Why Can’t We Be Friends? Introducing a New Cat to Your Resident Cat

Thursday, February 21, 2013 - 11:30am
Two cats next to each other

Here at the ASPCA we often chat about how two cats are better than one. However, for a solo kitty who is accustomed to being king or queen of your castle, er, house, introducing a new feline friend to your home can be a bit stressful.

If you decide to bring a second cat into your home, proceed slowly and with patience. It takes most cats 8 to 12 months to develop a friendship with a new cat. By following these three steps, you can make sure that the transition goes smoothly:

  • Making the introduction:  Allow the cats to smell and hear each other, without any visual or physical contact just yet. Give each cat his or her own food and water bowl, litter box, scratching post, and bed on separate sides of a door in your home. After a few days, switch the cats’ locations so they can check out each other’s scents. Try playing with the cats near the door. They might even reach under the door to play “paws” with each other!
     
  • Seeing eye-to-eye: After a week or so, assuming neither cat has shown signs of aggression (hissing, growling, etc.), let the cats meet each other face-to-face. You might want to put a baby gate or screen door between them. Set each cat down a few feet away from the barrier. When the cats notice each other, call out their names and toss them some tasty treats. Over the next few days, continue to offer treats, meals and playtime close to the barrier.
     
  • Together at last:Supervise your cats’ initial interactions very carefully. Allow them to spend time together when things are low-stress, such as after strenuous play. Keep a spray bottle on hand in case they begin to fight. As the cats become more familiar with each other, allow them to gradually spend more and more time together.


For more information about introducing your resident cat to a new feline friend, please check out our full list of helpful tips from ASPCA experts.  

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Pet Care

Comments

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 11:05 — JenniferLeFevre (Visitor)
With all due respect, the guidance given here regarding the introduction of a new cat to a one-cat household is not entirely realistic, especially depending on the size and layout of the house in which they live. I've been considering getting a second cat, but don't want to rock my current cat's world too much. However, the advice given here is just not possible for me. Any other suggestions?

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 11:08 — Vanessa (Visitor)
Wish if I had read this article 5 years ago!! I rescued a sweet feral cat and did not properly introduce her to the Queen of the home. They've "put up" with each other for 5 years but I am concerned now because they are getting a little more aggressive towards each other. My first cat is 10 and the other is approx 6 yrs old. The roles have shifted and my sweet rescue has now become the aggressor. My older cat is fierce but is now scared of her. Is there some way to bring peace to the home without having to give one of them up? I've tried everything. How do I fix this? Help!!

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 11:48 — Katie LaRoche (Visitor)
First, if the rescue is a feral cat, that in itself could be a major contributor. Some feral cats cannot be re-habilitated (greatly depending on their life history). To attempt to remedy this, I would put the cats in two separate rooms for a few days. They are probably so riled up that they cannot calm themselves. Perhaps a few days (maybe even up to two weeks) would be good for them. When you do reintrodue them, you should have three litterboxes, multiple water dishes, and organized feeding. **With cats that do not get along, it's important for them to have multiple options for bathroom time. If they have one litter box, they probably won't like to be stuck with some other cat's smell all the time. So make sure you have 3 litterboxes, that way the cat can choose where he wants to go. (the general rule is one litterbox/cat+ exra box) I have two male cats that could not get along, but some basic housekeeping skills can REALLY help. If you feed your cats 2-3 times during the (what I do), you can then have a bowl dedicated ot each cat. After A LOT of practice and time, my two male cats now go directly to their own bowls. If oyu try this, each cat will eventually learn who's bowl belongs to who, and will develop a territory that is rightfully theirs. Cats need that sense of control once in a while. I hope this helps :)

Wed, 02/27/2013 - 07:41 — Susan (Visitor)
You may want to use the plug-in Feliway in all of the rooms that your two cats frequent. I have six cats and it made a big difference. While all of my cats are friendly to each other, there used to be more disagreements than there are since I started using the Feliway. You can get this product much cheaper on eBay, but be sure it is not expired. Hope this helps.

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 11:34 — Phyllis Salta (Visitor)
I have had cats that happily welcomed a newcomer and others that just couldn't stand the idea. My last intro , was re-introducing littermates after 12/2 years. The owners decided they didn't want them anymore. I had to keep all of them apart for months,I even put up an extra door to ensure every cat's safety. It took almost 18 months for me to be able to leave thm alone together without locked doors. I did scent switching with bedding and combs for months, positive rewards if they passed each other in the hall without a hiss or growl. It takes work, but it can be done. I have many levels of escape for them also. Bookshelves and climbing trees offering safe alone spots.

