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. Read on to make introductions less stressful and build a peaceful home, one step at a time.
Thinking About Your Existing Cat First
Before you bring a kitten home, take a moment to consider your current cat’s needs. Do they have health issues or behavioral quirks that could make this transition harder?
Talking with your vet is a smart move because they know your cat’s history and can help you decide if adding a new kitten is truly in their best interest.
Introduce a New Kitten to Your Existing Cat in 4 Steps
Every cat is different. Some warm up quickly, while others may take weeks or even months to adjust. Patience is key, but the four steps below will give you the best chance of success.
#1 Get Your Home Ready
- Share scents early: If possible, bring home a toy or blanket with your kitten’s scent before they arrive. Let your cat sniff it and reward them with treats to build positive associations.
- Prepare a safe room: Set up a private space for your kitten with food, water, bedding, and a scratching mat. This helps them settle in while keeping your older cat’s territory secure.
#2 Getting Used to New Smells
When your kitten arrives, place them in their prepared room while your resident cat stays elsewhere. Over the next few days:
- Let them sniff each other’s scents on your hands.
- Swap bedding or food bowls so each gets used to the other’s smell.
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Allow each to explore the other’s room separately while the other is out.
This slow scent introduction helps both cats feel calmer before their first meeting.
#3 Letting Them Meet
Choose a mealtime for their first face-to-face, as food not only distracts but also helps create positive feelings.
Some hissing or growling is completely normal during this time. Therefore, always keep a blanket close to safely separate them if needed.
The goal is short, calm exposure, ideally just a few minutes at first.
#4 More Time & Equal Attention
Gradually increase the amount of time they spend together, always during calm activities like eating or relaxing.
- Give both cats equal treats, play, and affection.
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Provide enough resources: litter boxes, bowls, toys, and especially cat scratchers.
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.
