Introducing a newcomer to established pets can be tricky. Although they will decide their own hierarchy, you should not allow them to be aggressive to each other. Take your time, and be patient, because this is the stage when the ground rules are laid down for your future lives together.
Getting to know their new surroundings, the members of their new family and any other animals, is a very important step in a kitten’s life and will determine how well they settle into their new home. It needs to be a stress-free process as their healthy growth and wellbeing depend on this early care and attention.
Introductions to other animals should always be supervised, as if not done properly confusion and confrontations over shared resources and space can arise. Before introduction occurs it's recommended to arrange a visit to the vet. This will allow you to be sure that your new kitten is not a carrier of anything contagious that could be passed on to other pets.
While there are specific things that you can do to facilitate the introduction of a new kitten to both cats and dogs, there are also some general things to be aware of, in order to support both existing pets and your new arrival:
If your dog already knows and likes cats this process will be much easier, however a dog that is properly socialised will readily accept a new cat. Some older dogs may be less tolerant, but can still learn to live with a cat. Initial introductions should be made with the dog on a lead and the cat unrestrained. Controlled and repeated introductions will allow your dog and new cat to find a way to live calmly together.
You can help things go more smoothly by:
Another cat may prove more of a challenge than a dog. Although adult cats tend to be more accepting of kittens than other adults, they will not be too happy to see another cat move onto their territory as they are often solitary by nature. They may express their dissatisfaction through threatening behaviour, and it can take a few days or even months before they have grown to accept the new situation.
By repeating supervised introductions over time until the cats accept each other’s presence and the fear factor appears to fade, the two cats will begin to form a territorial relationship, which you absolutely must respect.
Remember, you cannot force cats to like each other, but you can try to get them to live peacefully together.
When introducing your cats:
While you cannot force animals to like each other, you can encourage good behaviour and respect that will allow them to live together peacefully.
It is important both before you bring an new kitten into the home, and as they learn to live together, to always be mindful of the needs of all animals in the home, to make sure they do not suffer from stress.
