Cats that have been exposed to other cats
while growing up may adjust more readily to a new housemate.
The best way to avoid conflict between cats is to carefully
prepare for the first encounter. The resident cat may
adjust to the newly introduced cat without confrontation
if they are first required to share your home but at different
times of day, and are not immediately introduced.
Phase I
For the first few days, keep the new cat
confined to one room. Provide fresh food, water, and litter
daily. Make frequent visits to spend time playing, feeding
petting, and generally interacting with the new cat during
its isolation. Give it time to adjust to this one location,
where it is guaranteed emotional and physical security.
This will also help you establish a positive relationship
with your new pet.
Meanwhile, your resident cat will sense
traces of the intruder on your clothing and skin. The
new pet's odor and sounds will alert your resident cat
to its presence. During this period, spend extra time
with your resident cat, engaging in favorite activities
in an effort to relieve any anxiety and minimize tension.
Feeding tends to relieve and animal's feelings
of anxiety and may help it adjust to the household changes.
Place your resident cat's food dish near the door to the
room where the new cat is kept confined. Gradually move
the confined cat's food dish closer to the inside of the
door. Feed them at about the same time so that only the
closed door separates them. Move to the next step when
neither cat exhibits any growling, hissing, or spitting
when it senses the other is nearby.
Confine your resident cat, with its own
food, water and litter box, to a favorite location. Your
own bedroom may be convenient; most resident cats feel
comfortable there because it is associated so strongly
with you.
Allow your new cat to explore your home
for brief periods. Accompany it on its patrol to extend
the comfort of your presence beyond the room where it
has been isolated.
Allow the new pet out of confinement for
longer and longer periods several times each day. When
both cats appear comfortable (the new one will assume
positions of rest, for example, or groom itself more than
it actively explores your home), proceed to the next step.
(Note: it may take several weeks to reach this point.
Even if it takes only a few days, delay the next step
for an additional week. Keep separate litter boxes for
now. With continued progress, you may decide to gradually
move one or both litter boxes to another location. It
is advisable to maintain one litter box for each cat,
even though each cat will likely use both boxes)
Phase II
Arrange to be present when both cats roam freely throughout
your home for the first time. This should be planned to
coincide with regular mealtimes. Follow the new cat so
that you will be present when they first see each other.
Some hesitation and hissing are to be expected from either
or both individuals.
Feed the cats in each other's presence, placing their
food dishes at a comfortable distance. Wait only a few
minutes after they have eaten to confine the cats to their
quarters until the next scheduled mealtime. If either
or both cats seem so disturbed that they do not eat in
the other's presence, remove the food bowls and confine
each to its own safe place. Try again when both cats are
calm.
If a second attempt fails, remove their food and confine
them again. Wait until each has regained its composure
to feed it. Try again the next day.
As things settle down, allow them to spend progressively
longer periods together after they have eaten each meal.
Move their food dishes gradually closer to each other
at successive meals. If problems occur at any time during
the introduction process, return to the preceding step
as outlined above. Some cats are less sociable toward
others and less willing to share their territory.
Options
With time, most cats learn to accept others in the household.
Should your cats be exceptions, however, three options
remain:
(1) Keep one cat confined for part of the day, while
the other roams freely.
(2) Keep one cat permanently confined to one part of
your home, while the other is kept exclusively in the
other. You can always try another introduction later.
(3) Find another home for the new cat you had hoped
to adopt.
