Will Kittens From Different Litters Bond – Things To Know

It is not a typical scenario, but there may be a time where kittens from different litters might need to live together. When kittens are tiny, you might wonder if they can even tell that another kitten is not their biological sibling. In a perfect world, you would like them to accept each other and live together happily. So, will kittens from different litters bond?

Yes, kittens from different litters will bond. It requires some careful bonding work, but kittens do not discriminate against other cats who are not from the same mother. The earlier you introduce the two cats, the easier this process will be. 

Bonding at the kitten stage is one of the best ways for cats to build a relationship. Let’s dive into ways you can help your kittens bond and what you can expect during the process.

Can Kittens From Differen’t Litters Live Together

Kittens from different litters can live together at any stage of their first year of life. You will want to introduce the two kittens together in the right way, which will vary depending on how old the kittens are.

If a kitten is twelve weeks old or younger, they are likely not aware that a new kitten is introduced from a different litter. They may not realize that the other kitten is not one of their siblings, so that it may be a natural acceptance process. If this is the case, you can still expect the kittens to be playful together, but they should accept each other as a sibling.

Once a cat is older and has become more aware of its home environment, it will be more important to do an official introduction to get the cats to bond. If the kittens are older, take time to introduce them slowly and make sure they each have their own space in your home. It can be a good idea to keep them apart in your home for the first few days or weeks until they begin to acclimate to each other. 

How Do You Get Two Kittens To Bond 

There are several things you can do to help your two kittens to bond. The first is to realize you cannot force them to become best friends overnight. This process might take some patience, and you will have to act as the mediator as your kittens get to know one another. Place them together in a neutral shared space that is not either of their territories.

An easy way to do this is to put them inside a fenced-off children’s playpen area where they can run around in a chaperoned setting. This will allow them to begin to get used to each other’s scent in a low-key way. Start by letting them play together for fifteen or thirty minutes at a time and intervene if they start fighting.

One of the most common reasons two kittens will fight is if they feel their personal possessions are being compromised or stolen. To avoid this, do not socialize the cats during mealtime and keep their food separate until you are sure they are comfortable around each other. Never let the kittens eat each other’s food, as this will create animosity between the cats. 

How Long Does It Take Kittens To Get Used To Each Other

When kittens are young, the process of getting them used to each other is not a very long one. After a few days of supervised playtime, it is safe to let your two cats have their freedom with each other. That is not to say there won’t still be a few incidents as they adjust to each other, but after about a week, they should feel fully acclimated with the other cat’s presence.

Is It Better To Have Two Kittens Of The Same Gender

Getting two kittens of the same gender is not encouraged if you want the cats to grow up and get along. If cats come from the same litter and grow up together, they tend to be more tolerant of each other no matter what gender they each are. However, if you are bringing in an outside kitten to live at your home, it’s better to have cats of the opposite sex and have a male and female. 

While they may try to mate with each other, this should not be a problem if you get your cats respectively spayed and neutered at the appropriate time. Cats of the same gender tend to fight more often, as there is a power struggle to figure out who the alpha cat is. Overall, female cats are often the most difficult of the cat genders.

They are the most catty and often pick fights with other female cats. This is a generalization, though, and the most significant factor that will impact how well the cats get along is their personalities. 

Another factor that may impact how well two kittens get along is the demographics of the two kittens you are trying to bond together. Specific gender and species combinations may bond more easily. Typically, female cats are the most notorious for having trouble getting along with male and female cats. 

Will Two Kittens Hurt Each Other

Kittens might fight or bite each other, but this is usually a form of playtime for them, and they do not intend to hurt each other. Kittens like to role play fighting scenarios, but usually, it is not intentional if they hurt another cat.

This is natural kitten behavior, and you will want to make sure both cats are playing equally together. It is not ok if one kitten is ganging up on the other and hurting them, while the other kitten is not enjoying the playtime. 

Can You Introduce Kittens Of Different Ages

While you can introduce cats of different ages, they tend to get along the best if they are close in age. Kittens tend to have a ton of energy, while an older kitten may have calmed down some and cannot match the energy level of the younger cat. 

Your attitude while introducing the cats will help make the transition an easier one. Cats can sense when you are excited about something, so try to calm and positive the introduction. If you sense your older kitten is not interested, do not force the cats to be together right away.

Things To Consider 

Do not be alarmed if your kittens act out of character while they are first being introduced. There might be some hissing or arching of the back while they are initially meeting each other. While dogs might take to a new sibling very easily, cats maintain a healthy amount of skepticism until they are positive the new kitten is not dangerous or threatening their home.

Unfortunately, there may be times where you find two cats really cannot seem to get along together even after you have introduced them correctly. This happens, as cats can have strong personalities, and some are better suited to be in homes by themselves.

If possible, try to keep cats away from each other if you find they fight often. If you consider getting a second kitten and are unsure if your first cat would be receptive, try to do a trial run where they play with another cat to assess how they behave around others. This will help you avoid a bad scenario down the road if your cat is not friendly with other cats!