How to Introduce a New Cat to A Cat Home

Cats are cute, and kittens are cuter, but if brought into a house containing other cats incorrectly, many problems can arise, including introduction of diseases into healthy cats who are already 'family'. By following a few simple tips, all members of your feline family, old and new, can be happy, healthy and integrate safely with your human family.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cats
• Litter boxes
• Cat food and bowls
• Vaccinations
• Dewormer
• Good relations with health care professionals and members of your own household

How to Introduce a New Cat to a Cat Home

1. Assess the health of the new cat using the services of a health care professional. Basic physical exam should be done and if animal is healthy, and 12 weeks of age, vaccination against rabies, and respiratory disease viruses (FVRCP vaccine), unless you have a record of vaccination that is reliable on the animal. New cats with no vaccination history (particularly with FeLv virus) should be kept away from other cats in the house for 2-3 weeks so that you can test new animal for presence of feline leukemia virus or FIV (cat 'AIDS'), which are contagious. If FeLv test is 'negative' (indicating that animal is not an active carrier of the virus), vaccinate the new cat with FeLv virus vaccine. Introduce new cat to yours at this time. New cats that are fully vaccinated (including FeLv and FIV tested) are generally safe to introduce to your own home cats. Deworm the new cat as well, using Drontal or Strongid (though Drontal is better). Be sure that the newcomer is spayed or neutered, or that the established cats in the house are (cats can start to breed as early as 5 months of age).

2. Now that you are SURE that your new cat is healthy, and your home cats are already vaccinated, start the introduction process. Keep in mind that cats are territorial with regard to where they eat, sleep, 'watch' the world, and defecate and urinate. Put in at least one extra litterbox relative to the number of cats you have, and keep them open (no lids). When feeding, be sure to put out an extra bowl of cat food to minimize 'assertive negotiations' between cats regarding who gets to eat first, and who gets the biggest bowl of food. Keep new cat inside also until it becomes integrated with the other cats and you.

3. Give the new cat special attention, but not ALL of your attention. The more established members of the family will not like this, and take it out on you and the newcomer.

4. Be sure that pregnant women do not handle cat litter or manure, as cats can be carriers of toxoplasmosis, one of the VERY few diseases cats can transmit to people.

Tips & Warnings

• Cats will fight amongst themselves, but usually bond with each other once the new hierarchy between them is worked out.
• Veterinary clinics all have different policies with regard to vaccination requirements and validity of FeLv and FIV testing. Trust only professionals who can convincingly and clearly explain the rationale as to why they do what they do to you.
• If the new cat snarls and scratches, or bites, beware. Some cats can't be socialized, and can cause harm to you or your 'resident' feline companions.
• Cats that have been 'street' or 'barn' animals will continue hunting mice after they are domesticated, thus requiring more than regular deworming. They may also bring in respiratory diseases (sneezing, the most common sign) which are most often treatable with inexpensive antibiotics (clavomox, the most commonly administered drug, followed by amoxicillin).

[Karenc1972]

on 1/5/2008 Great article. I could only add one tip. When bringing a new cat or kitten into your home, allow them a small room to acclimatize to for their first 24 hours. If possible, expose their bedding to your current feline residents and vice versa so they adjust to the new scents in the house. Petting all of your cats regularly will allow you to transfer scents about as well which should speed up the bonding process.