Hello, kitty! Welcoming cats to a new home

Introducing a new cat to a new home and resident cats, when done properly, takes time.

Step 1
Before bringing home your new cat or kitten, set up a “safe room,” or a confined, quiet place, with a litter box, food, water, scratching post, and toys. This room will house her for the first several weeks. Cats are highly territorial. She will acclimate best to her new home if given a safe room instead of the whole house. Spayed/neutered cats are less likely to have territoriality issues than those that aren’t.

Step 2
Bring your cat home in a carrier and take her directly to the safe room. Let her come out of the carrier and explore the room at her own pace. Depending on your feline friend’s personality, don’t overwhelm her. Some cats are shy and will hide. It might take several days before she’s completely comfortable with everyone in the family. Be patient. Depending on your cat’s preferences, engage in activities she enjoys—such as calmly playing, talking, giving treats and snuggling. She should be eating and drinking well, and using the litter box. (If you have other cats, skip step 3 and go to step 4).

Step 3 (if you do not have other cats)
After about a week, when you’re confident your cat has fully adjusted, let her explore the rest of the house, at her own pace. When you’re sure your cat is comfortable in all parts of the home — typically this takes several weeks — move her litter box out of the safe room to its permanent place. Congratulations! Your new kitty is now fully at home!

Step 4 (if you have other cats):
While in the safe room during the first week, your new cat is getting used to the home and to her new human family, so make sure he doesn’t see the other cats. Your cats may sniff each other under the safe room door — this is good, if they tolerate it. If not, minimize this type of under-the-door sniffing.

After about a week, begin introducing the smells of the new cat to the other cats, and vice versa. For example, feed the cats treats on either side of the door; brush all the cats with the same brush or exchange their bedding so they become desensitized to each others’ smells.

After a few days, help them get further used to each other’s scent by confining the resident cat(s) in the safe room while your new cat explores the rest of the house — again, do this slowly, room by room.

Step 5
Once your cats are comfortable with each others’ scents, put your new cat in her carrier and let the resident cat(s) come into the safe room. There might be some hissing, which is expected.

However, watch their interaction to ensure it doesn’t escalate into aggression. Once the cats are at ease and calm in each others’ presence — possibly several visits later — open the carrier and let your new cat out, at her own pace.

When no one is home to supervise pet interactions during the first several weeks, always confine your new cat in her safe room.

Step 6
Feed the cats in opposite ends of a room, gradually moving the food bowls closer together.

When able to eat side by side for a week without problems, they’re generally ready to roam the house unsupervised.
In conclusion, supervise interactions closely for several weeks until you’re confident there will be no aggressive behavior. Always reward positive behavior in all the cats.

If a cat becomes afraid or aggressive anytime during the process, re-start the introduction from the beginning, this time more slowly and in smaller steps.

To help maintain peace, ensure there’s one more litter box than the number of cats.

Niro Rasanayagam is a volunteer board member of the Lynchburg Humane Society.