how do i introduce my new cat to my house cat?

[b3k@]

Okay my house cat (6 months) is not very friendly to others. but my new kitten (3 months) could care less until my cat strikes my kitten. i tried keeping them in seperate kennels so that they can get used to eachother without going to the vet but they just hiss too much and they wish they could strike eachother. i try to keep good energy like im supposed to but its kind of hard having them both like this. what should i do?

 

[Bob N]

Cats need to be properly introduced to the new home, the new humans, and the existing cats if they are to get along well and not have problems.

Here's how we introduce new comers to our gang:

Cats need to be introduced very slowly.

First of all, we do not allow a new cat to have any contact with our other cats until a vet has given the new cat a clean bill of health. This includes tests for such things as FIP and Feline Leukemia.

Cats can be successfully introduced to each other regardless of their ages or sexes.

We have successfully added adult cats to our family containing both young and old cats as well as introducing very young kittens to the other cats.

It has to be done slowly. If you simply put them together, you will fail the vast majority of the time.

The new cat has to be given time to get used to you and the new environment.

The existing cat has to get used to the smell of the new cat.

We introduce cats by keeping the new cat in the back room for up to a month. My office is there as is my wife's sewing table. There is a sofa and bookshelves.

We spend a lot of time with the new cat to get them used to us, the new environment and the new smells.

After they accept us with no problems, we put a screen door on the back room door frame and let everyone see each other for a week or so.

It may take a lot less time than a month to get to this point but we just take it slow and easy.

Once we judge it safe to do so, we let the new cats out into the house and chaperon the first encounters.

We've only ever had one problem introducing cats like this and that problem was resolved in a couple of weeks.

We've had 26 cats over the past 22 years and many of them were adults - 12 and older - when they joined our family.

We've also introduced several kittens, ranging from ages of 7 weeks to 4 or 5 months, to the rest of the crew with no problems.

You have to take it slow.

If you can't put up a screen door, perhaps two baby gates, stacked one on top of the other, will close off the door but still allow the cats to see each other.

If you can't use a screen door or baby gates, try letting the existing cat into the room with the new cat for a few minutes while you chaperon.

If things get bad, take the cat out of the room.

You just have to introduce cats slowly

There are cats who could be thrown together and become pals but they are few and far between.

 

[cpttango30]

Let them both out and let them fight it out.


No really they are going for top spot. Cats are not pack animals like many people think they are. So they are not going to get along all the time. I would give them a day or two to sort things out and I bet you will see things cool off.

 

[Stefi28]

ok I wouldn't let them fight.. BUT, I have a cat that is 4 years and just got a new kitten a few weeks ago. My older cat hated the kitten and hissed and swatted at her and wouldn't even let me touch her for a day or two. I have a big walk in closet so I put the litter box and food and water dish in there and then what I would do.. is have one cat sleep in the closet with the door shut and one in my room. then switch them every night for about a week. They get used to each others scents that way. Then I started letting them be in the same room as each other but I would always watch them to make sure they didn't kill each other. They would swat but then cool down. it's been about a week and a half/2 weeks and they now play together.

(also, if you let the cats fight they will hate each other and always remember that about the other cat and they will never get a long)

 

[Rottie Momma]

When we introduced a new cat into our house of 3 cats we put our new addition in a room to herself so she could get used to that area and feel comfortable. It also gives them an opportunity to smell each other under the door. Then we switched the cats. We let the new one out in the house so she sould investigate the house without worrying about any fights and we put our cats in the same room she was in. It allows them to smell her without actually being around her. Then we let one cat in at a time. Our cats welcomed her slowly into the home. There was some hissing and growling, but nothing big. If necessary keep a squirt bottle of water close by. Just keep an eye on them and they will eventually come around and like each other. Like you said you need to remain calm and assertive. Cats can be a lot trickier then dogs, but as long as you are the "parent" in the house things should be ok. Keep us updated. And I hope this works