How to Introduce a New Cat or Kitten to an Older Cat While Minimizing Cat Fights
(these are 2 of my cats they are actually playing, the lighter colored cat is the eldest and dominant cat)
No matter what kind of behavior is being displayed by your first cat never discipline her or ignore her in favor of the new cat. It is very important to pay as much attention to your first cat as you do the kitten so that your older cat does not feel neglected because of the new arrival. The negative behavior that will be displayed by the older cat is normal. It is her way of establishing a pecking order or dominance. My eldest cat is the alpha female of our brood and she lets the younger cats know about it by hissing, swatting at them and by always glaring at the others with her ears back. Some cats are more submissive and will shy away from the new cat, it all depends on your cat's personality.
(The same 2 cats as in the picture above getting along nicely)
I would suggest bathing the new cat to get rid of any foreign smells. Sometimes a kitten will be too young for a bath but you will want to have the cats smell as much like each other as possible so you can put a little baby powder on them or wipe them down with a scented baby wipe.
(These are my 2 youngest indoor cats, we have 4)
You can keep the cats apart in the beginning and then gradually introduce them. You absolutely must supervise the cats when they are together for about an hour a day gradually increasing the time until the older one tolerates the younger cat. In my experience this takes at least 2 weeks before you will be able to leave them alone in the house while you are not home. Until they are acclimated to each other they should stay in different rooms while you are not present to referee.
(That is catnip on the floor, everybody gets along well with catnip around)
Here are some tips to make the merging process easier,
If you have a choice of gender when choosing your new cat pick the opposite gender. For instance if your cat at home is a female choose a male kitten.
Make sure the older cat is neutered. Cats that are fixed are generally more calm.
Bathe both cats with the same shampoo, Johnson & Johnson lavender baby shampoo works great. You can bathe a kitten with it since it is not a flea shampoo just make sure you keep the kitten warm until it is dry.
Use a cat carrier to keep the kitten in for the first few days.
Do not interfere when the cats are hissing at each other. If the fight gets to nasty spray them with a water bottle.
Feed the cats separately and feed them something they would really enjoy like canned cat food instead of dry.
Spoil your older cat with attention instead of the kitten.
Catnip does wonders, use it. There is also a product you could try called Feliway which is a behavior modifier.
If the merging of the 2 cats does not work out after you have tried for a few weeks then please find the kitten a new home. If the disposition of your older cat has changed for the worse, don't worry, the cat will go back to normal once the new cat is removed from the house.
20 comments
You are well informed on how cats behave. The way you have written this article, it reflects the immense knowledge you have about cats. Very well written, and I am surprised at your patience, and your capability to handle 30 feral cats.
Excellent article. I've had the pleasure of introducing new cats to a home that already has a cat several times in my life. It's always worked out well. I always hate hearing stories of people who get a kitten and take it home. Their older cat starts acting so badly that the older cat loses its home to the kitten!!! People don't believe that I could actually tell them what went on in their home for the past few weeks and never set foot inside the house! I've always had cats and even introduced cats to dogs and dogs to cats. One secret really seems to be the way you feed them.
I love cats, especially calico's, and the catnip trick works. Definitely a topic I've never read and all good advice! Perfect awareness article. Well written and very well presented.
Thank you Charlene, I used to get scratched a lot too until I figured out that I could use my Dremel rotary tool to file my cats nails down. What a lifesaver that was!
wonderful article Rachel! I've used baby wipes to bathe my cat when I had her. After getting clawed a few times I decided to use the baby wipes and it worked fine. I like the baby powder idea.
Thank you Gayle, the method for introducing a dog to the rest of your pets is pretty much the same technique. I have seen people use kennel type crates instead of pet carriers to quarantine the new dog in the very beginning.
That is very true Brenda, if you try to give a kitten regular cat food their tummies can't handle it so they will have a hard time digesting the food. Leaving you cleaning up throw-up and/or diarrhea constantly. Just feeding the cats their age appropriate cat food will save you a lot of time and trouble plus your kitten will feel better too.
Excellent points NOT to confine the older cat as it is their house!! also people should remember that kittens need kitten food adults need adult food, and seniors need senior food - unless you can feed your cats seperately and want to get a new one its best to get one similar in age to the one you have now.. it is possible to introduce older cats I have done it many times with mine.
Terrific article. We just got a new puppy. Even though your article is geared toward cats I picked up tips.
I feed them all and they have the run of the yard, we have 8 acres in Florida. I think they stay because we feed them. They are friendly, some more than others but those others are just more feral. I get the indoor cats fixed and I try to catch the outdoor ones to get them fixed but they are difficult to trap. I am still trying though, it's a work in progress.
You sound like an amazing mama. I love cats so much, I am happy you do too. What do you do for the feral cats? feed them? do they stay in your yard? It seems overwhelming. Do you get the spayed and neuter or is it just too much?
Hi Susan, When the feral cats have their litters there is sometimes one kitten that is very light in color so it sticks out like a sore thumb in the wild. A predator got a hold of one and ever since then I take the light colored ones indoors when they are kittens (it's easier to do when they are young). The dark ones do very well outdoors no harm ever comes to them only the light ones seem to be targeted. They make great pets and I love them very much, if something had happened to them outside I would be so upset.
I agree with you for the separation taking quite awhile. I, at one time, had 12 indoor cats. They were all lovers and got along well. but it did require to introduce a new cat several times over into the happy brood in order to keep it happy I used the scent method. I rubbed the existing cats smells all over a towel and put it in the room with the new cat and put the new cats smell on a towel and put it in with the gang. It worked like a charm everytime. Why do you have to bring the feral cats in? and how in the world do you do that? Another good article I would think. Also your indoor babies are gorgeous.
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So cute...thanks for sharing...