How do I introduce new cat to other cat in home?
badlilgirl1969 asked:
I am taking charge of a male, neutered, 6 year old cat from a friend who is moving to a place where no pets are allowed. I have an 11 year old, female, spayed cat already. Both have been with other cats before but not recently. What’s the best way to introduce them without trouble from either side.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, April 5th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Cats.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I am taking charge of a male, neutered, 6 year old cat from a friend who is moving to a place where no pets are allowed. I have an 11 year old, female, spayed cat already. Both have been with other cats before but not recently. What’s the best way to introduce them without trouble from either side.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Keep the new cat in a room by itself for a few days with food, water and separate liter box. After a few days of sniffing new cat scent from under the door, the existing cat may be ready for the next step. Ask a friend to help bring in the existing cat while you hold the new cat and let them see each other for a few minutes. Not too close and stop if hissing and other agressive behavior starts. Continue the supervised visits until they become comfortable then you can let the new cat out. Keep separate liter boxes for the duration.
April 9th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
This will be an easy transition.
When you bring home the new cat do not allow your cat to see it or touch it. Place the new cat into a room I usually use the bathroom, put the cats litter, water and food in it and shut the new cat in.
Allow your cat to hiss and paw at the new cat under the door, this is their way of getting to know one another. Usually after the first night I will allow the two limited access to each other (IE) put your cat in the bathroom and allow the other to roam the house and then switch. This allows both cats to smell and make their minds up.
I usually do not suggest leaving your two cats alone together for about a week. I’ve known cats who got supper Territorial and have killed the new cat (worst case scenario).
Just do it slow, it’s like a new person you’ve never met moving into your house!!!!
Let them growl and hiss, it’s they social interaction skills!!!
Best of luck and congrats on the new addition!
April 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Have 1 in a room with the door shut and you holding the first cat. Then have someone else bring in the other cat and shut the door. The 2 people just hold the cats on there laps like a foot away from each other. If they are anything like my cats they’ll moan a little just wait for them to get comfortable, if they are nice to each other let them walk around. But keep the door shut, so they have to be in the same room together. Slowly do this more and more, and they will begin (hopefully) to like each other.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
A little wine, soft music and candlelight! LOL