How long do you keep a new cat separate from the existing cats in the house?

[filomali]

We just adopted a 2 year old cat yesterday. We have two 13 year old cats in our house.

The shelter suggested 10 days separation.

Does it have to be that many days? LOL.. the new cat already warms up to us and she wants to explore the rest of the house.

I understand the importance of separation, to make sure the new cat is healthy because she has been at the shelter. Seems healthy to me (no fleas, no sneezing, no cough).

Here are their pictures. The new cat is wonderful to our kids, really playful and sweet.

cats.jpg

• filomali
• Apr 29, 2014

 

[vball91]

What beautiful black and white babies you have. The 10 days separation is to allow for an incubation period. Even if she seems health now, she could still be harboring something that has not developed into outward symptoms yet. It's also better to slowly introduce new cats to existing ones as well.

 

[shadowsrescue]

Ten days is actually not that long at all.  When I brought a feral/stray into the house last year, he was separated from my resident cat for 2 1/2 months before introductions began.  The key is to take things very slow or you will end up with problems.  Here is a great article on cat to cat introductions which can be begun after the 10 day separation http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

During that the 10 separation, allow the new cat to get used to the sights, sounds and smells of your house.  You can put the other 2 cats away for a bit and allow the new kitty to explore the house.  Then return her to her room.  Visit her often, play with her and reward her with yummy treats.  Do the same with your 2 resident kitties.  You want them to feel safe and secure as well.  Visit the new kitty often and make sure your resident kitties know they are loved and top kitties.  Just take it slow.

 

[filomali]

Great answers! Thank you and I appreciate your suggestions.

I will take things slow. I have time. We visited the new cat often, I just haven't introduced her to the rest of the house yet. Our house is divided in the middle by a door, so the new cat is in the family room and one back bedroom. She hasn't seen the living room and kitchen areas yet.

 

[stephenq]

Hi @filomali

There are several steps to a successful introduction, the goal being BFFs, not enemies or angry at you (especially the resident cat).  A careful introduction raises the stress level in incremental steps, allowing both cats, especially the resident cats time to acclimate to the stressor before being introduced to the next level.  You are going to move the "bar" closer and closer to the resident cat until the final step, a supervised face-to-face, becomes  a fender bender and not a car crash.

Step one: Complete separation, putting the new cat is a small room like a bathroom with food, litter and water.  Do not let the cats see each other - too much stress too soon.  Give the new cat time to adjust.  Give both cats time (a week+/-) to get used to this.  They will know each other is there.  Start feeding the resident cat nearer to the door, adjusting daily until he is at the door eating. Do voluntary scent exchange by rubbing the new cat's cheeks on a sock and then offering the sock as a gift to the resident. Don't force him to smell the sock, don't rub it on him. Observe his behavior and allow it.   Rub a clean sock on his cheeks and offer it to the new cat.  Continue to do this but never force either cat to interact with the other cat's sock.

When they are reasonably calm with everything in step one go to:

Step Two:  Allow the cats to see each other.  Two baby gates stacked on top of each other in the open door is a great way.  Cracking the door open and blocking it into position so they can't get through the door is another way.  With many cats the stress of this will make them revert, but it would have been much worse if you had started with this step.  Continue as if this was step one, but now with them seeing each other.  When they are both calm, no hissing or growling, you can go to:

Step Three: After eating meals and feeling satisfied (full stomach = less aggressive) you can start to do brief supervised introductions face to face.  Watch their body language and reactions and increase their time together until you are confident that they can manage on their own.

In General, treat the resident cat like he is King.  Don't do things to make him jealous. Don't discipline either cat for showing aggression, punishing them for what they feel is a normal behavior (and is normal for them) just raises the stress.  And follow your cats' lead on the speed of the introduction, there are no rules other than to listen to them.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

 

[stephenq]

Addendum to my previous post.  When you do the first supervised face to face, in addition to full bellies, trimmed nails is a good idea too :-)

 

[filomali]

StephenQ, thank you for typing all that, thanks for a great advice.

My vet said they will figure it out and just open the door, but somehow your advice makes more sense.

I visited Jenny the Blind Cat fb page, nice pretty cat.

 

[stephenq]

 
StephenQ, thank you for typing all that, thanks for a great advice.

My vet said they will figure it out and just open the door, but somehow your advice makes more sense.

I visited Jenny the Blind Cat fb page, nice pretty cat.

You're welcome!

No disrespect to your vet intended, but that advice is kind of like saying to someone who doesn't know to drive, "just get in the car and step on the gas, you will figure it out."  Yes you might, but it's going to be painful, there will be injuries, and in the end it might not work out.

Vets are not Behaviorists, and Behaviorists aren't Vets.  Different disciplines. 

A step by step approach is to give the best chance for these animals to be life long friends.  In nature they have more room and more options for taking their own introduction at the right pace.   Putting them together in a home where they don't have those options creates an artificially stressed introduction, not like they would have in the big outdoors where they have room to retreat, and time and opportunities to do their own scent exchange, and catch site of each other from a distance where the "top cat" isnt feeling threatened.

A step by step introduction in the home seeks to recreate a more natural introduction that is more similar in spirit to what they find in nature. Go Slow.  Follow the steps.  Listen to the cats to decide on the speed that you move through these steps.

Here is my favorite vet joke.  What's the difference between God and a Vet?....... God knows he's not a Vet.

And thanks for visiting Jenny's FB page!

 

[Linzmal]

I have found that it varies a lot from cat to cat. I have cats that can just waltz into a room with a new cat, have a few sniffs and totally ignore each other. I have had cats that need a long intro with lots of steps. I have had cats that jump right in to wrestling and grooming each other. Especially shelter kitties that spent a lot of time in "the cat room" and saw a lot of buddies come and go while they waited to be adopted. They are all so different. I think closely monitoring their comfort level and adjusting as you go is fine, if they seem stressed dial it back, if they seem cool let em go at their own pace.

 

[MiaChloecats]

Hi I need guidance ASAP with my cats. I introduced a 10 yr old female Persian 3 weeks ago to my existing 13.5 yr old Persian female. I kept her separated from my my existing cat for about 4 days until my husband decided to open the door and let the two meet. I was irate at this because i saw he had ruined the process of introduction. I secluded the new cat once again and once again he decided to open the freakin door. I am about to get rid of him and not the new cat! Every time he opens the door to let the new cat out she immediately looks for the existing cat and if given a chance goes after her. My existing cat hisses and meows which she has never done in the 13.5 yrs we have owned her. We never knew she had a voice for that matter until this new cat came in to stay. I am at my wits end with both of them, my husband and the new cat, but do not want to give up the new one. She has been bounced around in her life and I want to provide her with a stable house with affection, safety and food. She is very attached to me and recognizes me as the alpha person in the house...for her anyways. Please help me...someone please????