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“While cats can live happily together in the same house, they don’t necessarily ‘need’ other cats like some other pets who need companionship, so some cats, especially older cats may struggle to accept another furry family member into their home,” PDSA Vet Roberts explained to Bored Panda. 

“When introducing new pets, preparation is key. Carefully managed and patient introductions should give your pets the best chance of getting on well in future. Don’t put them both in the same room and expect them to get along straight away. Just like us, our pets need time to adjust to any newcomers. This process should be done slowly over several days or weeks.”

The vet suggested introducing the pets to each other’s scent before setting up any face-to-face meetings. “For cats, use an old tea towel to stroke each cat with ‘their’ tea towel, paying special attention to their face and cheeks. Then swap the tea towels so that each cat can get used to the other’s scent before meeting. If you have a dog, you could swap their bedding,” Roberts said.

The vet walked us through how someone might bring their new kitten or cat home for the very first time. As with everything, preparation and patience are key. You should start off by setting up a safe room for them that has food and water bowls, scratching posts, hiding places, and a litter tray.

“Keep them in this room where they can explore freely and start to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. You could also set up a pheromone diffuser to help your new cat feel comfortable. Keep your resident cat or dog away at this stage,” the PDSA representative told Bored Panda.

“Once your new cat seems settled, allow the pets to see each other in their separate spaces. Make sure there is a barrier between them so neither one feels they could be in danger— something like a baby gate would work well as long as you make sure they don’t jump over it. This way, they’ll be able to see and smell each other but still feel safe,” she said, adding that the owner should then give both pets the time to adjust and settle.

“You can use food rewards to distract and reward them for calm behavior, but plenty of fuss and praise is always good too. If you’re using food rewards, make sure that both pets are getting some and that they’re not close together, so they don’t think the other might steal their treats.”

Next comes the face-to-face meeting! PDSA Vet Roberts explained that once both pets seem happy in each other’s company, the owner can then take the barrier between them away for short periods at a time. Keeping the situation as calm as possible is essential.

“It’s best not to have lots of other distractions going on as this could add negatively to the situation. Allow your pets to approach each other at their own pace. You can continue to give treats as long as they are far enough apart to not try and take them from each other. Remember to give gentle and calm praise to both pets when they’re settled,” she said. “Supervise closely and watch their body language to make sure they are still happy and comfortable.”