl78 said: “In the meantime, please give Bambi extra time, attention, love, and cuddles.”
Newsweek reached out to @bambi_theminkragdoll for comment via Instagram. We could not verify the details of the case.
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