Sometimes it is necessary to bring a young cat into a home where there is an older cat in residence. This could be for a variety of reasons such as looking after a cat while a friend is away, or if an adult child has moved into an apartment that doesn’t allow cats. It can also be that you have decided to add a young companion for you older cat. Done correctly, there should be no problem in introducing the younger cat to the older one. Done incorrectly, you could have some major problems. Remember, cats are territorial so the introduction needs to be done gradually.
Here are my favourite tips to introduce a young cat to an older one.
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Keep the new cat in a separate room for a few days and keep the door shut. You want your older cat to get used to the scent of the younger cat. The older cat will be aware of the new arrival and most likely will stand outside the door and growl. Hold the older cat and stroke it and talk gently to it while standing outside the room.
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Scent is very important to cats so use an old flannel or tea towel to rub over each cat. By using the same cloth for each cat, they will get used to the scent. When you feel the time is right, try swapping the beds each day. This exchange of scents will play an important role when the cats finally meet face to face.
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Start feeding your older cat outside the door where the new cat is shut in. Start doing this as soon as the older cat stops growling at the door. Keep the door shut for a few days while doing this.
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When the time comes to actually let the cats see each other, make sure the initial introduction is done when your older cat has been fed and is content. He is more likely to be in a good mood than if he is hungry or wants to play. You will need to have two people, one for each cat. Don’t have too many people in the room as this will unsettle the new cat.
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You can start by putting the new cat in a cat carrier for a while so the older cat can see it and sniff it. Having the younger cat in a carrier would be frightening for it and could disrupt and delay the process. I personally prefer having both cats being held and seeing each other across the room. Both cats are with someone they trust and are comfortable with. From this initial ‘sighting’, you will need to let your cats dictate the pace you work with. As they start to tolerate each other, slowly move them towards each other, pausing if one starts to become unsettled. Keep moving them closer together until they can sniff each other without growling or hissing. From there, crouch down on the ground and while still holding them, allow them to touch and sniff. When you are completely happy that they are not going to fight, then you can put them down. However, you must both stay close by to intervene if necessary. Make sure each cat has somewhere to retreat to if a fight breaks out.
If you want your cats to get along, I suggest getting a copy of *No More Bad Cats. It is one of the most complete and comprehensive guides on cat behavior and training on the market today.
Be prepared for some hissing and growling over the first few weeks as the cats sort out the feline hierarchy of your house. If the introduction of the younger cat to the older one is done properly and slowly, you will soon have two cats that will not just tolerate each other, they will become firm friends and will share toys and laps happily.
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Introduce cats the proper way and they can become friends. The cat at the back is 20 years old and the kitten at the front is around 10 months.
When you introduce a new cat to your home, it’s much easier if you can do it while the cats are young. However, this is not always possible. You might take in a stray, or look after a cat for a friend who is away on holiday. Usually, a new cat in the house years more exiting for you and your family than it is for the cat you already own. Cats are normally solitary by nature, though most will also come to accept or eventually tolerate any additions. Cats can also be very territorial, which is why you should always be careful when you are introducing a new cat to your current cat.
If you are introducing kittens, the entire introduction process can be short, lasting as little as a few hours. Kittens are especially curious, and it won’t take long for them to start playing with their new found friend. Introducing cats to each other also depends on the temperament and personality of each cat. When introducing a new cat to your current cat, please make sure that you give your current cat plenty of love and attention. This way, your cat will feel secure and know that he isn’t in competition with your new cat for affection.
When you bring your new cat home, make sure you keep him in a safe room until you have finished the introduction process and feel sure your current cat has accepted the new one. This safe room can be any small room in your home, such as a bathroom, laundry or spare bedroom. The idea is to use a room that your current cat doesn’t usually go in to. In this room, you should leave your new cat a scratching post, bed, water dish, litter box, and food dish, as well as some toys.
At first, your current cat may growl and hiss when he stands at the door, trying to tell the other cat that he doesn’t belong. If this happens, just ignore it, as punishing your cat for his behavior will only lead to more problems. Be very careful about picking up your current cat if he is growling as you could end up being bitten or scratched. After a while, your cat will stop this behavior when he is near the new cat’s door, and even appear to be ignoring it. If this happens, you should stroke him and talk to him gently.
If the introduction between your cats is not done correctly, fights can occur.
This is the best time to start introducing them to each other. The best way to do this is for you to hold one cat and your partner or a friend hold the new cat. I would suggest wearing long sleeves during this process. Have both cats in the same room but a room width apart. You will have to let your cats dictate what happens next but start moving slowly towards each other. If either cat becomes too agitated, then it is time to stop. Keep repeating this is often as you can, until the cats seem calm enough to be able to sniff at each other. When you feel the cats are ready, try putting one of them on the ground. Crouch down with the other cat, so they can get used to the scent of each other. When you feel that the time is right, put both cats on the floor, but stay in the room with them. As they get used to each other you should be able to leave them alone.
Once both cats are used to the scent of the other, you can start to feed them closer together. To do this, you should keep your new cat in the safe room with the door slightly open, and your first cat on the other side of the door with his food dish. Feed both cats at the same time, and after doing this a few times, they should start eating without any hissing or growling.
You should play with them both often, so they can smell and greet one another in their own way. If they start to fight you should break them up, and give them some time apart. Just like you would with children.
Be careful that your original cat does not try to become the Alpha cat. Signs of this happening can include the original cat pushing the new cat away from his food bowl or off the scratching post or similar. If this does happen, feed the new cat first, while holding the original cat. Same thing with the scratching post, take the Alpha cat off and put the new cat on.
Another potential problem with introducing a new cat to a house is territorial marking or spraying. Your original cat may start spraying, to mark his territory. Depending on the personality of the new cat, it might also do the same thing. While annoying at the time, this behavior won’t last long.
Introducing new cats to each other may take some time, especially getting them fully used to one another, although once they do – they will become playmates for life. While cats are often solitary, they do love to be social and once the new cat is totally accepted, you will have twice the joy in your home.
Liz Barton has a whole section devoted to introducing cats in her ebook *Cat Secrets Revealed.
