How to introduce a new cat: Does age or size matter for my cat?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Stacey Anstaett, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on July 8th, 2018

  That is a tricky one. The trouble is that even friendly cats are not typically as accepting of other cats as dogs are to dogs. Your daughter's cat probably will NOT like the kitten coming into her home. You can keep her in a separate room and introduce them slowly that way. Make sure the kitten has her own food and water bowl, and bring her own litter box. Don't expect your daughter's cat to be happy about it and accept your kitten as a friend right away; most cats see the addition of a new cat to the house to be quite stressful, and this can increase their risk of urinary tract health problems, and can also lead to changes in litter box habits---some cats will pee or poop outside of the box to mark their territory if another cat is suddenly brought in. If that cat is indoor/outdoor I highly doubt that bringing the kitten will increase the chances of her running away, but I suppose its possible. In short, yes, you can bring her, but it will probably be stressful for your daughter's cat. You could plan on keeping the kitten in a separate room, with her own food, water, toys, and litter box, to minimize stress on the other cat. I hope that helps you! Good luck and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

  

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  Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

  Veterinary Technician

  Published on November 16th, 2016

  It's possible Chanel just doesn't like other cats in her house, or she may take some time to get used to a new one. If she wasn't socialized around other cats and people as a youngster, it may be harder for her to get used to a new cat. You'll want to start off introductions slowly, such as keeping the kitten in a separate bedroom with the door closed, and letting the cats sniff/get used to each others' smell through the door. You can then do monitored introductions with the kitten behind a baby gate or leashed so that your older cat can get away if she feels stressed or threatened or things become too rambunctious. You will also want to make sure each cat has their own place to sit and hide, bedding, litter boxes, food, and water dishes so that there isn't competition over these items. It may take a few weeks before both cats feel comfortable and calm around each other. Pheromone diffusers can also be helpful when introducing and owning multiple cats. They can be plugged in to a wall socket or used as a collar. They release a calming pheromone that helps calm cats down and can reduce or prevent intercat aggression and stress. This may be useful during the transition and introduction of your new kitten.

  

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  Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

  Veterinarian

  Published on June 30th, 2017

  This is quite normal behavior between unknown kittens and generally will settle down over 5-7days. Ensure both kittens are able to avoid each other, small cardboard boxes with kitten sized entrance holes cut into them make useful escape boxes for them to avoid each other until they are more comfortable with each other

  

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