Whether you are adding a cat to a home with another cat or a dog, the principle is the same: slow is fast. A careful, scent-first introduction over days or weeks prevents the fights and fear that a rushed face-to-face meeting can cause.
Start with separation and scent
Keep the new cat in their safe room at first. Swap bedding or rub a cloth on each animal and place it near the other so they get used to the new scent before they ever meet. Feed both animals on either side of the closed door so they associate each other with good things.
Controlled meetings
- Once both are calm at the door, allow brief visual contact through a barrier like a cracked door or baby gate.
- Keep a dog on a lead and reward calm behaviour; let the cat approach in its own time.
- Keep first meetings short and end on a positive note.
- Always give the cat an escape route and high perches to retreat to.
Watch the body language, not the clock
Hissing and posturing are normal early on; relaxed bodies and mutual ignoring are signs of progress. Never force contact. If there is sustained aggression or one animal is constantly hiding, slow right down and go back a step. Most introductions succeed with patience.
