How To Introduce Your Cat To A New Cat

A step-by-step guide

- Karin Pienaar

When introducing a new cat (or cats) to a resident cat’s household, it is very important to be realistic when doing the introduction. Take into consideration the breed, age, socialisation history and temperament of both cats.

STEP ONE: CONFINEMENT Confine your new cat to one room in the house, and remember that she needs to have access to her litter box, food, water and a bed.

When starting the introductions, you will need to keep your cats separate until you have completed each step – and remember to take it slowly! When feeding your cats, make sure you are feeding them on each side of the door to the room where the new cat is confined. This simple technique helps to familiarise them with the other’s smell, plus it helps to build an association between that smell, and something they enjoy (food).

Make sure you don’t put the food so close to the door that they are too upset by each other’s presence to eat. You can gradually move the dishes closer to the door until they are both happily eating on either side of the door. When you are at this stage, you can prop the door open MARGINALLY using two sturdy door props, allowing the animals to see a little bit of each other.

STEP TWO: SWAP SCENTS