Introducing a New Cat
A calm start leads to a happy home.
A thoughtful introduction helps everyone adjust with less stress. Follow these steps to set your new cat up for success and to help your resident cats feel secure.
Patience makes perfect.
Every cat is different. Some introductions take days, others take weeks or longer. Go at your cat's pace.
Steps for a Successful Introduction
1. Prepare Your Home
Set up a quiet, safe room for your new cat with food, water, a litter box, bedding, and hiding spots. Provide vertical space such as cat trees or shelves, and put multiple resources throughout the home so nobody has to compete for them. Calming products can help take the edge off.
2. Isolate the New Cat
Keep the new cat in their safe room for at least 7 to 14 days. Let the cats get used to each other’s scent under the door, and swap bedding between rooms so each becomes familiar with the other’s smell before they ever meet.
3. Veterinary Exam and Consult
Schedule a wellness exam for your new cat before any face-to-face introduction. Bring a fecal sample and any prior veterinary history. We will confirm vaccines are current, test for FIV and feline leukemia, and rule out parasites or illness that could spread to the cats you already have.
4. Slow, Positive Introductions
Begin with supervised, short visual introductions through a baby gate or a cracked door. Reward calm behavior with treats and praise, and increase their time together gradually while both cats stay relaxed. Keep separate resources and safe spaces so either cat can retreat.
Helpful Resources
FelineVMA Intercat Tension and Introducing a New Cat
How to spot tension between cats, and how to introduce a newcomer without creating it.Visit Website — FelineVMA Intercat Tension and Introducing a New Cat (opens in a new tab)- International Cat Care: Introducing CatsStep-by-step guidance on introducing a new cat to a resident cat.Visit Website — International Cat Care: Introducing Cats (opens in a new tab)
- OSU Indoor Pet InitiativeResearch-based advice on keeping indoor cats healthy and enriched alongside each other.Visit Website — OSU Indoor Pet Initiative (opens in a new tab)
We’re here to help.
Every home and every cat is unique. Our team can guide you through the introduction, and we would rather hear from you early than after something has gone wrong.
A smooth introduction creates a lifetime of harmony.
Call us to arrange a pre-introduction exam for your new cat, and we will plan the rest around your household.