Introducing a New Cat to the Family? Here’s What You Need to Know

Are you thinking about introducing a new cat to the family? If you're concerned about them meeting your resident cats, you're in good company. It's important do plan ahead and go slowly.

If you’re concerned that your new cat and your resident cat might not get along, you’re in good company. That’s a common concern. We all know our cats can be very territorial, but don’t lose hope! With a little preparation and a gentle introduction, you can give your cats the best chance for a healthy friendship. 

Step 1: Good Preparations

Before you even bring your new cat home, you will need to do preparations at home. You will need a safe place where your new cat can isolate from everyone. Make sure you choose an area that is not close to your resident cat's favorite hang out. Spare bedrooms, laundry rooms, or even a bathroom can work; you will need to be able to secure the cat inside the space. Make sure that this space has everything your new cat needs: a litter box, toys, food dishes, and blankets.  Consider trying a pheromone diffuser in both of the cat's rooms; the addition of the comforting smell will help both cats be calm.

Step 2: Keep Them Separated at First

When you bring your new cat home to introduce them to the family, make sure that they do not come in contact with the resident cat at all in the beginning. You may have to have other family members run interference. You want to make sure that they get used to each other before they meet, and that will help it go as smoothly as possible. Give your new kitty a day to get comfortable in their little space. Make sure to spend time with them in this space, but also make sure you spend time with your resident cat too. 

While they are separated, there are some ways you can encourage them to get close to one another in a positive way. Get your resident cat to associate the smells behind the door with positive things. In this case, positive things are food. Consider feeding your cats as close to the door as they will tolerate.  If they aren't reacting to being fed in different areas, try giving them treats outside the door instead. You can also try tying two toys together and having one part in the new cat's room and the other half outside. By playing with two parts of the same toy, they can end up bonding this way. (If this turns into hissing or growling, stop it immediately!)  

Step 3: Give Each Cat Plenty of Individual Attention  

Even as they’re slowly getting used to each other, be sure to spend quality time with each cat individually. Renowned cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy suggests maintaining a strong bond with each cat to help them feel secure and reduce any territorial behavior that could arise. Spend time with your resident cat, reassuring them they’re still your beloved buddy, and give your new cat plenty of one-on-one attention to help them settle in. This attention can reduce stress, boost confidence, and help both cats feel more at ease in their shared environment.

Will your cat sitter be responsible for caring for cats who are separated in your home while you're away? If your cats are still in the beginning phases of introduction it's important to let your pet sitter know this and plan for the extra time it will take to give them each the attention they deserve. This is going to be crucial in helping ease their anxiety as well when you leave them during this time.

Step 4: Mixing It Up with Scents

Start slowly. Swap some of your cat’s items and put them in the other cat’s space. One example of this is to put your resident cat’s blanket in the room with the new cat, and take the new cat’s blanket and place it where the resident cat likes to sleep. If you don’t have a blanket to use, we recommend using a clean sock to pet your new cat with, really petting their face to get their scent on it, then leave it near your resident cat to let them investigate it on their own.

You can also try swapping their food dishes, again letting them associate the other cat’s smell with the sweet goodness of their food. You can even try a full-on house swap. Take the new cat out of the room and let your resident cat into their sanctuary space. While they do that, let the new cat explore the rest of the house without the two of them seeing each other yet. If all of these seem to be accepted well, move onto the next step. 

Step 5: Visual Introduction

Now it's time to let them see each other. If you want, you can use a pet gate to provide a barrier that allows visual contact, but not necessarily touch. Other barriers include screen doors, blankets, or just cracking the door. Make sure to have treats on hand to try to continue the association of nummy food with this stranger and don't push them too far just yet.

Try feeding again with the see-through barrier in place, monitor how close your cats get to each other without them feeling uncomfortable. If there are any signs of aggression, take a break and separate them once more. Continue in this stage until they can see each other without signs of hostility. 

Step 6: Open the Door

You’ve made it to the final step! Let your cats mingle under your supervision and at their own pace with the door open. Start doing this only at feeding time, or try to start a play session with them both, with each of them having their own toy. If necessary, get a partner to help you play with both cats at the same time. They call this parallel play. Unstructured time is more likely to devolve into aggression. If they are eating or playing, they aren’t thinking about each other. Keep the sessions short at first and work your way up.

Remember, keep treats on hand to reward an interaction that ends well. Be alert for any negative interactions. If a fight starts to break out, return the new cat to their room and try again later. You may have to start with a couple of hours a day, then work your way up to all the time! Make sure your cats still have lots of places to go for private time. 

Can a cat sitter help introduce your new cats? Yes, at Ocala Pet Sitting we are experienced at helping clients and their cats learn to experience harmony in the home. Get in touch with us to schedule a consultation. We would be happy to help you set up your new cat family member up for success.

Step 7: Be Very Patient!

This process is very personal for your cats; it may also take longer than you expect. If you can imagine being moved into a stranger's home and not feeling entirely welcomed at first, that's likely what your feline family are feeling. They may adapt quickly to one another's presence, or they may not. It will depend on their personalities.

Please do not rush this process. Hastening this process may cause permanent damage to their relationship. It's all about baby steps. Keep in mind if either cat shows aggression, stop the interaction immediately, and consider returning to the previous step. They may still avoid one another, even after all signs of enmity have ceased. Just like people, some cats simply do not get along with other cats.

Final thoughts from a professional cat sitter.

Bottom line, cats are individuals and nobody can promise they will get along. Following these outlined steps and taking it slowly will give your feline family the best chance of acceptance for all. If the situation doesn't improve over a few weeks or things escalate into violence, consult with a cat behavior consultant. Ocala Pet Sitting can put you in touch with a reputable cat behaviorists and help you implement the plan. Get in touch with Ocala Pet Sitting. We're here for you.