Do not start face-to-face
Give the newcomer a separate safe room with food, water, litter, hiding and resting places. Let both cats settle before expecting close contact. A rushed first meeting can make later introductions harder.
Move at the cats’ pace
- Start with separate spaces and predictable routines.
- Exchange bedding or scents without forcing contact.
- Pair calm awareness of the other cat with something positive, such as play or food at a comfortable distance.
- Use a barrier or controlled visual access before unrestricted meetings.
- Increase shared time only while both cats remain comfortable.
Build a home that reduces competition
Duplicate important resources and spread them around the home. Cats need choices for food, water, litter, scratching, resting, hiding and elevated space.
Contact a veterinarian promptly for sudden, severe, persistent or worsening changes. Breathing difficulty, collapse, repeated straining to urinate, seizures or suspected poisoning can be emergencies. Online guidance cannot diagnose your cat.
Source and review note
This page uses Feline Veterinary Medical Association as a reference starting point. External organisations do not endorse this site.