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If you’ve been around my blog much, or if you follow me on social media, you know how much I love animals. Though I’m not expert, I’ve had lots of cats during my life. Introducing a new cat into a house where you’ve already got one or more cats needs to be done with patience and care.
Like people, cats all have different personalities, so it might take different tricks with different cats. I’ve got some tips to help you introduce a new cat to your other cats, so he or she doesn’t end up as scared as this one!
Keep your new cat separate from the others
Cats are very territorial, as I’m sure you well know. The kitties already living in your home will have marked the furniture and most of the items in your house with their scent glands. When they rub their faces all over things, that’s what they’re doing. They’re saying, “This is mine.”
When a new cat comes into the territory, they’ll smell that another cat has already been in your house. If you just let your new cat loose in your house, it is going to cause issues. Before you even bring a new cat home, you should set up a safe space for your new kitty.
The space you set up for your new cat should be completely blocked off from the others. You don’t want them to see each other that first week. The room should have a litter box, a scratching post
Keeping your cats separate from the new one will allow them to get used to the smell of a new cat without having any physical contact.
Share the smells and spread the love
Cats have an amazing sense of smell. In fact, their sense of smell is fourteen times greater than a human’s sense of smell. Your cats will be well aware of one another’s presence even when they can’t see each other. Since they have different smells, it is a good idea to start spreading the smells around.
A good way to start spreading the smells is by using the same brush on all of the cats. Another way is to feed them on either side of the door. You may just try treats
After that first week, you can start to introduce them face to face. You probably just want to start with cracking the door open between them. Don’t be surprised if they don’t love each other at first. I remember bawling my eyes out, I WAS pregnant at the time, when we got a new kitten to keep our other cat company. Our resident cat, Punkin, was not happy with Precious, our new kitten. After a bit of time, Punkin did come to love Precious, but it did take time.
Years ago, when we brought in our stray, Midnight, we read somewhere that if you put butter on the cats’ heads they’ll lick it off and then get their scent on each other…it wasn’t a success, but it was amusing!
Be watchful during interactions
You don’t want to leave the cats alone while you go out until you feel that they’re really getting along. If you see problems arising, maybe they’re not quite ready to be together and you need to separate them for a bit longer.
Just remember, it takes time, care, and lots of patience when you introduce a new cat to your other cats.
I have never had a cat, so I never knew there was a process behind it. I guess I just always assumed they all always got along and if you got another, you just brought it home 🙂
That would be nice!
It’s been years since we’ve had cats. My daughter adores cats and we had two at one time. It took a while, but they finally learned to live together peacefully most of the time.
Time to adopt some! 🙂
I remembering doing these things when we brought home a kitten we rescued. Our older cat didn’t seem to have a problem welcoming in the new addition.
That is great!
Cats can indeed be territorial. I guess it’s good to have assigned areas to them especially as they adjust to other cats.
It definitely is! They need time to get used to each other.
It’s actually a wonderful post! A friend of mine just got a second cat and those two cats are not getting along well so going to tell her about there so that she can read it over and maybe help her keep her two cats from hurting each other.
Yes, please do! It helps to have tips to get them to get along.
Our cat couple are a mother and daughter team, so we have never had to introduce a new cat into our home. If I ever do, I will definitely use your tips. I did not know about a lot of this info, especially the whole scent issue.
Great! That’s sweet that yours are a mother and daughter!
I would like to say that I know what you mean when it comes to cats. Really, the cat expert in our house, though, is my husband. I am sure he would agree with your tips though.
It’s good that you’ve got at least one cat whisperer in your house!
Wow! I had no idea there was such a process behind introducing a new cat into the household. Interesting article. I’m a cat person, but my daughter is so allergic, we can’t have cats. She is grown and doesn’t live here anymore–but it would make her visits miserable.
Aww! I’m so glad none of us have allergies to animals! I kept trying to pawn off the ferals that live outside on my sister but her son is allergic!
We don’t have cats, we just have a little dog. I understand it would be difficult to introduce a new cat and your tips would definitely help a lot. Sharing this post with a good friend who loves cats.
Thanks! Even introducing cats and dogs can take a lot of work!
We have two cats, brothers, who we adopted together as babies. They love each other dearly. We also have two dogs so we have lots of fur babies. Both of my daughters also have cats and we often laugh at what might happen if all our cats met each other. It probably wouldn’t be good.
LOL probably not! I guess it is a good thing it takes so much work to acclimate them, or I’d have a lot more than I do now!
We have only one cat, but we have chihuahuas as well. It was a similar process getting all of them acclimated together as well!
My sister has a chihuahua and cats! I know she did too.
I have never had a cat before but I can imagine how tricky it could be. My dog just loves cats but they usually don’t feel the same about her.
LOL that’s because cats like to be the boss!
I am not a cat person but this is a very interesting post. I had no idea that there is such a process behind introducing a new cat into the household. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome!
I had no idea but I get it. Although I’ve never had a cat I understand the importance of introducing new things and people into the mix.
The butter part sounds way cute.
LOL yes! It was funny!
Oh my goodness, those kittens are too cute! We do not have cats but do have two dogs and it was a process to get them used to each other. Now we are in year two with both of them and they adore each other!
I’ve never had 2 dogs at one time, but I’m sure I will at some point! I know it’s a process for sure.
I kid you not, we had a stray cat walk in the house the night we moved in. We thought it would be a problem with our two dogs and other cat. It wasn’t. It was like they all 4 had been best friends for life. We got lucky.
You did get lucky!
Cats are a great mystery to me. I’ve been severely allergic to them my whole life, so I’ve had to stay far, far away, even though they are the cutest cuddly looking things. I’d love to pet one.
Awww! Allergies are the worst!
I m miss having cats, we can’t have any due to allergy. These are great tips!
Aww, so sorry!
Oooo great tips!!! Cats can be funny when it comes to other cats!!! I remember the way my oldest cat acted when we brought the youngest cat home!
Yes! They’re so snooty! But I love them anyway lol.
Thanks for the great tips! Gotta love cats!
Appreciating the persistence you put into your blog and detailed information you provide.
Thank you Christy <3