Can I introduce a second cat or kitten to my home successfully?

But sometimes introducing a new furry friend to a home that has the ‘’boss’ cat, can take time.

Are you wanting to get a friend for your cat as you are away from home, working, busy? Sometimes this is a great idea as cats generally love to interact with one another and play, have company and snuggle together.

Cats are ‘busy’’ creatures and not only is it entertaining for us to watch cats interacting with one another, it can be good for them.

Is she/he a relaxed and laid back cat or is he/she a ‘dominant’ and more demanding personality? This is important when choosing a new fury friend as the ‘wrong’ mix can have an unwanted outcome and an unhappy first cat.

If you have a dominant cat, it may be best to look at a more submissive, quiet cat that will not tray and ‘take over’. If your first cat is a laid back quiet cat, a suitable temperament may one similar to this.

Cats are territorial and they are the ones that will establish who will be the ‘boss’. Most of the time the first cat is as the home has been his/hers ‘own’ place forever however sometimes the dynamics change and the new cat becomes the ‘boss’.

However they work it out, is ok, as long as they get along.

Having a new cat move in can sometimes take time. This is ok.

1.) Introduce the new one slowly! Please don’t take kitty home and believe that your original cat will fall instantly in love with him/her! It is important to keep them separated for a period of time.

The best way is to put the new cat/ kitten in a small room, maybe a bathroom or laundry, with all he/she needs. The new one will need his/her own litter tray, water, food, scratching post, food and toys. This is also great for the new one as he/she has come from a completely different environment and may be a little scared as well.

Some cats settle in easier than others. If you give the new kitten the entire house to roam, there is more chance it will take a lot longer for him/her to settle in. He/she will hide under furniture and possibly not know where the litter box is as well.

Keep the new kitty in that room for a day, two, three even a week or so if needed. Your first cat will of course ‘’know’’ that there is a new fury friend around but that is ok.

2.) Once your new cat or kitten is home, you can carry out the important process of ‘scent swapping’. To do this, stroke each cat without washing your hands to mix scents and exchange bedding regularly. Also gather scents from the new cat’s head by gently stroking with a soft cloth and dabbing this around your home and furniture to mix with your existing cat’s scent. For this reason, it is useful to delay the cats/kittens from meeting for a few days or even a week. If you have bought in a new cat, let them explore the rest of the house when your first cat is not in those rooms.  Keep these initial interactions short at first and try to end on a positive note.

If either your first cat or new cat appears frightened, go back a few steps and keep them apart for a while longer. Continue scent swapping regularly and try again the next day. Do not be surprised if the two cats hiss and growl for a time period. This is normal and part of their territorial nature. If you keep these controlled, short meetings up regularly you should see an increase in both cats confidence and a reduction in the ‘’hissing’ ’as they become more familiar with each other, but if you don’t and are concerned about either cat’s safety, then it’s important to seek professional help or take further time for the introduction.

As things progress in the right direction, you can allow the two cats to interact more freely, but until you are sure they have become good friends, be present with them at all times. As all goes well and both cats are comfortable with each other you should see them start to bond and become friends.

3.) Ensure that your first cat continues to get the most attention. For example, always feed your original cat first and the new cat next. This is very important to prevent your first cat getting jealous and fearful that he/ she is now not your number one! If your first gets fed at 6am, continue that routine. The same rule applied to your play time and brush time with your first cat. Try not to change his/her routine too much.

There is no specific time frame that the cats will settle together, so please be patient and enjoy the process! Oh and take lots of photos!