Introducing a new cat to your resident cat
What's going on
Cats are not small dogs, and cat introductions are not dog introductions. A cat brought into a home is being asked to enter a territory another cat already considers entirely theirs. From the resident cat's view, that is an enormous deal. Going slow is the way you respect that fact.
Jackson Galaxy's framework — base camp, scent swap, site swap, eat-play-love — is the gold standard for a reason. We adapt it here in our voice, with no shortcuts.
What to try
Set up base camp first
Pick a small, quiet room for the new cat. Inside: food, water, litter box, a few hiding spots, a scratching post, soft beds, something that smells like you. The door has a baby gate (with a sheet over it at first) or a closed door. This is base camp — the new cat's world for the next 5–10 days.
Scent before sight
For the first three to seven days, neither cat sees the other. They smell each other. Swap blankets. Rub a soft cloth on one cat, leave it where the other can find it. Trade rooms — new cat explores the rest of the house while resident cat is in base camp briefly. The scent of the other cat becomes ordinary.
Feeding ritual
Stop free-feeding if you do. Two meals a day, on opposite sides of the closed door, far enough that both cats are comfortable eating. Over days, slide the bowls closer. The smell-and-sound of the other cat becomes the predictor of food. This is core counter-conditioning, and it's pure magic for cats.
Visual access through a barrier
When both cats are eating calmly with the door closed, switch to a baby gate with a sheet over it. Lift the sheet a few inches during meals. Then more. Then take the sheet off entirely. Always end the visual session calmly — close the door before anyone gets uncomfortable.
Set the timeline on the calendar. Going slow is the fast path.
Site swap
Trade entire rooms. The new cat gets the run of the rest of the house for a few hours; the resident cat hangs out in base camp. They are scent-marking each other's spaces from inside out, on their own terms. Do this several days in a row.
Eat-play-love — supervised together
When everything above has gone well, open the door at meal time. Feed at a distance where both eat. Play with each cat with a wand toy at a distance from the other. Keep sessions short — five or ten minutes — and end on a calm note. Build duration over days.
What to avoid
- Don't 'just bring the carrier in and open it.' Almost guaranteed to set you back weeks.
- Don't punish hissing or growling. That's communication, not aggression. Listen.
- Don't free-feed during intros — meals are the trainer's main tool.
- Don't leave them alone together until you've seen many calm interactions over many days.
When to ask for help
If you see real fighting — claws drawn, fur flying, screaming — separate fully and back up two steps. If repeated attempts stall, an IAABC- or ACCBC-certified cat behavior consultant can read your specific cats and suggest tweaks. We can help connect you.
Watch & learn
A few curated videos from trainers we trust. Click any thumbnail to play.
