there have been a good number of our users (and im sure many lurkers) who have had questions and concerns about how to properly introduce one feline to another. this is often an issue that comes up when accepting a new cat into a household where a cat already resides.
i have taken most of my proven tactics and also from those on the board that follow some strict behavioral principles and created a single web page for quick access. i dont pretend to know it all when it comes to introductions, but i have had my own experience with it, read alot of crediable sources about it and done my own thinking. that in combination from users on this very board make up the following page.
do some searching within this forum prior to posting questions of your own as alot of questions have been responded to already. otherwise, post a topic and we will offer some assistance.
Thank you for posting this....it is extremely helpful. We adopted a 10 year old male ragdoll mix from our shelter in November of 2003. We have never been "guardians" of cats before...only 20 + year "guardians" of dogs. We have read a lot and did quite a bit of research before adopting...but it still is a new experience for us. (We currently have 2 dogs...a bc/greyhound mix and a yellow lab...both shelter rescues.)
All is going quite well...well the bc mix may disagree...the cat has a tendency to walk up to her while she is laying down and harrass her, but they sleep curled up together, so I am not sure what "that" is...
We were thinking about getting another cat as our cat had been brought into the shelter with another sibling that was previously adopted. But, after reading your post, I believe now would not be the best time...due to upcoming commitments, agility work, etc....
I feel better now about our decision to hold off on a second adoption....Thanks again...
Guest wrote:We were thinking about getting another cat [snip]. But, after reading your post, I believe now would not be the best time...due to upcoming commitments, agility work, etc....
I feel better now about our decision to hold off on a second adoption....Thanks again...
your welcome.
introductions do take quite a bit of commitment early on and the time table is longer than most people think for the process to work effectively for the duration of their lives.
Jason, this is very well written. I just read through it all and found it full of good advice. Thanks for taking the time to put it all together and I hope people will find it useful!
Anonymous wrote:I was worried about introducing Al to Boo, Spooky, Magic & especially Spike. Al is a feral & Spike is very sensitive.
ive got a sensitive one too, they tend to be rather elusive to how they really feel somtimes....stick to it and observe closely for changes along the way.
Since I found this site desperately looking for help with my pregnant (now nursing!) stray, it has been nothing but supportive and extremely helpful. I read this great advice and it helped with a problem I assumed I would just have to live with. The oldest of my cats, Macy, is a Momma's girl and very strong willed. The second cat to arrive, Cleo, was already grown and attached to my boyfriend. While they aren't best friends, they live peacefully in the same house since day one with no squabbles. I am sure because Macy wants my attention and Cleo wants Adam's and therefore there are no conflicts. A year ago Adam came home with an abandoned kitten he found outside of where he worked. He had seen the mom and the kittens for about 4 weeks and then the mom moved all but little Isabella. From the time he got there in the morning until he left in the evening, the mom never came for her so he brought her home. She required alot of my time and attention and Macy has never forgiven her for that. Up until this post, I could not figure out how to coax them to get along. The time-out worked like a charm. Now, if there looks like a battle is brewing all I have to say is - Do you want a time-out - and Macy instantly quits stalking. For the past few days I haven't had to even mention it so I know it is working! It also worked when Isabella started to growl and swat at Sweet Pea - my nursing stray - after two time-outs for her - no more of that is going on! Thanks so much for this wonderful site!
alot of good advice here,i will be following this,as of yesterday we got a 8 week old kitten but our 3 year old,who has never been in touch with another cat hissed and growled at the kitten and we would love to keep our new cat as she has now settled even though she woke me up at 4am to use the litter tray
Feline Introductions 
