How to Introduce Your Cat to a New Kitten

When you are bringing home a new kitten and you already have a cat, there are some rules to observe in introducing the two. Because a cat typically likes to live alone, he will consider your home to be his own personal territory.

Unless you take special care in introducing the two, they may never establish friendly relations. This kind of stress can cause bad behavior to surface in either cat.

So how can you ensure successful integration of the new kitten? Slowly and patiently does the trick. You don’t want your top cat to be knocked of his perch as it were, so always be sure to give him plenty of cuddles and attention even when he is used to the new kitten.

Firstly, it might be a wise move to keep the two cats apart. Have the new kitten’s bedding, litter tray and food bowls in a different room to your older cat. If your old cat is forced to share everything with the new one, he will be sure to get jealous and harmonious relationships may never be established.

Once the new kitty has been in the house for a few days, bring him out to the same room your other cat is in, give them both an edible treat so that they are not focussed on each other exclusively. When you put them down to eat, have them side-on to each other so neither one feels threatened.

Just before you make them share a room, pat each of them. This way, your scent and each other’s scent will be on them both. Expect the older cat to exert his dominance by hissing or spitting.

Pecking order must be established in this way, as it is part of the natural cat behavior. If the older cat takes no notice of the new addition that is a good sign and means that he has accepted the newie into the household.

It is a good idea to make sure the older cat has a perch up high where the kitty can’t reach. This will allow him to feel both safe and dominant.

When the new kitty is a little older, you may like to introduce him to a perch of his own, but it should be a little lower than the main cat’s perch, and not near to him. Cats love to perch up high, whether it’s on the back of the sofa or up on a chair, so you may as well give him his own space.

Once each cat gets used to the other, they may become buddies and curl up together. Until that occurs, always make sure each one has his own bedding, litter tray and food bowl slightly away from the others.