Introducing a Kitten to Your Cat: A Gentle Step-by-Step Guide
A new kitten can turn your cat’s world upside down. The key to a successful introduction is to take things slowly and give both cats time to adjust.
Start with Separation and Scent
Keep your cat and new kitten separate and don’t let them see each other yet. Set up a cozy, separate room with everything your kitten needs. Synthetic pheromone products mimic natural pheromones and can help reduce stress and tension during a new-kitten introduction. A diffuser or spray can be used alongside a gradual introduction to help both cats feel more comfortable. Before a face-to-face meeting, swap a blanket or toy that belongs to your cat with one your new kitten has been using. Swap their rooms for a more immersive scent exchange.
Gradual Face-to-Face Meetings
Start feeding your cat and kitten at the same time but at opposite sides of the door. This helps your cat associate the kitten with good things, like dinner time. Use a barrier like a pet or baby gate to allow them to see each other but not touch during the first face-to-face meeting. Once all the above have been completed, let your kitten explore the house with supervision. Offer your resident cat lots of praise, treats, and cuddles for any positive interactions or even for simply ignoring the new kitten.
Key takeaways
- Keep cats separate until they are comfortable with each other’s scent.
- Use synthetic pheromone products and a diffuser or spray to reduce stress.
- Swap blankets or toys to introduce scents before meeting.
- Feed them simultaneously on opposite sides of a door to create positive associations.
- Use a barrier for the first face-to-face encounter.
- Supervise the kitten’s exploration of the house.
- Reward the resident cat for calm or positive behavior around the kitten.
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Originally reported by Modern Cat. Read the full article.