A Guide To Introducing Your New Cat

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Everyone once in a while we get an offer for a community service project that benefits not only the organization but cat owners of all kinds. This time we have a girl scout who created a pdf of how to introduce your new cat to your home. Download and Print Our ‘Guide to Introducing Your New Cat’ now!

WHAT TO DO – WEEK BY WEEK PLAN

  • Weeks one and two: keep the cats separated through a door so they can hear each other, but cannot see or touch.
  • Week three: Keep separated but move the new cat to an area with a door they can reach under.
  • Weeks four and five: Still keep cats separated, use a window or screen, so that they can see each other but not touch. While the cats are separated, take bedding from each cat and place it in the room of the other cat so that they can get used to each other’s scents.
  • Note: Be sure to be present while cats are interacting, watch them interact for large amounts of time for them to get fully acclimated to each other (this could take 6 months). If you have two male cats it may be more difficult.

ENVIRONMENT

  • Always have one more litter box than you do cats. Make sure that rooms with litter boxes and food bowls have multiple exits, cats may guard litter boxes and bowls from each other.
  • Do not let them share food bowls
  • If you use cat condos have one for each cat anywhere that you have one
  • Have lots of scratching surfaces around the house with different textures and angles. Burlap rugs with catnip are great.

OTHER TIPS

If you have cats that are farther apart in age like a kitten and an older cat, keep lots of toys around
for the younger cat and play with it a lot to keep it from bothering the older cat. Older cats may be
less likely to want to play if they are going through aches and pains that come with age. A trip to the
veterinarian may be helpful, once the pain is managed, cats tend to be more social.
Supplements, pheromones, and a special diet may help with behavior. Consult veterinarian
before use.
Supplements: Zylkene Vetoquinol – reduces anxiety
Pheromones: L-Theanine – reduces anxiety
Peliway: use in spray bottle to help cats feel at home, works 80% of time
Food: Calm-Royal Canin – purchase from veterinarian, use 3-6 months as a last solution