Bringing a new kitten into your home is incredibly exciting! Last week, in our article “Just Brought Home a Kitten? Here's What to Do”, we covered all those important first steps like what to feed them, keeping them healthy, getting the hang of toilet training, and making sure they feel welcome.
Now that you’ve got those basics covered, you might be wondering how to introduce your little new furball to your existing cat without chaos erupting. This guide is all about making those first feline meet-and-greets go smoothly.
Cats have their own way of saying hello!
And it's not like our quick human introductions. They won't just run up and shout, “Hello, my name’s Luna”, Nope. For cats, it's more of a careful dance that takes time, little patience, and a lot of getting used to new smells.
We’ll share practical, easy-to-follow tips, and it doesn’t matter if your older cat is usually cool as a cucumber or a bit protective of their turf; Hilde & Phil's tips will help you manage those first meetings and help your cats eventually become good buddies.
Read on to make these introductions less stressful and build a peaceful home, one step at a time.
Thinking About Your Existing Cat First
Before you even start dreaming about a new kitten, it's very important to think about the cat you already have. Consider if your current cat has any health issues or particular behaviors. A new cat could potentially make these things worse, or these existing issues might make it harder for them to welcome a new little feline friend.
It’s a really good idea to talk this over with your vet. They know your cat and can help you decide if bringing another kitten or cat into your home is truly in your existing pet's best interest.
How Should I Introduce a New Kitten to My Existing Cat?
A lot of different things can affect how well cats end up getting along. It's not just one thing, it can be about you as the owner, the personalities of the cats involved, their living space, and even how they're generally looked after.
Sometimes, cats will eventually learn to live together peacefully. But, in other cases, they might just not be a good match, no matter what you do. Patience is a really big deal here because every cat has its own personality. Some might warm up to a new feline friend pretty quickly, while others could take quite a while to get comfortable sharing their space.
To give your cats the best shot at becoming friends, make sure you carefully follow the steps we're about to share.
#1 Get Your Home Ready
If you can, before your new kitten actually arrives, try to take a new toy or blanket to where your kitten is currently (like the breeder or shelter) and let it pick up the new kitten's scent. Bring that item home and leave it out for your current cat to sniff and get used to. This way, when they finally meet, the new smell will already be a little familiar and hopefully less surprising or scary for your resident cat.
Next, set up a special room just for your new kitten for the first few days. A spare bedroom or even a utility room can work perfectly. Make sure it has everything the kitten needs, from food and water bowls to comfy bedding and a sisal scratching mat. Don't worry, this separation is just temporary.
#2 Getting Used to New Smells
When your new kitten actually comes home, make sure your existing cat is comfortably settled in a different room, surrounded by her favorite toys and blankets.
Bring the new kitten inside. Once he's in, you can let him explore a little bit to start getting familiar with the new place, and then guide him into his own special room that you’ve already set up.
Once the kitten is safely in his room, you can let your resident cat out of the room he was in. Just be sure they still can't see or reach each other at this point. Let your cat sniff your hands, they'll have the kitten's scent on them. As he sniffs, give them some treats because this helps him connect that new smell with something pleasant, like a tasty snack.
Over the next few days, slowly help them get more used to each other's scent. You can do this by swapping their food bowls or pieces of their bedding. When both cats seem calm and relaxed with these swapped scents, you can let them take turns exploring each other’s rooms. Do this one at a time, so they still aren’t in the same space together.
#3 Letting Them Meet
When it's time for their first actual meeting, try to do it during mealtime. When cats are hungry and focused on food, they're often less bothered by other things.
You should expect some hissing or growling when they first lay eyes on each other. This is perfectly normal as it's just how they start to figure out their place with one another in the home. It’s wise to have a blanket ready nearby. If a serious scuffle does happen, you can use the blanket to separate them safely and quickly.
But if all the careful preparation with scents has gone well, they'll hopefully have some sense of “knowing” each other by now. The goal is for them to be able to be in the same room for a few minutes, especially with the welcome distraction of dinner.
#4 More Time & Equal Attention
Right after that first mealtime together, it's best to put them back in their separate, safe spaces. For the next few mealtimes, let them eat together again, and each time, gradually increase the amount of time they spend in the same room. When they are together, make sure to give both cats equal amounts of treats, petting, and attention. This helps them learn that good things happen when they're both around and shows them you don’t have a favorite.
Another important part of helping them share space happily is making sure they both have what they need, including natural places to scratch. Cats naturally need to scratch, and providing dedicated spots can keep them from choosing your sofa.
A smart option, like our Cat-e-Corner the Couch Scratcher Side Table, can be a lifesaver. It’s a piece that does multiple jobs at once: it's a handy side table for you, a satisfying scratcher for your cats, and it even protects the side of your couch – all in one nice-looking unit. Giving them their fantastic scratching areas like this helps protect your sofa and keeps the peace by providing a fun and natural outlet for them.
Remember, you're like the calm referee here. It's not up to you to decide who's the “top cat” – they'll usually sort that out themselves, in their own cat way. Your job is just to be fair and even-handed with both of them in every respect.
