The question we hear most often from animal-loving adopters is “how do I introduce my new family member to my existing pets?’ Of course we all want them to get along immediately and be best friends – but does that always happen? It can, if you’re patient, and you follow a few rules. As Jackson Galaxy, the “Cat Daddy” advises, do not leave your pets to “work it out” alone! This can result in fights and long-term issues. When you are introducing pets, you want to manage the interactions between your pets for a peaceful transition.
The Safe Space
When introducing your cat to their new home, set up a safe space. This can be a bathroom (keep the toilet seat down) or any small room where your new cat can adjust to his or her new surroundings without feeling overwhelmed. Pick a place with limited areas for your cat to hide, and if he does hide, make sure he knows that all good things – food, litterbox, affection, play – happen out in the open; not in the hiding places! You want to encourage him to feel confident in coming out into the open. Make sure he has food, water, litter box, toys and a scratching post in the room. Spend plenty of time with your cat in the safe space, and keep him in the room for up to one week, or he is ready to explore.
Introducing Your New Cat to Your Resident Cat
- Limit Expectations: You can expect it to take anywhere from 8-12 months for cats to become friends. And while some cats will develop close bonds, others never grow close. Still, they can learn to tolerate each other.
- Maintain Separation: In the early stages, each cat should have his own space, scratching post, litter box, bed and food and water bowls. Cats think territorially, and this keeps them from fighting over resources.
- Introduce by Smell: Start by letting the two cats hear and smell each other, but don’t let them see or touch. Cat behaviorists from Best Friends Animal Society recommend that you rub the cats’ cheeks separately with a towel to collect cat pheromones. You can then rub the other cat’s cheeks with the towel after and introduce both to the new scent. In this way, the cats will accustom themselves to the other’s scent without feeling threatened. The pheromones relieve anxiety, and they provide information about the other cat.
- Encourage Interaction Through a Door: Place both cats’ food bowls on the opposite side of the door to the safe room you have setup for your new cat
- Slightly Open the Door: after one week, slightly open the door of the safe room so the cats can see each other, but can- not fully put their head through the door. Hissing and growling is normal, but if one tries to swat the other close the door. Do this a few times a day
- Allow Interaction: once the cats can see one other through the cracked door and not hiss or growl, it is time to let them interact. Cats will hiss at each other, which is natural. If either begins to swat or bite, break up the interaction quickly using a heavy towel (not your bare hands). Return the new cat to their safe room for 1-2 days, then repeat the process. You should never yell at or punish the cats for their behavior, but instead spend time reassuring them. Let the resident cat dictate the pace of introductions.
Introducing Your New Cat to Your Resident Dog
- Maintain Separation: when you bring your new cat home, set up a safe room with the directions above. Prevent your resident dog from entering the safe room during the initial adjustment period.
- Introduce by Smell: repeat the same towel procedure as outlined above.
- Encourage Interaction Through a Door: place both the dog and cat’s food by the door to the safe room you have setup for your new cat.
- Open the Door: after your new cat has been in her safe room for about one week, leash your dog and crack the door while keeping a tight hold on the leash. Once your cat comes out of the room, allow them to sniff each other. Make sure your cat has a place to escape if he or she is stressed during this time. Hissing and growling is normal until the two get comfortable with each other, which can take up to a month.
- If either cat or dog swats or bites, return the cat to their safe room and try again in a day or two.
- Increase their time together: Continually increase the amount and length of time of interactions. After numerous interactions, the next step is to allow the cat full reign of the house while you are home. During this time make, ensure your dog is leashed to maintain control. Until you can fully trust them together, you should always make sure the new cat and dog separated when you are not home or are unable to supervise their interactions.
Keep in mind that PATIENCE is key during this time of introduction. It’s a commitment, but it increases the probability of long-term friendship for the rest of their lives!