Best way to introduce multiple cats in a new house after moving?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My 2 cats and I are moving into a new house with my fiance and his cat. It will be a completely new place for all 3 cats. Is there any advice you can give that can make the move and introducing a new cat easier for everyone involved?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 10th, 2018
The best thing you can do is make sure that each cat has their own private space. You may keep each cat confined to their own room with food, water, and litter box for the first couple of weeks. Once they are used to the new home, you can let one cat out so that they can start to smell each other through the door. After a couple of weeks, you can do supervised time together. Pheromones may help with anxiety: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=40373&cmpid=sc
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on August 1st, 2017
It sounds to me like you are doing a great job at slowly getting the cat's used to each other. I would recommend you continue introducing them like you are and slowly increase the amount of time they spend together at each visit. It may also be helpful to get a pheromone diffuser like Feliway which can help reduce stress in the cats. And finally, make sure you have enough litter boxes for all 3 cats. The current recommendation is to have 1.5 boxes per cat, so in your household that would mean 5 boxes. I know this sounds like a lot of boxes but it will help to reduced the cat's stress level. Good luck on the introductions and congrats on your new cat.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Hello i have a question about bringing new cats together. I have 2 cats of my own both aged 2 but have recently moved out of the house I had with my boyfriend and I'm back living with my mum. She has 3 cats aged 6 and one is 8 . to bring my cats into
I can give you a method for transitioning your cats into your mother's home. I would slowly introduce them to each other. Take your cats, and put them in their own room with their own food, water, and litter box. Keep the door closed, and for a few days, feed them all treats on other side of door so they associate each other's smell with a good experience. Then let the other cats in your cats's room while your cats are in cat carriers. They can smell each other, but not be in contact. If anyone becomes upset or show signs of aggression, remove the other cats from the room, and try again later. Praise them when they interact appropriately. When they are interacting well with each other through the carrier, you can let your cats out of their room, and see how they interact with the other cats. Praise them when they interact appropriately, and separate them with any sign of aggression or upset. I would get a cat tree with lots of shelves to give the cats vertical space to get aw
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi! I need help on being able to introduce my daughters cats and my cats! We’re about to move into a new house and they’ve never interacted before. All of our babies are rescues, most of mine are Himalayan while hers are a Tabby and a Calico. They’re
Start by taking their bedding and swapping it, unwashed. That will allow them to become used to each other's scent. When you introduce them to one another, start with a child gate in the doorway separating them. Let them sniff each other, put their food and water dishes near the doorway so they can see each other eat. After a few days of this if all goes well, take the child gates down and let them interact under your supervision. Make sure they all have plenty of perches, cat trees, scratching posts, litterboxes the rule of thumb is one per cat plus one, but that can be overwhelming if you don't have the space. At least two, cleaned daily if not more often, in different parts of the house in a quiet, out-of-the-way location is best. Provide plenty of toys and interaction so they can learn that the house is for all of them and you too. If at any point there is a flare of aggression, go back to the last step that worked and start from there again.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have two cats both are female. The oldest one is three about to be four and spayed. The younger one is two and we just got her from my husbands uncle about a month and a half ago and they are both having a really hard time adjusting and getting use
Time and patience are your friends. Introducing a new cat can be a long and slow process. Making sure both cats have their own space to relax (which you seem to have done already) is a good first step. You can then use a baby gate or other barrier to let the cats see each other without interaction to help get used to each other safely. A monitored introduction in short bursts can also help get them slowly used to each other. Using a pheromone diffuser/collar can also help release a calming pheromone which can decrease intercat aggression and stress and may ease the transition some.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
I live every other week with my girlfriend and the other week alone with my 9 yr old male cat. My gf has a 5 yr old female cat and a 1 year old male cat. we are going to live together by this summer. Can I bring my cat back and forth every other week
You can do this, but bring things that smell like Jax's home with you each week so he has a familiar scent. Since it's temporary for now, keep him in his own room with his own food, water, and litter box. This will make it less stressful for him. Once you move in together full time, start introducing him slowly to the other cats and the rest of the home. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cats were just rehoused to me from my dad who was neglecting them. They are very unsure of their surroundings and they keep growling and hissing. They got along fine before but now they are attacking each other. We also have a dog and im worried o
Moving can be very stressful on any species. Cats will sometimes display signs of mis-directed aggression when they are stressed. I would recommend getting Feliway pheromones started asap. These come as plug in diffusers or even collars if the cats will tolerate them. They release calming hormones into the air that people won't smell, but do help relax agitate pets. Give the cats a safe place to retreat to - a room or hideout where they can get away from each other, the dog and people. If possible try to have items from their last home there (a bed or toys). Try to feed the same food, switching it over gradually. I would recommend having several litter boxes in different areas of the house while they are acclimating. If the fights are serious enough you may need to separate the cats into separate areas of the house and gradually reintroduce them to each other. If the behaviours continue or worsen, I would recommend consulting with their veterinarian. There are medications t
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
How can I help my cat (21 years old) adjust to a new house, when we move?
