Once you know the love of a cat, it’s hard not to want to add another feline friend to your family. Animal shelters and rescues overflow with cats of all ages and personalities who share one common trait—they’re all looking for a forever home.
Is your current cat getting a kitty sibling? Introducing your new cat to your current cat will likely be a challenge, and so we’ve outlined basic steps to introduce cats to make your task easier.
Step 1: Create separate resource areas for each cat
Your new cat and your current cat should have separate areas stocked with all their necessities—litter box, food, water, bedding, and enrichment options. Ideally, you should keep the new cat behind a closed door at first, to allow your two cats to sniff each other under the door as they acclimate.
Step 2: Swap bedding to exchange each cat’s scent
Once your new cat has settled into your home, swap a piece of bedding to exchange scents. This offers the cats a low-stress, non-confrontational “meeting.”
Step 3: Allow exploration of each cat’s area
Put one cat in a carrier in a different room, and allow the other cat to explore new territory and the scent markers left behind.
Step 4: Allow visual contact
Use a gate, glass door, or mesh door covering to allow your cats to see each other but have no contact. Feed each cat treats or high-value food, so they form a positive association with seeing each other.
Step 5: Allow supervised physical contact
Once your cats appear calm, remove the barrier, and allow a physical meeting. Slowly work up to longer supervised periods, and then practice leaving your cats unsupervised for brief times. With patience and perseverance, your kitties will become best friends.
Congratulations on adopting a shelter kitty! Contact us to schedule a wellness exam to ensure your new feline friend is healthy. We can’t wait to meet them!