How to introduce a new cat to your cat
Rushing introductions is the main reason cats fall out for good. This step-by-step method uses a separate room, scent swapping and short supervised meetings so both cats can settle.
- Time
- Several days to several weeks
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Cost
- Moderate cost
- Steps
- 6
- Checked
What you’ll need
- A spare room for the new cat
- Separate litter tray, food and water bowls, bed and scratching post for the new cat Search Amazon for cat litter tray
- A clean cloth or soft sock for scent swapping
- A mesh pet gate or a glazed door Search Amazon for pet gate
- Treats
- Pheromone diffuser (optional) Search Amazon for cat pheromone diffuser
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The Amazon links go to search results, so you can compare what’s available.
Safety first
- Some cats never accept another cat. If there's ongoing fighting, spraying or a cat stops eating or hides constantly, get advice.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Set up a sanctuary room
Before the new cat arrives, prepare a spare room with everything it needs: litter tray, food, water, bed, a hiding place (a cardboard box is fine) and a scratching post. Keep your resident cat's routine and spaces as they were.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Let the new cat settle alone
Keep the new cat in that room until it's eating, using the tray and seems relaxed. That can take days, or longer for a nervous cat.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Swap scents
Gently wipe a clean cloth around one cat's cheeks and give it to the other cat to sniff, with a treat. Do the same the other way round. Swapping bedding helps too. Repeat over several days until neither cat reacts badly to the other's scent.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Let them see each other through a barrier
Use a mesh gate or a glass door so they can see and smell without touching. Feed treats on each side at a distance. Let them approach in their own time. If either hisses, growls or stares, increase the distance and slow down.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Short, supervised meetings
When both are calm at the barrier, let them share a room for short spells while you're watching. Make sure each has escape routes and high places. Use play and treats to keep it positive, and end on a good note.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Give them enough resources
In a multi-cat home, provide separate food and water bowls, beds and scratching posts in different places, and ideally one litter tray per cat plus one, so they don't have to compete.
Tips
- Go at the slower cat's pace: the whole process can take weeks.
- Never hold cats together or force them to meet.
- Learn cat body language: flattened ears, swishing tail and staring are signs to back off.
When to call a professional
If the cats fight, or either cat stops eating, toileting normally or grooming excessively, speak to your vet first to rule out illness, then ask about a qualified feline behaviourist.
Questions people ask
Is a kitten easier to introduce than an adult cat?
Often, but not always. Use the same gradual steps either way.
Can I let them sort it out themselves?
No. Forced or rushed introductions can cause lifelong conflict and stress.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
- Cats Protection: Introducing cats (cats.org.uk)
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Printed from howtoguides.uk/guides/how-to-introduce-a-new-cat/ · Checked 9 October 2026 · General information only. For gas, electrics, structural work, medical, legal or money decisions, use a qualified professional.