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Adult cat / Kitten Relationship
My older cats spends a considerable amount of time grooming our new kitten. Is this normal?
Keywords: grooming, kitten
Answers to this question
30 Answers
Answer 1
7
Yes, it’s normal. It sounds like your older cat has taken your kitten in as part of its family. Grooming is a good thing. Many older cats reject new kittens so you are very lucky.
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Answer 2
4
This can be a sign of acceptance as well as your older cat’s way of asserting dominance in the household. This is not a bad thing by any means - if both cats are accepting of the pecking order, there is generally peace in the house.
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Answer 3
1
I am glad to hear that! It is normal.
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Answer 4
1
It is normal for your older cat to groom the kitten especcially if it is a she-cat.If it is female then it is excepting the kitten as it’s own.If it’s male then it is simply acceptance.not fatherly like if it was a she-cat
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Answer 5
1
Yes, its normal. It would be great for many people to have an older cat who gets along with their little cat. I think the older cats are just trying to act as a mother to the liitle cat. I hope all goes well! 
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Answer 6
1
yes, it is perfectly normal. it proves that your cats want someone to care for. they have motherly feelings and feel for others. I think that the kitten inspired the cats yo do so. You should be really proud of your little family.
Source Link: cat feelings
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Answer 7
0
they all become part of the family brothers sisters taking care of eachouther.
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Answer 8
0
It si acceptance like they say and it will be treated like kin
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Answer 9
0
its a good thing! my male cat tried to kill my female kitten, but as she grew up he accepted her. now i have three kitties, and they all get along great. im glad yours do too!
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Answer 10
0
im glad to hear somones apart of the family
but yes very normal
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Answer 11
0
yes it is normal
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Answer 12
0
there is nothing wrong with it grooming the other cat it meens it has accepted the other kitten to be part its pride
Source Link: bast
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Answer 13
0
Yes, this is normal. It may be that your older cat thinks that your kitten is her kitten!
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Answer 14
0
Yes this is very good. The adult cat sees the kitten as one of it’s children.
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Answer 15
0
yes it is very normal
dont worry.
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Answer 16
0
yes this shows that your cat likes your other cat which is good news because some cats do not like other cats so u should be happy
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Answer 17
0
yes it is normal, it means the older cat exepts and loves the younger cat
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Answer 18
0
yes
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Answer 19
0
when the kittens born the mum starts to lick there babys to keep them clean. byeeeeeeeee and YES ITS NORMAL
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Answer 20
0
the older cat may just being welcome and open 2 the new cat. because many animals reject the new comers and try 2 get rid of them
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Answer 21
0
YES most defently! My cat had kittens two times thats all she did all day! If your cat dosn’t lick them thats a bad thing. My cat will only leave her kittens if she has to go to the bathroom or if she’s hungry or thirsty. But for thye rest of the day she stays with her kittens and licks them. If she dosn’t care about as much thats a ok thing and a bad thing. The good thing is that they will be ok. The bad thing is that they might not get enough milk and they are not preteckted. But yes its normal that your cat licks your kittens alot.
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Answer 22
0
My cat, who has passed away groomed our dog, so a cat grooming another young cat doesn’t seem abnormal to me. Anyways, the grooming is most likely a sign of acceptance and love.
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Answer 23
0
The grooming is just a sign of love. Dinah, who is 5 yrs. older than Misty, welcomed her and treated her like a sister, and even took care of the kittens for her. (Imagine an 8 month old stray having kittens, she really needed the help).
If you are wondering who on earth I’m talking about, see my profile.
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Answer 24
0
your kitten is very blessed, my guys when they were kittens didnt have anyone to lick them, but my 18 month old one licks people alot, and very affectionate he will even sniff ears, it tickles
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Answer 25
0
yes,this is very good news,most of the time older cats reject newer kittens from their family and fight with them,if it grooms it or plays with it, that means that they are friends and now that lucky kitten is taken into it’s family
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Answer 26
0
your older cat sees the kitten as one of her own kittens so she is grooming it like she would if she had kittens.
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Answer 27
0
My mother’s cat grooms my boy all the time. We adopted them at the same time and they’ve been doing the whole time….we’ve had them for two years now. My boy will actually walk up to her,rub his head against hers and then plop down in front her as if to say please lick me lol. It’s so cute! It usually turns into a play fight..they absolutely love each other. My girl on the other hand gets jealous of him…she’s much nicer to him now but she used to be downright hateful. I guess putting her in kitty time out enough made her learn to be nice.
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Answer 28
0
He/She has taken a liking in your kitten.
Source Link: Kitten Love
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Answer 29
0
i thought older cats dont like new comp! it is good though - less trouble for u!
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Answer 30
0
When my feral weaned her second litter, she rejected everyone and found somewhere else to live rather than here, with both litters. One of the males from her first litter took over parental duties, grooming his litter mates and everyone in the younger litter. His larger brother felt shamed into helping once in a while. The almost constant grooming only lasted a few weeks, but they both still groom the others frequently. The constant grooming was mostly a matter of teaching. The frequent grooming is love and acceptance and is practiced by everyone, though some have a preference as to whom they want to groom or who they want to be groomed by.
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