Introducing Your New Cat to Your Household
§ Most important: Do NOT introduce a new cat to other animals right away. Take the kennel towels of the new kitty, and any bedding of other cats in your home, and trade smells before the visual introduction to create curiosity (vs. jealousy) the first week. It’s hard to wait but it’s worth it.
§ You can use single socks in the new cat bed to help move the smells around the house. Feed kitty treats when cats sniff the new smells.
§ After isolating the new cat in a room for the first week, move kitty elsewhere or to a kennel out of sight and open up the room for other cats to explore. Feed them soft food or treats in this space to create a positive association with the new cat smells.
§ Sight introductions with the new kitty should be done in a kennel AFTER 7 days, on a couch or common higher space. IGNORE the new kitty and reward and swoon existing kitties as they seek out the new intruder.
§ If all goes well after these steps, introductions should be okay. If not, it might take a few more days of repeating as well as positive reinforcement.
§ You can use single socks in the new cat bed to help move the smells around the house. Feed kitty treats when cats sniff the new smells.
§ After isolating the new cat in a room for the first week, move kitty elsewhere or to a kennel out of sight and open up the room for other cats to explore. Feed them soft food or treats in this space to create a positive association with the new cat smells.
§ Sight introductions with the new kitty should be done in a kennel AFTER 7 days, on a couch or common higher space. IGNORE the new kitty and reward and swoon existing kitties as they seek out the new intruder.
§ If all goes well after these steps, introductions should be okay. If not, it might take a few more days of repeating as well as positive reinforcement.