Once you get to the new house, it is recommended to restrict her to one room for 2-3 days and it is also recommended to not let her outside the house for two weeks. keep the cat carrier open in the new house as it will be a comfort zone for her during the first 24 hours. try bringing as much from her stuff as you can to the new house (water and food bowls, scratching polls...).
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi! How do I make moving to a new place less stressful to my kitty? It takes 7 hours to get there by bus. My cat is really afraid of his carriage and machines in general. Also in this house where we're going to stay, there is another British kitten a
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! I would ask your Veterinarian for an oral sedative for you to give 2 hours before travel. I would use the Feliway spray in his carriage. Once you arrive at your new home, he should be kept in a room by himself away from the other animals for a week then use a baby gate at the door for the him to see and greet the other cat and dog. Do that for a week, then remove the gate. be sure he has access to this room to run away if he needs to. This room can be your bedroom. Use the Feliway diffuser in this room. If there is aggression between the cats use the Feliway Multicat I wish you the best! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37241 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37240 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37242
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
When I had to move from my old apartment, into hospital and then to another apartment, I left my cat behind. She was very settled, the owner liked and was feeding her, and she very attached to the owner´s own cat. It didn´t seem fair to uproot her.
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! I would be sure that the new and old cat are up to date on vaccines and deworming before coming in to contact. Then I would take the older cat and place her in a separate room or bathroom with a liter box and food and water for 7-14 days. Basically until she seems acclimated. I would purchase a Feliway diffuser, one for the room she is in and one in a location that the new cat can smell it. They can get used to each other by sniffing and hearing each other under the door. After the 7-14 days put the older cat in a cat carrier or use a baby gate at the door so they can see each other and hiss/growl if needed safely. Again for 7-14 days. Then let her out when you are home to supervise. Once that goes well they can be left together alone. You may be surprised out quickly she gets comfortable. I wish you the best! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37242
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Today ill be getting my cat a mate, another cat, if im not mistaken she is at the end of her heat cycle, what should i do to get them to be best friends, are there any articles you can recommend or videos to watch?
The slower you go with cats the better. Have the new cat isolated to 1 room until they start having positive signs through the door. Such as trying to play with their paws under the door. Then move the new cat to a kennel in the living area for several hours a day. Continue this until they are having positive signs again. This may take a week or more. Once this has begun then slowly start to have supervised visits between the 2. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, We are planning to move house in a few weeks time, and we would like to know some tips on how to deal with a cat moving with us. Bella has lived in our house for over a year, and now moving into a flat I am wondering how she will deal with it?
If she is used to being an indoor cat, the move should not be a huge change but if she is generally outdoors then moving to a new house/area can be much more difficult. I recommend starting her on royal canin calm food 10-14days before the move in order to smooth the transition. It is generally recommended to keep cats in for 2-3weeks after a move so they can adapt to their new environment and reduce the risk of them going 'back home'
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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