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 11:36 — Alberto (Visitor)
I live on a 2 floor, 250 square mts house on my farm, my cat go out once every two days, spend the day out and come back when I call him. He is 2 years old. How do I introduce him a new baby cat a would like to buy?

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 11:38 — Barb (Visitor)
Have one female about 7 years old from Humane Society that lived here over a year with our dogs. No problems until we took in 5 year old male that needed to be rehomed. Both were spayed/nuetered. Have had them now for almost a year and female cat still howls & spits at the male. They each go the the opposite side of the house. When I brush the boy & let the girl smell the brush and I have caught her a couple of times checking him over. A few times the male was "over it" and chased her around the house. No hissing from him just trying to play. After the initial running around the girl will get up on a high spot and look down & hisses at the boy. Have their own eating & drinking areas also. I'm hoping in time they will get along. It is possible that some cats never learn to toleratate each other?

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 13:59 — Doris Carman (Visitor)
I have a siamese mix 7 yrs old. and a bobtail 20 mos.old. both neutered females.Siamese hates the other cat who we brought in as soon as weaned. Now they argue every tme the siamese comes into the presence of the other.The siamese always chsses the other one.I dont know what to do.

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 14:23 — Jaimee (Visitor)
I recently adopted a teen cat from the shelter who loves to play( and can play rather rough) I am thinking of adopting a kitten to be friends with him, one with the same energy level. Since I have only had the first cat a week I don't think he sees himself as king and he loves other animals, but are there any special protocols for this?

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 14:50 — Laura (Visitor)
I had a male tabby for a year and he was very playful so I wanted to get him a friend. The only other time he had interacted with another cat his first reaction was to roll over on his back. So I was pretty sure there wouldn't be any problem with introducing another non-dominant cat. I found the perfect fit, another one year old male who is the sweetest thing. I brought the new cat home and left him in the carrier for maybe 15 mins and let my other cat sniff him. I then let the new cat out and as he explored the apartment my first cat followed him cautiously. There were only two altercations, one hiss (I had never heard my first cat hiss prior to this) and one attack when the new cat tried to drink from his water dish so I would definitely recommend having multiples but after a few days they were playing together, and within the week they were drinking from the same dish, bathing each other and even occasionally using the large litter box at the same time! I know my case isn't typical but I think these guidelines are just that "guidelines." Each case is different. Some cats are more dominant than others and there will be more of an issue. Start out cautiously and take it one step at a time.

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 19:33 — Chris Horton (Visitor)
To the person who said they wanted to "buy" another cat, I hope you misspoke (mis wrote?). The point is, please DONT BUY a cat, there are millions of homeless ones that need homes and can be adopted, for a small fee or for free.

Tue, 02/26/2013 - 15:19 — rosanne (Visitor)
my thought exactly. i hope that was a mis speak. you don't buy cats or dogs. we still kill millions for lack of homes.

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 19:38 — Ilka Siegmund (Visitor)
I introduced a 7month old stray kitten to my 3 1/2 year old girl and 11 year old boy. When the first girl came (6 month at the time my boy couldn't have been happier! # years later I am introducing the 7month old girl. Both would have been fine with the new sister but unfortunately she must have had such bad experiences in her first 7 month trying to survive that she goes into survival mode not just fighting made when she encounters one of the other cats. Worse with the girl than the boy since he just backs up when she tries to attack him. I have kept them separate at night for a year already but soon we will be moving and all 3 will have to live in the same room when I travel. I now make them sleep in the same room and so far so good. They retreat to their corners and sleep but my stray is afraid to eat by herself or go to the bathroom when they are around. I have to stand next to her for her to go the the littler box. She actually comes and gets me when she needs to go. All of this works as long as I am home but when I'm not home and they have to be in the same room I doubt that she will eat or use the litter box. All this has now been going on for over 1 year. What do I do??? I move in 4 month!

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 20:34 — Linda LARNERD (Visitor)
After going thru the "introduction" phase for 3 cats, decided to adopt brothers when the cats passed on...has been SO nice....would recommend it anyone who can do it!!

