How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Home

I’m not your buddy, friend

Written by Rachel Gardner, Freya’s Fearless Felines Cat Training & Behavior, CFTBS, CAFTP, CFVP

Last updated: July 4, 2026

Congratulations! You’ve chosen to add a new feline companion to your life and are looking for the best way to welcome them into your home. To help you through this process, we’ve put together a handy guide with tips for setting up a safe space, and best practices for drama free introductions.

Thank you to the cast and crew of Step Brothers for writing such brilliant one liners.

Setting Up 

This is the one rule of the house…

As you prepare for the new arrival, make sure to prioritize your current pet’s comfort and territory. Maintaining separation during the initial introductions will reduce their discomfort and reinforce that they aren’t being pushed out of their home. 

1. Choose a room of the house that gets limited use 

   1. Spare bedroom, guest bathroom, the office

   2. Avoid a space that your pets use frequently 

2. Place a litter pan, food, water, and a scratcher in the room

   1. Separate the litter, food and water as much as possible

   2. 21-36” posts or cardboard scratchers are easy to swap between spaces

3. Remove or secure their carrier door open or provide a similar option to hide in

4. Music, nightlights, pheromone plug-ins, and items from their foster home may help ease their transition 

5. Cats may not eat, drink, or use the box for the first 24-48 hours

6. Limited on space?

   1. Kennel trained cats: a covered multi-tier wire kennel behind an exercise pen can create a “room” and double barrier to limit interactions

   2. Small kittens: a soft sided kennel provides a visual barrier, can be moved around, and feel like a secure space

Building the Relationship

I’m not the one staring at me 

One reason for separating your new companion is to limit the amount of new experiences they’ll face in your home. They’ll feel more confident about exploring and socializing if they have a home base. As you work to integrate them into the home. While you’re building a relationship with them, you can spread their scent throughout the house.

1. Brushing, petting, and playing are social activities that comfort cats

2. Build a group scent:

   1. Place small blankets or towels for each in each major room of your home

      1. These can be used to cover the carrier, act as bedding, or to swap between animals before they meet face to face

      2. Sprinkle cat nip, treats, and toys onto them

   2. Brush the pets with the same brush

   3. Alternatively, place the brush, blanket, or towel on the floor

   4. Do not force them to interact, place it a short distance from them and reward them for choosing to interact 

   5. You can also swap posts and cardboard scratchers

Simple, Short, and Sweet

Did you touch my drumset? 

As you’re adding their scent to the house and seeing them relax in their safe space, you can start doing short space swaps. Always let the cats explore at their pace and use timers to avoid over stimulating them.

1. Swapping & Exploring:

   1. Cats

      1. Set a timer for 30 minutes

      2. Place the current cats into a room they prefer, such as a bedroom, and close the door

      3. Open the door to the safe room, sit nearby outside of the room, play with, and offer rewards for checking out the door, leaving the room, or returning to the room

      4. Engage them in play, offer a high value food reward at a distance of their choosing, read them a book

      5. Offer rewards to the resident pets as they explore where the new pet was

   2. Dogs

      1. Place them outside or in their kennel

      2. Give the dog a distraction treat or toy 

      3. Set a timer for 30 minutes

      4. Open the door to the safe room, sit nearby outside of the room, play with, and offer rewards for checking out the door, leaving the room, or returning to the room

      5. Engage them in play, offer a high value food reward at a distance of their choosing, read them a book

      6. Offer rewards to the resident pets as they explore where the new pet was

2. Although there are suggested timelines, building confidence in a new space and creating a positive association between the pets will take as long as it takes. You can gauge when to move forward by keeping an eye on their body language, setting realistic goals, and adjusting your technique as you go.

   1. How to speak cat:

      1. A stressed cat will hide, run, climb, or escape from the immediate threat; they may hunker down, shiver, pull their ears back or to the sides, and have large pupils

      2. A cautious cat will guard their body in a loaf position or with their tail wrapped around their legs, twitch the tip of their tail, rotate their ears, yawn, and scan the room frequently 

      3. A comfortable cat will groom, eat, play, use the box, walk causally, sleep, lay belly out, and have relaxed, almond-shaped eyes

   2. You can increase the frequency and duration of swapping exercises as their comfortability increases; follow the resident pet’s pace this was their home first

Sharing Spaces & Bonding

Did we just become best friends?

Once the cats are comfortable with the swapping exercise, you’ll be able to let them start meeting face to face and eventually happily living together

1. Replace the door with stacked baby gates, door gate, or temporary screen door; leave the door open for kenneled cats but maintain the exercise pen

2. Brushing, petting, catnip sprinkled on the floor, treat puzzles, and playing with toys are excellent bonding exercises

3. Feed high value treats in separate spaces 

4. How to speak cat:

   1. Cats who are comfortable with one another will groom their whole body, play, sleep, headbutt, and relax

   2. Hissing, growling, and meowing are a way of communicating and setting boundaries

      1. If the conversation escalates, step in with a distraction 

   3. Cats who are feeling cautious or anxious with one another will stare at one another, stalk, quickly lick their shoulder, and rigidly swish their tail 

   4. Cats who are ready to fight will stalk, pounce, swat, lunge, run, pull their ears straight back, lock eyes, and rigidly swish their tail

Summary & FAQ

It’s the Catalina Wine Mixer

The keys to a successful introduction are a secure setup, scent and space swapping, patience, consistency, adaptability, and an understanding of each pet’s needs. 

1. Can I let the new cat into the entire house immediately?

   1. Generally cats will panic, run, and find a place to hide until they can explore without obstacles

2. What happens if I put one or both into carriers so they watch one another? 

   1. One or both cats will feel trapped and most cats don’t enjoy their carrier  

3. Can’t they just work it out?

   1. Your resident cat will likely become territorial and aggressive with the new cat; this could lead to a physical fight and injury 

4. Will they be ok if I’m holding one and showing them to the other?

   1. One or both cats will feel trapped and you could be physically injured in the process

5. How can I prevent and stop a fight?

   1. Stop an interaction before it becomes too much and keep sessions short and sweet. Utilize towel, blanket, or pillow barriers to break visual contact. Drop a blanket or towel over the aggressor to give the other pet a chance to escape”