Introducing Cats to Other Animals

Dream: living in a harmonious, pet-filled home. Reality: experiencing possible destructive behaviors if you introduce your cats too quickly. Are you introducing a new cat to a multi-cat household or wondering how to introduce your cat to a new dog? Read on for tips on how to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Warning signs when introducing cats

Introducing a new cat to an existing one takes time. And if you have multiple cats, the dynamic could be even trickier. Cat behaviorist Mieshelle Nagelschnider from Modern Cat explains that cats who live together share a group scent, which acts as a “social glue.” Without it, cats may fight, scratch up furniture, and worse. So, what happens if you don’t introduce your cats slowly? Cue the hissing, squabbles over favorite spots and laps, and bathroom mishaps.

How to introduce cats to each other

When bringing a new cat kid into a multi-cat home, patience is key. For the best results:

• Keep cats in separate rooms for the first week or so
• Allow them to sniff each other through the door
• Swap scented items from one space to another
• Trade spaces so cat kids get used to one another’s scents
• Use Naturally Fresh’s Herbal Attraction^® litter formula, which helps draw cautious or stressed-out cat kids to the litter box

How to introduce your cat and dog

Just like new cats living together, cats and dogs need patience and time to adjust to one another. If you’re looking for the best way to introduce cats to dogs, try these tips:

• Ensure it’s the right fit. Some dogs have high prey drives and could be a danger to cats if they’re not trained properly
• Keep them in separate rooms initially
• Feed them on opposite sides of the door so they get acclimated to each other’s scent
• Hold short, supervised meetings, giving treats to the cat and dog on opposite sides of the room
• Allow your cat to explore the room while your dog is on a leash and in the “stay” command
• Use treats and praise for positive reinforcement

Household harmony for the win

After an adjustment period, many pets get along just fine, while others coexist with occasional swats and hisses. To keep things running smoothly:

• Make sure every pet has toys, cat trees, and separate spaces
• Provide plenty of playtime and exercise, both with each other and with you
• Have one cat litter box for each cat kid, plus one extra
• Use pheromone plug-ins like Feliway
• Consult a professional if any issues arise or persist
• Try Harmony^™, which helps create a calm environment and reduces restlessness in cat kids thanks to its safe amounts of lavender and bamboo essential oils