Bringing Home a New Pet: Introducing Your Resident Cat(s) To Your New Cat

This blog series will have three installments. There is a lot of information here, but please don’t get overwhelmed! With a little time and planning, you will soon be well on your way to safely welcoming your new pet into your home and successfully integrating them with other furry family members.

As the holidays approach, many families consider adding a new pet to their home. If you are thinking about adopting a cat or dog this winter, please consider that the best way to ensure a safe and successful integration is by taking introductions slowly and monitoring each step of the process. If you haven’t read our Part 1 of this series we encourage you read it before proceeding. In the second part of this series we’ll discuss strategies for introducing a resident cat(s) to your new cat.

NEW CAT…NOW WHAT?

You have adopted a new cat or kitten, set them up in a separate room, and shared cute photos on social media. But what does your current cat think? Intruder! While many cats enjoy companionship, they don’t become best friends overnight. It is important to slowly introduce your resident cat(s) to your new cat and let their behavior dictate when you should move to the next step. You should never just put two cats together and see what happens; as Jackson Galaxy (host of the TV show “My Cat from Hell”) says, “It’s cat Russian Roulette.”

WHAT’S THAT SMELL?

Cats are naturally territorial and guided by scent. Although you can’t smell it, your cat has marked every inch of your house (and you) with their scent. The new cat has a strange smell that needs to be mingled with your cat’s smell so that they see each other as family.

Start by giving each cat a blanket or towel to collect their scent by placing it on their favorite sleeping spot. After each cat has spent a few hours on the blanket/towel, trade the locations of the blanket/towel. Let each cat smell the new blanket/towel and see how they react. If the cat acts aggressively towards the new smell (hissing, fearful, or tries to destroy it). Take it away slowly and create a positive association with the new smell, like providing treats. Other beneficial scent swaps include cat beds, toys, and utilizing the same brush to blend their scents.

Before the cats meet, make sure that they are willing to do normal activities like eating and playing near each other. Start by feeding the cats together, on opposite sides of a closed door. You can create a barrier using whatever you have around the house, but common examples include a screen, baby gate, or door stop. Give them wet food a few feet away and gradually move the bowl closer to the barrier. Use a barrier where they can smell each other but not see, such as the door being propped open just a bit or throwing a blanket over the baby gate. You want to make sure that both cats are comfortable eating near each other as it is a sign that they do not feel threatened. Continue the positive association by playing with both cats.

EXPLORING NEW SPACES

Once the resident cat(s) and new cat accept the each other cat’s smell (i.e. they are indifferent), you can let them explore each other’s spaces. Put the resident cat(s) in a separate room while the new cat gets to explore the house. New spaces can be overwhelming, so close as many doors as possible and slowly introduce different areas of the house as the cat becomes comfortable. You want the cat to have access to “their” room at first so that they can return to it if they feel scared. Depending on the size of your house and the cat’s personality, this may take a few sessions over a period of several days. If you can, have a family member keep the resident cat company during the sessions. Once the new cat acts comfortable in the rest of the house (willing to eat and play), let the resident cat hang out in the new cat’s room (with the door closed) while the new cat is exploring. Both the resident cat(s) and new cat should have access to the other’s food, water and (clean) litter boxes.

WHO IS THIS I SEE?

Now that the cats are familiar with each other’s scent and different areas of the home, you can begin visual introductions. The cats should be able to see each other and touch no more than paws. Let the cats inspect each other. Pawing at each other and even some hissing is expected. Continue to create positive association with spending time together, so break out their favorite treats and toys. If one or both cats appear stressed by the interaction, do not force it; separate the cats and try again later.

When the cats seem friendly toward each other, they can officially meet! In the early stages, it is important that the cats are not left unattended. Bring the resident cat into the new cat’s room so that you can control the space. Continue to use food and toys so that the cats are engaged in activities, but expect that they will also inspect and possibly swat at each other. If a fight starts, break the cats up by making a loud noise to startle them such as yelling or clapping and removing the resident cat (use a blanket to pick them up so that you don’t get scratched). It is important that you do not punish them for acting like cats, just go back a few steps in the introduction process and try again later.

IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL

If the cats are getting along (or ignoring each other) during multiple sessions, it is safe to let them both out in the house. You will still want to watch them closely as the resident cat may be possessive of “their” stuff. If you leave the house or go to sleep, put the new cat back in their room until you are confident that the cats are happily coexisting without your intervention. Now it is up to the cats to decide if they want to be friends! This could take weeks or months, so don’t be discouraged. Make sure that they never feel the need to compete for resources like food, water, litter boxes, play time, cat trees or toys by having multiples of everything and sharing your attention with both of the cats.

It is important to note that each situation is unique and you need to watch and listen to both cats as you go through the introduction process. You may need to backtrack or take it extra slow, especially if the cats are older or haven’t seen another cat since they were adopted. Watch your cats for tell-tale signs of stress like refusing food, hiding, or litterbox issues. Never force cats together if they aren’t ready! If you need additional help or suggestions, you can always consult with your vet.

By: Amy Grem

NEXT WEEK: SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR INTRODUCING A RESIDENT CAT TO YOUR NEW DOG

HOLIDAY MESSAGE

With the holidays just around the corner we would like to take a moment to discuss pets and gift giving.  It is understandable that many parents like to present their children with pets as gifts for the holidays, but this must be done with care.  This should only be done with the understanding that regardless of the child’s age, adult supervision should be provided in the care of the pet on a daily basis.  This would include feeding, monitoring and maintaining the pet’s waste elimination (to ensure healthy urinary and stool output is present), play time, etc.  Caring for a pet is a large responsibility and not something to be taken lightly.  Please think of rescues and shelters this year, and all year, if you are considering adding a pet to your family.