How to Successfully Introduce a Kitten to an Older Cat

Ensure a Smooth Transition with Proven Strategies for Feline Harmony

Friendly, single adult cats can have trouble adjusting to a new kitten. Older cats may seem sad or reclusive, hiss frequently, and sometimes stop eating or begin urinating in unusual places if they aren't adjusting well to the new family member.

These behaviors occur because cats do not like change, especially when it involves their established territory. Introducing a kitten to an adult cat can cause a lot of stress in your home, but there are strategies you can use to help the introduction proceed more smoothly.

Preparation is essential for successfully introducing a new kitten to your older cat. By preparing your cat for the new arrival and making the changes seem less drastic, it is more likely to adapt to its new roommate. Setting out new bowls and items for the kitten in advance is crucial, and establishing boundaries for both cats will aid the adjustment. Overall, give yourself (and your older cat) plenty of time to prepare for this transition with these steps.

Preparation

Calm Your Older Cat

Pheromones create a calm environment for cats. The weeks leading up to the new kitten's arrival is an ideal time to use them. Diffusers, sprays, and wipes can help your cat feel relaxed without medications. Use pheromones for a few weeks before bringing home a kitten.

If you suspect your older cat might become stressed and anxious with a new kitten, consider nutritional supplements designed to calm cats. These won't sedate your pet but will help it stay calm and relaxed. They work best when given a few weeks before the anticipated stress and can continue after the kitten arrives. Ingredients typically include L-theanine, Phellodendron, magnolia, whey or milk proteins, and other natural ingredients proven safe and effective for pets.

Your veterinarian is an excellent resource for safe and effective calming supplement recommendations. Many  "calming products" are available today. Consult them before starting any supplements to ensure they are worthwhile and cost-effective.

Get Your Home Ready

New items for your kitten, like food bowls, beds, an additional litter box, and toys, should be arranged in your home before the kitten arrives. Position these items about a week before the kitten's arrival so your adult cat can smell them and get accustomed to the new surroundings. If possible, include items with the kitten's scent. Ensure you are prepared for the kitten, as your older cat can sense your stress and be negatively affected.

Designate a small room,  like a bathroom, for your new kitten to retreat to and spend the first week or so. Your older cat should access this room's door to hear and smell the kitten but not interact with it. Place the kitten's belongings litter box and food bowls) along with a toy that belongs to your older cat.

Cats are usually stressed by limited access to resources, including food, water, litter boxes, prime perching spots, and you. Each cat should have a litter box, plus an additional one, distributed throughout the house. Cats prefer not to cross paths with other cats when accessing resources, so keep this in mind when placing them. Start using pheromones and calming supplements before making changes, as this process alone can cause stress-related illnesses in cats.

Prepare Your Older Cat

Make sure your older cat is healthy. Added stress to an unhealthy cat will only make things worse, and you want your cat not only mentally prepared for a new kitten but also physically ready to handle it. Take your cat in for a checkup with your vet to make sure it is healthy and that its vaccinations are current. Respiratory diseases are common in kittens, so you’ll want your older cat’s immune system to be ready to tackle anything that comes into the house. In case scratching or biting occurs between the cat and kitten, you’ll also want your cat's rabies vaccine up to date.

It is also important to know your cat and the kitten's Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) status prior to introduction. Your veterinarian can help guide you through the recommended testing that should occur before the introduction of any new cat into a home.

While older cats will occasionally take to a new kitten right away, they typically need a little time to adjust to the changes. Sometimes cats never fully accept a new kitten but will simply coexist, keeping to themselves away from the other cat in the house. You’ll want to make sure that no matter how your cat feels about the new kitten, things stay peaceful and you have the best chance at creating a budding friendship from the start.

The Introduction

When you bring your kitten home, allow your cat to sniff it while the kitten is in a carrier. Go directly to the room you previously designated for the kitten, and allow them to explore. The litter box, food bowls, bed, and some toys should all be easily accessible. Do not let your older cat have immediate access to the kitten.

At night, when you are not home, and whenever you are unable to supervise the kitten and your older cat, keep the kitten in its designated room with the door closed. As your cat gets curious, it may stick its paw under the door, sniff under the door, and listen to the kitten. Do this for about a week. Don’t forget to pay a lot of attention to your older cat after playing with your kitten. It’ll need your attention and support, and the scent of the kitten on your clothing will help it get used to the newcomer. Just make sure to wash your hands between play sessions to avoid the spread of infections.

Encourage Time Together

After about a week, let your kitten explore the house under your watchful eye. Allow your older cat to observe this exploration and retreat if it wants to. Do not force interaction between your cat and kitten. If your cat has a favorite interactive toy, such as a feather wand or laser pointer, try playing with both cats at the same time. This will encourage mutual activity. You can also give them both treats at the same time and feed them at the same time from separate bowls. Be sure to leave enough space between the food bowls so your older cat does not feel threatened.

Encourage any positive interactions your older cat has with the kitten using praise, treats, and physical affection. You want your cat to associate the kitten with happy, positive things.

Allow Your Older Cat to Establish Boundaries

Cats need to have order, and a new member in the home must learn the rules. Your older cat may have a period of time when it tries to establish boundaries with the new kitten and may hiss and swat at the kitten when the newcomer does something unfavorable. This is completely normal and as long as it is just hissing and swatting, do your best to not interfere. Your older cat is teaching the kitten where its boundaries as the new cat are.

Problems and Proofing Behavior

They may never turn out to be best friends, but most cats learn to accept and occasionally appreciate the presence of another feline roommate. Don't give up if the first encounters are not positive. Older cats can take time to acclimate to a younger cat. A common mistake is to rush the socialization between cats and then getting mad or frustrated when it doesn't work out. Keep calm and work in increments to bring the cats together. Try timing your interactions and slowly increasing the amount of time together. If your older cat is especially aggressive toward the new kitten, speak with your vet or a behavior specialist for tips.