Introducing A Cat To A New Home

Introduction

Bringing home a new cat is one of the most exciting things in the world – but it can also be stressful! How do you know that your new kitty will get along with the cats you already have? How do you introduce them to each other without a fight (or worse) breaking out? I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about introducing your new cat, so hopefully, by the time they arrive at their forever home, they’ll be living together peacefully.

What To Do Before Your Cat Arrives

Preparing the Cat’s Room
Make sure your cat has a litter box and plenty of litter.
Place food and water bowls in multiple locations so your cat can eat at his leisure. If you use ceramic bowls, make sure they’re heavy enough that they won’t tip over when your kitten plays with them.
Provide toys for your kitten to play with: balls on strings are great fun! Balls with bells inside are even better, because the sound will keep them entertained for hours (which is good because it gives you time to get things done around the house). You might even want to consider buying a scratching post—cats like having something sturdy they can scratch at when they get bored or frustrated by their surroundings; this helps them relax!

How Long Should You Keep Your Cat Separated?

The amount of time you should keep your cat separated depends on the individual cat. It may be as little as a day or two, or it may take weeks to introduce them properly. There are a few factors that determine how long it will take for your cats to become friends and coexist peacefully in their new home:

The age of both cats (the younger, the easier)
Their personalities (the more outgoing, the easier)
How much they like being left alone vs with other cats (the more they enjoy being around people, the easier)

Keeping Cats Away From Each Other

If you’re introducing a cat to a new home, it’s best to keep the two cats separated. This will give them time to get used to each other without having any confrontations. You have several options for this:

Keep both cats in separate rooms. This may be difficult if your home is small, but it’s important that they don’t see each other until they’ve been around humans and their scent has become familiar with the environment.
Keep one cat in one room and the other cat in another room separated by a door or an open area where they can see each other from afar but won’t be able to interact with each other yet. You will need to monitor them closely for signs of aggression or stress so that no harm comes from being kept apart!
Put both cats on opposite sides of an open space like a hallway so that they can still see each other but can’t reach each other at all times unless someone lets them through (which would make things more stressful!). If either animal tries getting up on furniture as well (like couches), make sure there are barriers around those areas too!

How Do You Know When A Cat Is Done With The Introduction Process?

How do you know when a cat is done with the introduction process?

It’s important to remember that each cat is an individual, and as such they will have their own unique personalities. Some cats may take longer to adjust than others.

However, there are some signs you can look for in order to determine whether or not your cat has become acclimated to his new environment. In general, if your new pet is spending more time exploring his surroundings or interacting with people and other pets in a friendly manner then he’s probably ready for full integration into your home!

Introducing a new cat to your household can feel like a difficult process – but it doesn’t have to be!

Introduce the cats in a safe, quiet place. This is not an overnight thing; we recommend introducing the cats for several days at least, preferably over a week. The first day should be spent with both cats separated by a door or barrier of some sort so that they can get used to each other’s scent and sounds without actually seeing each other (i.e., being able to see is not part of this initial introduction). Then start introducing them gradually through the barrier while monitoring their behavior very closely. If either cat seems stressed or scared, go back to separate confinement until they calm down before trying again.
Let the cats get used to each other’s scent: After they’ve been together for a few hours/days/weeks depending on how comfortable they seem with one another and whether any issues arise (see above), start letting them interact more freely inside the house at various times throughout the day since it can take time for smells from grooming habits and urine marking behaviors etcetera to dissipate–but don’t leave them unsupervised! You may want help from family members so everyone gets an opportunity for quality time with their favorite feline friend 🙂

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to introduce a new cat to your household and make sure it goes smoothly. By following the tips we’ve laid out here, you’ll be able to keep everyone happy, healthy and safe. If you have any other questions about introducing cats or would like some additional resources, feel free to contact us at any time!