I have an older cat around 11 or 12. She has not liked my male kitten that I got a few months ago. She keeps to herself and lives down in the basement because she doesn’t want to be near him. If she seems him, she growls and hisses. Do you have any suggestions?
Unfortunately, this is very common when new pets come into the home, especially with older ones that have been there. Sometimes they just click, but sometimes it takes a lot of patience. It is important to allow both kitties to get used to each other's scents slowly.
To help your older kitty feel less stressed and less agitated, we would recommend you try the Matricalm supplement, as it will help reduce any anxiety or aggressive behavior. The herbs are very gentle, can help calm the nerves and promote relaxation. There is also a product called Feliway- it is a diffuser sold in pet stores and animal clinics. It helps promote harmony in homes with multiple cats and reduce the intensity and frequency of fighting, tension and conflict between them.
In addition, there is lots of advice online on how to slowly introduce your current pet to new ones. The link below has an article that might be helpful, and has some great tips and advice on how to help your little ones get along. https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/how-introduce-kitten-to-cat