Yesterday we got a new kitten. Crunchie is a 12 week old ginger/white boy. He seems to have settled in amazingly quickly - very active and inquisitive, very friendly. However, this is the first time I've ever had a kitten and have a couple of questions:
1. When he's playing or resting he seems completely happy. But when he is simply awake and alert, and wanting to be cuddled/fussed, he constantly makes little meows while purring at the same time. It almost sounds as if he's distressed about something, although in every other way he just seems like a happy kitty. Is this normal? Might it simply be that he's missing his mum and/or litter mates?
2. Our existing cat Pickle (4 year old ginger neutered male) seems to be very put out. Having never introduced a kitten to an established cat before, I don't know what to expect. He hasn't attacked Crunchie but has hissed at him a few times and has taken to moping around and distancing himself from us. He seems a bit depressed, if that's possible for a cat. Pickle has always been highly strung and a little bit aloof at times, and we got Crunchie partly in the hope it would bring Pickle out of his shell. I realise it's early days yet, but is it normal for the encumbent cat to respond is this way to a new kitten?