Introducing Cats

[morgan13]

In need of some help! I have been trying to introduce my new cat to my resident cat. my resident cat is about 9 months old and my new cat is 8 months old. i have done the scent swapping, feeding with the door cracked, and nose to nose at the door. they do fine will all of that. my resident cat sleeps in the new cats room, plays in there and will eat in there. but when i put them in the same room my resident cat chases the new cat and tackles him. my new cat runs and hides. then my resident cat circles him and paces. in addition my resident cat sometimes bunny kicks my new cat too. no has never been growling or hissing between the two. i’m not sure if these are signs of aggression or bullying. my resident cats remain forward, flat back, and no swinging tail. Any advice or tips is greatly appreciated!

 

[Kris107]

The fact that new cat runs away and hides generally means it's unpleasant for him. Circling and pacing from resident cat also seems a bit stressed. Do more site swapping. Create some vertical spaces for them. Make sure new cat has a good hiding space and then make resident stop the chase when new cat goes there. Sometimes cats need help with stopping.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi and welcome to TCS. How long have you had this new cat? Although both cats are pretty young, that doesn't always translate into an easy process for introducing and acclimating them. It is possible that you are rushing the introduction steps and need to take a step back, as more or less suggested above.

It also sounds like, given their ages, they are just going through a 'getting used to you' process that may not mean anything terribly bad. Some cats are more inclined to run when confronted, rather than 'fight', so that may simply be the new cat's personality. From what you say, they are not actually fighting, but rather rough housing. Does the cat that runs and hides shy away from the other cat when not being chased - as in if he might have developed a fear of the chasing cat? If not, then it may not be quite the negative issue you think it is. As long as neither looks to be suffering in any manner from their current relationship, there may not be much you really need to do.

If you feel you need to try to change things to stop the rough housing/chasing, then check out this TCS article for ideas on how to proceed - which is essentially moving back in the introduction process that they were both comfortable with and continuing from there.
How To Fix An Unsuccessful Cat Introduction - TheCatSite

 

[morgan13]

Hi and welcome to TCS. How long have you had this new cat? Although both cats are pretty young, that doesn't always translate into an easy process for introducing and acclimating them. It is possible that you are rushing the introduction steps and need to take a step back, as more or less suggested above.

It also sounds like, given their ages, they are just going through a 'getting used to you' process that may not mean anything terribly bad. Some cats are more inclined to run when confronted, rather than 'fight', so that may simply be the new cat's personality. From what you say, they are not actually fighting, but rather rough housing. Does the cat that runs and hides shy away from the other cat when not being chased - as in if he might have developed a fear of the chasing cat? If not, then it may not be quite the negative issue you think it is. As long as neither looks to be suffering in any manner from their current relationship, there may not be much you really need to do.

If you feel you need to try to change things to stop the rough housing/chasing, then check out this TCS article for ideas on how to proceed - which is essentially moving back in the introduction process that they were both comfortable with and continuing from there.
How To Fix An Unsuccessful Cat Introduction - TheCatSite

I have had the new cat since October 22 2024. We had a slight delay in the introduction process because the new cat was having some healthy issue which are much better now. we did scent swapping probably the started of November . The we started during eye sight at the door in late November. The beginning of december we did feedings with the door cracked. And then we put them together the end of december. I don’t think the new cat shys away. for example, when the resident cat chases the new cat and I stop it, the new cat try to come back into the room. In addition, when he hides under the couch he sticks his paws out. the resident cat is also chirping when he is around the new cat.

 

[FeebysOwner]

How far has the resident cat gone, chasing the new cat, before you stop it? What do you think would happen if you didn't stop it?

I just think they are 'feeling each other out', and nothing you've said sounds anywhere close to real fighting. If and when they interact and you feel it is negative enough to proceed with intervening, fine. But, as long as neither cat shies away or avoids the other, you probably don't have much to worry about, and maybe should let the interactions go a bit farther, to see what happens, before stopping them.