Sat, 02/23/2013 - 04:35 — July (Visitor)
I tried introducing a new young male cat to my household with 2 older cats (male & female). It was a total disaster, after $700 in vet bills and a trip to the ER for me (fell down the stairs trying to break up a fight), I had to give the new cat away to a home with no other animals. It was a hard lesson for me, but all cats are happy now and the new cat is very happy in his new home. I think I will wait for my cats to pass before I try adopting any new cats. Next time I will adopt siblings so they will get along from day one.

Sat, 02/23/2013 - 10:30 — Janice Patrick (Visitor)
I don't own stock in Feliway~lol but the plug~ins have worked for me. They contain calming hormones that may Ease the introductions. Also,a trick we used at our shelter Was to rub a tiny bit of lavender essential oil on the tips of the ears. I have been a volunteer with CatsAre People Too for more than 12 years and have learned that the most important thing to have is patience. I brought a litter of four feral kittens home 11 years ago and one, Betsy, will still not sit in my lap although she will come looking for me and lead me to her favorite spot where I'm allowed to sit next to her. I guess what I'm trying to say is 'cats are both strange and wonderful.

Mon, 02/25/2013 - 11:44 — Teresa Schwab (Visitor)
I have 5 cats---all rescues. Cats are territorial & they have different needs, and even though they pretty much get along, there are still little scuffles---hissing when one gets in "the space" of another, no biggie. However, sometimes it goes beyond that, and in those instances, I put some baking soda on both of them after the fight breaks up----it neutralizes the 'odor' and calms everyone down. I always take baking soda with me when taking one to the vet----it neutralizes the odors they pick up at the office. I also use various homeopathic calming drops in their water (Petco has one & Only Natural Pet online has lots) when tiffs escalate---usually during season changes. All my cats have separate food dishes & I have multiple water dishes & litter pans. I used to have a male (who saddly passed at 16) who really got riled up & I would through a lightweight blanket over him & that would distract him from focusing on another cat---water squirts only made him madder.

Tue, 02/26/2013 - 09:07 — Shannon's Pet S... (Visitor)
I was adopted by my 3rd cat Sheen in Oct 2012 when she was as stray one of my pet sitting clients was feeding. She was oober friendly - came right up to me, sat on my lap & gave me kisses! ;-) Being it was Sept I knew as an all black cat I had to get her off the street before Halloween! I know there is always a period of adjustment with a new cat but I did not expect it to take as long as it did! Sheena HATED other cats but LOVES people. She wanted out of the room she was in & would make herself at home anywhere as long as there weren't other cats around. http://www.shannonspetsitting.net After a month of the separate room thing not working I ended keeping Sheena in a large dog crate for about a month in the living-room so she would go accustom to seeing the other 2 cats. My older cat didn't really mind her. But my 4 year old would purposely annoy her & try to show Sheena she was top cat. She was basically a bully. I was at my wits end trying to get the 2 of them to stop fighting. I think I let Sheena out of the crate in December. I left the crate in the livingroom with the door open for about 2 weeks so she could go in there if she wanted. I took it out completely at the end of January. The next 2 weeks I'd hear fight & Sheen awas actually pooping in fear of Kaize. I started squirting a water bottle at Kaize when she would bully Sheena for no reason. It seemed to work. Its now the end of February & they are just now getting along! Or tolerating each other I should say. Its been a LONG 5 months. But I'll still hear a fight break out once in a while but for the most part we have a peaceful household. My advise to cat owners just hang in there! It will get better! It just takes time!

Tue, 04/09/2013 - 04:49 — Gawler Vet (Visitor)
Before i really hate cats but, i found them really cute, i start feed them, clean and give them shelter, I also tought them how to be good. well actually its up to you owner how you handle and teach them to be a good pets. What you need to do is to show them love and respect as you do to other animals.

Fri, 04/19/2013 - 09:53 — house move (Visitor)
very nice post, i certainly love this website, keep on it

Fri, 04/19/2013 - 16:23 — roryhalgh (Visitor)
My friend has a cat and someone left kitten in our gate and i dont really know how to take good care of them, and honestly i dont like much cat, so what i did i gave it to my friend because i know she can take good care of them, then i found out totally disaster happened in their house, her cat and the new one keep on fighting, so what we di we consult someone who loves cat and of course a vet.

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