Thinking of getting a new cat to keep your resident feline(s) company? Cats can coexist peacefully and even form strong bonds, but they don’t always get along from the start. The introduction phase can be scary: what if things turn violent? Luckily, there is a pretty fool-proof way to let them get to know each other safely, greatly lowering the risk of drama and injury.
Below, learn how to introduce a new cat to your household in just five easy steps! In some cases, it can take as little as a week for them to get used to each other—and if not, then at least everyone can move at their own pace.
Choosing your new cat
If you’re looking to bring a new cat into a household that already contains one or multiple felines, it’s a good idea to choose the new addition extra carefully—especially if this is your first time in charge of a multi-cat household. There are no guarantees a cat will act the same way in your home as it does at the shelter or breeder’s, but opting for a new addition that is known to get along well with other cats can obviously make things easier.
Also, keep your existing furry friend(s) in mind. You may not have had the chance to observe them interacting with other cats much so far, but often, you’ll still at least be able to tell if they’re outgoing or on the shy side. If your cat is quite boisterous, it’s not ideal to get it a shy companion, and vice versa. Senior cats will not always appreciate being paired with a hyperactive kitten, but your mileage may vary: you know your pet best.
Thing to keep in mind
When the time comes to introduce your new cat, remember that our domestic felines descend from mostly solitary African wild cats. Sure, multiple cats can get along swimmingly in our homes—and some bond for life—but there is no guarantee. You should always keep in mind that cats exhibit facultative sociality: they do well alone, and some prefer it, but they can choose to form bonds. A lot of this decision depends on family relations, but also on whether the conditions are right.
One of the most important things when considering how to introduce a new cat is that each feline needs its own stuff. They don’t really appreciate having to share! Before getting another cat, be sure to double up on supplies: get a second litter box, cat tree, bed, feeding and drinking bowls, and the like. You can set up all this stuff in a single room for now, as your new furry friend will camp out there for a bit as part of the introduction process.
How to introduce a new cat in 5 steps
Step 1: Private time
As we just mentioned, your new cat won’t be ready to explore the entire house the minute you bring it home. You should keep it separated for now, allowing it plenty of time to get used to its new environment—and especially your existing cat’s scent. Use a spare bedroom or the like to set up a calm space with all the creature comforts a cat appreciates. No other cats should have access to this room. Don’t worry if that sounds lonely, it’s not permanent and your new addition probably needs some time to decompress anyway.
When bringing the new cat home, bring them straight into the prepared room. Contact with your other cat(s), even just visual, is not a good idea yet. Focus on making the new cat comfortable and building a relationship with it yourself; once it seems to have settled in a little, set aside plenty of time for play and cuddles. Hopefully, you will soon be greeted with an enthusiastic meow or a good headbutt upon entering the room.
Rolling over, sitting on you, and performing all the normal cat behaviors (eating and drinking normally, grooming, regular litter box visits) are good signs that the newcomer is feeling comfortable. At this point, you can begin scent introduction.
Step 2: Scent introduction
Remember those supplies you got for your new cat? It’s time to swap one of them out with one of your resident cat’s items. Something like a blanket is ideal, but anything works as long as it’s properly drenched in the cat’s scent. Carefully monitor both cats’ reactions. The ideal is if they rub their faces (and thus their scent glands) on the items, introducing their own smells and creating a mingled result. Negative body language, like a rigid posture and obvious apprehension, is a sign that it’s not quite time yet to move on to the next step.
Keep swapping the same and different items around for as long as you deem necessary, and don’t forget to offer a small treat every time you do. This helps create a positive association that will hopefully make things easier later. If both cats seem either excited or indifferent about receiving each other’s stuff, then it’s probably time for some visual contact.
Step 3: Meeting safely
Time for an exciting moment: letting the cats see and maybe even sniff each other, but behind a safe barrier. Something like a room divided by a mesh screen, a door just slightly ajar that they can’t pass through, or similar works well. Don’t stuff one of the cats into a carrier, as not being able to retreat will make it feel uncomfortable and can cause it to lash out.
Carefully observe both felines, and don’t forget to offer plenty of treats! If both are curiously sniffing around, rubbing their head on the barrier, and eventually losing attention, that’s great and you can probably move on to a more formal meeting tomorrow. If you spot any signs of aggression or discomfort, then tomorrow should be another “safe meeting” day instead—repeat until both seem either excited or indifferent to see each other. Slow blinks, tail up, nose sniffing and the like are all good signs.
Step 4: Showtime!
Are you ready?! If the barrier meetings went well, it’s time to finally facilitate a face-to-face encounter. It can take only a few days to get to this point in some cases, and multiple weeks or even longer in others. While the cats are somewhat distracted, like playing or feeding, remove the barrier. Initially, it may be best to just keep things to a few minutes of sniffing and inspecting time, especially if you’re not entirely happy with their reactions yet.
You can increase the time the cats spend together over the course of a few days, always making it a fun experience for them with plenty of playtime, cuddles (if they want them), and treats.
Step 5: Monitor
If you’ve noticed minimal or no issues, you can consider your job mostly done. Keep an eye on your cats at first: there might be occasional posturing and play fighting, but hopefully mostly just head rubbing, ground rolling, grooming, and other positive behaviors. Congrats, you did it! Although fights can break out even between long-time feline friends, you should mostly be in the clear at this point.
To ensure a lasting relationship between both of your pets, always ensure they can get away from each other if they want to. We humans don’t like being stuck in the same space with the same person all the time, and neither do cats. In addition to each cat having its own litter box and similar items, plenty of high perches and comfy hides placed around the house will help ensure things don’t sour between them.
Tip: Please don’t forget that some cats will just never learn to get along. If you’ve been swapping items and doing barrier meetings for weeks or months and you still get negative reactions, it may be that these two felines just weren’t meant to be. It may be best to divide the house into separate spaces where they can mostly be kept away from each other; with some luck, they’ll still grow to like each other more over time.
Conclusion: How to introduce a new cat
Introducing a new cat to your resident feline(s) can be a nerve-wracking process. No one wants to see WWIII breaking out in their own living room! Luckily, this five-step method teaches you how to introduce a new cat safely, not to mention easily: it’s pretty straightforward and has a high success rate.
