Sometimes you find a stray cat hanging around, and he’s friendly and expresses interest in coming inside. You tried to find his home, or perhaps he very obviously doesn’t have one (he’s not in the greatest shape), and you’re entertaining the idea of letting him in to join the family.
Or perhaps you’ve decided to give an adult cat a chance at a new life from a rescue or shelter. If you have existing cats, or dogs, I can’t promise it will be easy to transition your new family member in to the home, but it IS possible, and there are steps to make it simpler. I will be basing this on taking an adult cat in to a home with existing pets.
What’s the First Step?
The very first step is to get this cat to the vet, make sure he’s are fixed, and make sure he is healthy and carries no diseases or viruses that your existing cats can contract.
Also, be sure your dogs are cat friendly, and the cat will tolerate dogs and other cats before even considering taking a new cat in, unless you live alone with no other pets.
Next Step
If your potential new family member already hangs around consistently, and has for a while, you may not need to worry about keeping her indoors for a length of time to ensure she understands where her home is.
If you’re adopting a new cat from an organization, its best to keep them indoors for two weeks, to a month, to ensure they have marked (rubbing chin and clawing, going in the litter) so they know it’s their home, before letting them back out. Set them up with a litter, food dishes, something to claw, and some toys, as well as a comfy spot to sleep. This also applies if you live without any other pets.
Tip: Some rescues will stipulate the cat remain or become an indoor cat. In many scenarios, this is the best idea to give them a longer lifespan – the average life expectancy of an outdoor cat in an urban area is approximately 2.5 years, whereas an indoor cat may live to be 9 or 10.
How Do We Introduce Our New Cat to the Existing Animals?
The answer is, you don’t. Not face to face, at least. Keep your new kitty in a separate room for a week, let the other cat(s) and dog(s) get used to his scent, and him theirs. They will probably meet under the door at some point too. This is the best way. Scent rules all in the animal world.
After about a week, put the new cat in a crate, and let the dog(s) cat(s) in to the room where she is living. Let them sniff the litter and bedding. As long as there are no hissing fits or crate rattling freak outs, then your new family member is on her way to adjusting. Judge the reactions of everyone, and decide whether to keep the new cat in the room for longer or not.
Tip: Do everything slowly, in baby steps, and methodically.
What Do I Do if the Existing Cats and the New Cat Fight?
This is very likely to happen. Cats are extremely territorial, and not all of them share their territory easily. It can take time, patience, and diligence.
Mitigate fights with a water bottle and a large towel, and do your best to forestall or interrupt any actual physical damage. When you’re not home, its best to keep the new cat locked in its previous room, until they are visibly getting along. Even so, cats that grew up together, and have lived together their entire lives together will still fight occasionally.
How Long Will This Process Take?
That truly depends on the existing pets and new cat. Some cats are very open and willingly accept one another without a hitch, right off the bat. It can be the same with dogs. Or it can go completely the other way. It can take a week, or a few months.
The best thing to do initially is to KNOW which personality your existing cat(s) or dog(s) are to begin with. Are they easy going and accepting? Or are they more sensitive, stand offish, and protective of their territory? Forethought can save you a great deal of stress and heartache.
In conclusion
Introducing new pets in to the home with existing pets can be a challenge. So plan it out, be methodical, sensible, and very patient with all of the pets concerned.
Think about it from the cat’s point of view, too. How would you feel accepting some smelly stranger into your home? Keep that in mind, take all the steps needed, and you will have success.
Article by:
Mandarin MacLeod
Cat & Dog Behaviorist
Pet Consultant
Rescue Volunteer
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