Cat Introductions

Remember: slower is faster! You are on biological time. Think weeks not days. Cats don’t have good signals to say “I’m sorry,” so a bad first impression lasts. Help the cats make a great first impression on each other. 

Smell is everything! Scent exchanges are important.

You will need: a safe room, a pet gate or barrier, two towels or blankets (for scent exchanges), one large towel (to use as a visual barrier to diffuse any aggression), a wand toy, treats (Churu, bonito flakes or Temptations recommended), and multiple resources for each cat (one for each plus a spare). A Feliway diffuser or/and spray and catnip or silvervine would be a bonus.  

When to move on to the next step: when your cat is completely comfortable with the previous step. Watch your cat’s body language closely. Again, think weeks, not days. 

1. Let the new cat settle into their safe place first and build trust with you. 
2. Place a towel or blanket in each cat’s favorite place to lie.  
3. Exchange the cat-scented towel or blanket. Pair the new scent with treats and a play session. Watch each cat’s reaction to the new scent to get a sense of how long this introduction may take. 
4. Leave the new cat’s door open with a barrier in place. Let the cats choose to sniff (or not) with you present. Reward any sniffing or interactions. Lots of treats and play sessions. After this first introduction is a good time to break out the catnip or silvervine. You can also spray Feliway in each cat’s area. 
5. Allow the cats free access, but let them choose whether to interact. Separate them at night. 
6. All free access day and night. 

Watch for signs you need to slow down: if there’s any hissing, swatting, growling—back up to the previous step. If aggression escalates, use a large towel to block the cats from seeing each other and then separate. As they interact more, watch for more subtle signs of stress such as blocking of resources or litterbox changes.

Watch for signs you can go ahead: any affiliative behaviors such as rubbing, bunting, rolling, or play. 

Did you know? It’s a good idea to have a cat spend time in an acclimation room again for 24 hours after returning from the vet (especially if they had surgery or were there overnight). Cats may not recognize another cat who smells funny and it can cause conflict in cats who previously got along (for the cat it’s disorienting, like meeting a friend who is wearing a strange mask). 

Never: hold, force, or even coax cats to interact. The more patient you can be and the more you let cats make choices, the sooner your dream of your friends snuggling on the couch together may be realized! When you get impatient: break out more treats, new treats, and pile on the fun stuff to help your new friends make positive associations with each other. 

When we’re adopting cats into a home with another cat, we love that most people have done their research and are prepared. They know about providing the new cat an acclimation room. They know to exchange scents, swap rooms, then let the cats see each other before going nose-to-nose.  

But there’s one part most people are missing. We call it: Hosting the Party. 

Let’s say you are invited to a party in a new place where you don’t know anyone. You walk in and see a stranger. How do you feel? Versus: You walk in and the host of the party greets you. They put a glass of something tasty in your hand, point out their friend across the room, and take you to meet them making sure you have some hors d’oeuvres along the way.

At each step of the cat introduction, break out the cat treats (Churu and Temptations are often winners) and follow up with an interactive play session. You want to make sure the cats associate each other with good things. Be an excellent host! It’s not just about giving the cats time and space to explore and get used to each other’s scents before they meet nose-to-nose. It’s also about making sure they feel good about that new smell.

So, DON’T put your current cat’s scent or blanket into the crate the new cat will be coming home in – the equivalent of the new cat being trapped in a scary space with that new smell. Wait until the new cat has had a chance to acclimate to their new home – in a private room – and is feeling relaxed and happy (this can take at least 24 hours!). Once the new cat is relaxed, then surprise them with the current cat’s smell and pair it with a really yummy treat (make sure it’s something the cat will really like before you do this!).

When introducing cats, DO be the best host and make it a party where both cats are having fun and feeling good.

The other part of cat intros that tends to trip people up is that they rush the process – you can’t expect your friends to be besties right away! It may take several little well-hosted parties over a few weeks to get there. Go at the cats’ pace and let their body language be your guide!