Introducing two adult female cats.

Question
QUESTION: I have recently adopted an adult female cat after the death of my old male cat just over 2 months ago.
She seems very "cat friendly" as she was used to living with 10 other cats on the farm where i got her from , but I am really worried about my other pets accepting this new cat. The cat has only been here 48 hours but I already introduced them.My dog and her instantly became friends but I am really worried about my current cat, Peggy, who is a 6 year old mixed breed female. Peggy has access to outdoors and I am terrified of her running away because of the other cat,and keeping Peggy inside for a few days is really not an option. So far I have introduced them briefly by giving eachother tuna in the same room and making sure I smell of both of them, Peggy hissed and growled but didnt let the other cat get in the way of her enjoying her tuna! i took the fact she was still interested in eating as being a good sign. however, now Peggy keeps hissing and growling at the newcomer and is afraid to walk through the kitchen where the new cat resides. I would really appreciate any help or advice as I had another cat who ran away when we adopted Peggy and I am terrified of losing her in the same manner.

Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi Rachael,

Sadly, ss you have learned, cats sometimes leave home when they become upset. If it's impossible to keep Peggy inside until she adjusts to her new housemate, this is a risk you will have to accept. However, you can minimize her upset by taking the introduction very, very slowly.

It's generally recommended that you don't introduce adult cats until the new one has been in the home for at least 4-5 days. During this time, you will introduce them indirectly by using scent transference - rubbing each with a different cloth and letting the other smell it. They become used to one another's scent before meeting face-to-face, so they are aware of one another's presence and are less threatened when they meet directly. Do this several times daily. You may want to limit the new cat to one room for another few days and go back to introducing them this way. Also, a few times a day, you can put Peggy in the new cat's room and allow the new cat to roam around the home. Then they can snoop around one another's belongings and also get familiar with each other this way.

I would strongly recommend keeping the new cat in an area where Peggy does not have to go at all, even if you decide to keep having them do visits right away, so that you can separate them for definite breaks from one another. This will reduce the stress on both cats, especially Peggy. If Peggy feels she doesn't have any relief from the new kitty, she is much more likely to be discontent and leave home. A bedroom or even a bathroom is okay to keep the new cat for a week.

In any case, when you do introduce them directly, whether it be several days from now, or you decide to do it now, using tasty foods in the same room, as you have done, is the way to do it. This will give them something positive to associate with each other and should help them start their relationship out on the right foot. Peggy's reaction to the new cat is not all bad, and I think she should warm up to the new cat with a proper introduction, but the fact that she's fearful to walk through the kitchen means she's not ready to spend much time with the new cat just yet.

Best wishes!

Jessica

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help, Jessica.i have been rubbing both cats with cloths like you said and earlier today i tried the "room swap" which went very well. unfortuntely the new cat resides in the kitchen and that is where the other house members are happy to keep it, and peggy (who has full run of the  house)must go through the kitchen to get in and out,so for the meantime i am carrying her through the kitchen whenever i can so she dont see the other cat-is this a good idea?she seems happy enough to walk into the kitchen herself but she will hiss and growl if she sees the other cat- we have been ignoring her if she hisses an growls and praising her when she quietens - i read somewhere that praising hissing and growling will only encourage negative behaviour?

Answer
You don't want to reward any negative behavior with praise, although calmly speaking to the cats can be reassuring that things are okay. Remember that she is not misbehaving but is reacting out of stress. Hissing is not as bad a sign as many people suspect. As long as she doesn't attack or corner the new kitty,  it's okay to reward her with some praise and treats for being tolerant.

If she's making any popping noises (spitting) or howling, these are signs of an imminent attack,  and you need to separate the cats straight away. Separating the cats before she has a chance to engage in negative behavior like physical aggression is the best way to handle the situation (as I said, hissing is not so negative, and this should pass quickly enough). If physical contact or chasing or cornering does occur, don't scold her or make any fuss over the situation, which could reinforce her behavior. Simply separate the cats from one another.

Carrying her through the kitchen is okay for a few days, but you won't want to do this for too long - cats can have their humans trained in a matter of just days! Try to encourage her to work up the courage to make it through the kitchen on her own as soon as possible. You may want to use food treats for this. Make her walk a few feet into the kitchen, and then lengthen the distance she must come for her treats each time. Hopefully this will do the trick.

Good luck!