I receive a lot of questions about introducing a new kitten / cat into a household with other cats. Most people have the idea that cats don’t like other cats, that is so not true. Cats just show it in a different way then dogs, and some cats have their set ways ( like humans) and it take longer for them to accept change.
Cats need to set limits! Therefore hissing or even a little fight is a healthy way for cats to set up ground rules. Shouting or being aggressive from a human doesn’t help the situation, it just stops it maybe, but the cats will get even more stressed. The fighting will get more and more. Relax, watch, observe and let it happen. It will disperse, if you follow some crucial rules:
Your stress level makes a big difference
Animals are very sensitive beings, they have a seventh sense and don’t underestimate that! Ask yourself how you feel about introducing a new cat into the household with your old cat? How nervous are you? How stressed are you about it? What is your biggest fear with the new family member? Be honest to yourself and address all those feelings with measures to overcome them. Like asking for help, like calming yourself down and like preparing the space not only for the new member but also for you.
Create space for each cat
Create enough spaces so that every cat you have , can retreat, can have her own space, can relax and feels not threaten by intruders. Make sure that your old cat has a lot of space to retreat if she gets stressed ( shelfs, cupboards, different rooms cat tree. )
Not only kittens can make a new family member!
The age of the new cat can play a role, but is not always a good indicator on how good the introduction will work.
It depends a lot on the character of your cat and the new cat, how fast and how peaceful the introduction will go.
A crucial part of the introduction depends on how you go about it, how you feel about it and how you deal with hissing and aggressive behaviour of your cats.
Understand what stresses them.
For cats it’s all about smell, first they need to smell the intruder, then they have to hear him and then they have to see him. If it’s all at once, it can stress them a big deal, especially if they have lived for a long time as an only cat.
The importance of play, treats & food
Play, treats and food create good feelings in cats ( and all animals and humans:-)) , and if you do this with the new and the old cat together, it will create a positive feeling around the new cat/ kitten. Play also helps them to forget about the intruder, and they relax faster. They are distracted from the intruder, and without knowing touch or be close to the new cat, without feeling threatened.
Cats are able to accept other cats
There are very seldomly situations, when cats are not able to live with new cats. I heard of one very drastic case, where the old cat stopped eating, every time a new cat was introduced into the household. That became so dangerous for the old cat, that the family had to stop bringing in new cats. But in my experience 97% of cats can get used to new family members.
The proper and least stressful way to introduce cats
Why do I write PROPER? This is the way to do it by the book, but some cats don’t need this introduction by the book, they are very chill with a new kitten or cat, or they were once used to other cats and are really blossoming with a new cat around them. So please do all the points you feel your cat needs to feel safe and happy. BUT if you follow these steps, it will work.
- Create a space ( toilet, spare room, bedroom ) for the new kitten / cat . With its own toilet, bed, cat toys and food bowls. This will be the safe space for the new cat, to retreat if it gets too stressful with the old cat.
- When you bring the new kitten / cat in the house bring it directly into that space / room and close the door.
- Take some time with the new family member, play feed it etc.
- Then get out of that room and observe your old cat, give it attention. Play with it give it treats and feed it in front of the door to the new cats door.
- Let them sniff each other through the door
- This should be done for few days, if you feel comfortable you can open the door a little after few days and be around to see how they react.
- If it feels like they just sniff each other, then start playing with both of them (The best toy is a feather on a string)
- If they get aggressive, let it happen for a little while but then close the door again, to separate them, for them to calm down and to see that they are safe.
- Give them both treats after they have played.
- As soon as you feel comfortable , leave the door always open . Feed them both separately, but slowly bring the bowls together into the room where you normally feed them.
- Let the new cat discover the house, play with them in all the rooms, give them treats and let them do their thing.
- If they hiss or it becomes scary for you, just breath, these are animals and they have a different way to put up limits and ground rules. I never saw in situations like these that blood was drawn.
- Make sure at all times that you feel comfortable, that you don’t shout with them, and that you give each of them the same amount of time and attention.
In my experience with introductions of cats: its often very individual, I had once a cat which I thought was never to accept new cats, and she did not accept 2-3 I wanted to adopt, for that I kept her a single cat for 5 years. Then I tried it again with a handicapped cat, she had only one eye, and at first I had to really keep them apart, and my old cat was really stressed. I had a big house so I could separate them. BUT then we moved into a new place, and they became best friends, even were sleeping next to each other.
I live now with 20 cats and 2 dogs in a house with a backyard and a lot or space around. Some of those cats are really best friends, some are just in and out for food and some have created their private space around them. They don’t interact with other cats, but accept them. Then I have one or two cats who are very disturbed when I bring in a new kitten or cat as a foster. And I realized I need to keep them apart, so my own cats can relax. That’s ok, if it’s only a foster, but sometimes I keep fosters, and then I play, give them treats and feed them all together, no prioritizing, and there is always enough food. Its takes some time that all is calm and peaceful again, but then its done, there are no hissing or strange situations anymore. For me the play, treats and food works the best.
Frequently asked questions
It can be easier with a younger kitten, but it will not be peaceful either. Cause kittens can be pretty annoying. They can stress an older cat, who just want to relax the whole day. It depends on the character of your old cat and the new cat/ kitten. Mostly I would advise to get a 6-12 month old kitten which is socialised, sterilized and doesn’t need too much play, but will bring a little fresh air into your household. My best experiences of introductions happened with those aged kittens/ cats. They are at that age still flexible in their ways, they can accept a hierarchy and don’t stress your old resident too much with their bouncy energy.
When they are small it doesn’t matter, when they are older it matters if they are sterilized, cause male unsterilized cats, will mark. Also do sometimes females which are sterilized. In my opinion it really depends on both characters. I can’t see a difference between intros between sexes.
Stay out of it, keep calm, and let them work it out. Give them enough space and give the new cat somewhere to retreat. Don’t shout, don’t get mad at the cats, they are setting down rules. What sometimes helps is to get them distracted by a sound, a treat, or a toy.