| Adding a new member to your feline family is | | | | positive-food. Lots of little feedings each day will |
| usually more exciting for you than your current | | | | help them get used to the smell more quickly. Be |
| cat. Even though they are solitary by nature, | | | | sure to renew the scent on the rags each |
| most cats eventually learn to accept or at least | | | | day.Next, you can feed them in closer proximity. |
| tolerate newcomers. Because they are very | | | | Keep your new cat in her "safe" room with the |
| territorial, the way you go about introducing the | | | | door firmly closed, and place each cat's dish on |
| new cat to your existing cat can mean the | | | | their side of the door. Be sure to feed them at |
| difference between success or "cat-astrophe."The | | | | the same time. Once they both eat with no |
| introduction process can take as little as 10-12 | | | | growling or hissing, you can move to the next |
| days for kittens and very young cats, to as long | | | | level of the introduction.Close your first cat in a |
| as 12 weeks for older cats. It all depends on each | | | | room he likes to frequent, making sure he has |
| cat's personality. Be sure to give your "first" cat | | | | water, some favorite food and a litter box. Let |
| plenty of attention. This will help him feel secure | | | | your new cat out to explore the house. After a |
| that he is not in competition for your | | | | few hours, put her back in her room and let your |
| affection.Confine your new cat to a "safe" room | | | | first cat out. He will probably hiss and fuss when |
| until the introduction process is complete. This | | | | he smells another cat's scent in HIS territory. |
| should be a small room, such as a bathroom or | | | | Again, be patient and praise him when he acts |
| small bedroom that your current cat rarely visits. | | | | calmly. Repeat this activity at least once a day |
| Furnish it with a bed, scratching post, food, water | | | | until both cats seem comfortable.Before you let |
| and litter box.In the beginning, your first cat may | | | | the cats have full access to one another, let them |
| hiss and yowl at the cat on the other side of the | | | | come face to face in a safe situation. Use two |
| door. Just ignore him and walk away. Never punish | | | | hard plastic doorstops to jam the door to the |
| him for vocalizing aggressively, it will only cause | | | | new cat's room open a mere 2-3 inches. Check |
| trouble between the two cats. Be sure to praise | | | | that the door can't be pushed open any further, |
| and pet your first cat when he acts calmly when | | | | and that neither cat can get its head through the |
| near the new cat's room.After a few days, take | | | | opening. The object is to give them a chance to |
| a rag or washcloth and rub it over your new cat | | | | swat paws at one another and even go nose to |
| as you pet and play with her. Use a different rag | | | | nose without the opportunity for full body contact. |
| to do the same thing with your first cat. At | | | | Feed each cat on their respective side of the |
| feeding time, put each cat's scented rag under | | | | door. Once they no longer hiss or growl at one |
| the other cat's bowl. This will help them associate | | | | another, you can try playing with both of them in |
| the other cat's scent with something | | | | the same room. |