Set up a separate room for your new cat with everything they need (food, water, litter, bed, toys, scratching post).
*NOTE: these time guidelines are a suggestion. Base moving forward on both cats’ behavior – when both cats seem comfortable and relaxed, move to the next step. Ere on the side of going slowly and building on success.
First 3 – 14 days (don’t do anything on day one and two, just keep them in separate rooms)
- Scent swap: Take a cloth and rub it against one cat’s cheeks, give it to the other cat and vice versa. Swap other items that smell like the other cat such as bedding. Keep swapping these items back-and-forth to establish “group scent.”
- Site swap: let each cat explore the other’s territory but don’t let them see each other yet.
- Feed meals and treats on either side of the door so that both cats start to associate each other with good things. If either cat will not eat or shows signs of stress or excitement, move them further from the door. Use extra-special treats and food for these meals.
- Move the bowls slowly closer to the door until they are right next to it. Move to step two when both cats are completely relaxed at this level.
Days 15 – 21
- Open the door and put up a baby gate. Drape a blanket over the gate and gradually raise each time to make the process more gradual if needed.
- Feed meals with a cat on each side of the gate.
- Continue to keep closed in separate rooms when not doing these supervised interactions. At least once each day, bring the cats into a large room together that is not central to either cat’s territory in the main part of the house. The room should have plenty of hiding spots and escape routes for the cats. Feed treats or engage each cat in play separately. Do not force the cats to interact.
Days 22 – 28
- At least once each day, bring the cats into a large room together that is not central to either cat’s territory in the main part of the house. The room should have plenty of hiding spots and escape routes for the cats. Feed treats or engage each cat in play separately. Do not force the cats to interact.
- Keep separated by a closed door when no one is home until both cats seem happy and relaxed about being together.
- If there is any indication of stress levels rising, or the cats start staring at each other or becoming agitated, interrupt and separate them (keep your energy calm and happy).
Ongoing
- Keep separated by a closed door when no one is home until both cats seem happy and relaxed about being together.
- Go back a step or two if needed–it’s better to go slowly and build a good foundation. A fight or negative interaction can be hard to recover from.
Check out this 11-minute video by Jackson Galaxy on how to introduce cats.