It took more than a month for Freya to bond with Siggy. We got Siggy a few weeks before Freya, and so we had to introduce the kittens to each other.

Siggy, being adventurous, was eager to befriend Freya, who stayed in her pet carrier for most of the first day. She did venture out during the following days, using her litter box and hiding, which most kittens do.

I played with Siggy, using a wand toy, and soon Freya was joining in the fun. Play is so important for all kittens and cats.

Food is most important.

Freya’s breeder gave us a week’s worth of kitten food and that helped familiarize Freya with her new environs.

Gradually she saw Siggy eating wet kitten food, and Freya sampled that as well. And she did it from the same dish as Siggy–a big plus.

Food, play and love–the third hurdle. Siggy being part Ragdoll was easy to hold and snuggle. But Freya did not like to be held, struggling as soon as we tried. But we coo at her, and she purrs, and that has continued to this day (16th week).

Freya was getting lots of love from Siggy, and she bonded with her. The first sign was Freya grooming her as in the above video.

The next day, Siggy returned the favor.

After the grooming episodes, which happened at 12 weeks, Siggy and Freya bonded, following each other, playing with each other and eating together. They are inseparable.

It is easier to introduce kittens to each other. Introducing a kitten to a cat may take longer, depending on the personality of the cat (and all are different, regardless of breed). In general, follow these steps:

1. Keep kitten in a room on the first few days with food, litter box and bed.
2. Set up a baby playpen fence and allow the cat to see the kitten.
3. Feed the cat and kitten a treat when they encounter each other.
4. Allow the kitten to roam her new surroundings, making sure to block obvious hiding places, such as under the refrigerator.
5. Play with cat and kitten and reward with treats.
6. Hold each cat in the presence of the other.
7. Give both lots of love.

That’s the winning formula!