High Peaks Cat Shelter: Introducing a New Cat

Feline Behavior: Introducing a New Cat

Some cats claim personal hiding spots.

When you are ready to bring a new feline into the family, make sure you take the necessary steps to ensure that this is a successful event. Remember that your house cat is already the dominant creature in his/her domain; ‘Fluffy’ may not like the intrusion of another kitty into her surroundings.
These are steps that, if followed, will usually bring a successful result:

1. Always put the ‘new kitty’ into a separate room; a bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, are good choices. Set up the ‘new comer’ with his own litter box, food and water dishes, toys, and a comfy place to curl up and sleep. We emphasize that if you use litter boxes that have already been used, make sure that they are cleaned well with bleach and water, so that no other cat’s urine scent remains in the box. This may cause a new cat to not want to use the box!

2. Let the dominant cat smell the new cat under the door. There may be hisses, and other aggressive behavior on both sides of the door, but this is expected. Make sure you give a lot of attention to both cats!! They both need reassurance at this time.

Kittles.

3. Take a towel or rag, and rub down the body of the new comer with it. With his scent on this, bring it to your dominant cat, and let him smell it. He may hiss at the towel, but that's ok! He is getting the scent of the new comer in his territory now!

4. After 3-4 days, open the door just a bit, and let them go ‘nose to nose’ with one another for a few moments at a time... Lengthen the amount of time as behavior improves between them.

5. Always supervise when you finally let them come ‘face to face’ with one another in the same room. It may not be love at first site, and they still may need separation after a few minutes of being with one another, but this should change with time. Remember to always make your dominant cat feel ‘special’, with love and attention so that he doesn't feel he’s being replaced by the new addition! Good luck!