Expert: Jessica - 4/23/2010

Question
Dear Jessica: I don't want to appear totally foolish but "BIB", which I decided to name the Feral which adopted me and now has a baby three weeks old, now wants to explore, the unfortunate part is she wants to explore Squeaks space, Made the mistake of allowing her some upstairs time and she now want to be there constantly, The hard part is Squeak became very standoffish and defensive and decided to hide and each time I approached her she hissed at me and backed away. How do I introduce them without creating a major problem and possibly keeping them friendly towards each other. I just viewed your profile and if I were only 40 yrs. younger girl, look out.(HA,HA).
Len

Answer
Why thank you, I'm flattered!

Cats can be frustrating to introduce, especially as adults, but 99% of them will get along if you give them plenty of space and time to get used to each other.  The key is to introduce them very slowly.  Most cats who don't get along have been rushed into living together.

I recommend that you start introducing the two indirectly by using scent transference.  Take a cloth and rub Bib along the cheeks with it to pick up her scent.  Then allow Squeak to smell the cloth. Then vice versa.  This way, the cats can become familiar without the threat of a physical confrontation.  Some hissing in response to the scent is to be expected at first.  If Squeak seems to redirect her feelings of aggression toward you, and begins hissing any time you come near, try leaving the cloth in an area where she’s likely to check it out herself, although I would avoid areas that she considers her direct property, such as in her own bedding or around her food or litter box.

Another good way to do indirect introductions is to swap their areas a few times a day.  Allow Squeak to explore the basement while Bib pokes around the main house.  They’ll be able to sniff out each other’s things, and Bib will be able to get used to her new home (?).  Make sure they don’t have any confrontations at this time, however – the door to the basement should be closed.

Once all hissing has subsided when the cats smell the cloth with each other’s scents, and they are comfortable in one another’s spaces, you can try letting them see each other.  An easy way to do this is through a glass or screen door if you have one available, or through a cage such as a cat carrier.  Feeding them a tasty meal with this safety barrier between them will give them a positive experience to associate with each other.  If all goes well, try feeding them without the barrier, at separate ends of a room.  Gradually move the bowls closer, until they’re eating just a few feet apart.

Try visits several times a day, and keep them short at first, no more than 15 minutes, since cats can become overwhelmed if they last longer.  If the visits go poorly, separate the cats immediately and try again the next day.  As long as the kitties get along, you can increase the length of the visits each day until you feel comfortable leaving the cats alone together.  Most cats take about 2-3 weeks to introduce, but some adults can take longer.

A good product to use during the introduction process is the Feliway plug-in diffuser.  I use this at all times in my own home.  It will reduce stress in general and also help lessen territorial tendencies if Squeak is feeling uneasy about a newcomer in the home.  You can learn more at www.feliway.com.

It’s important to provide separate litter boxes, bedding, food and water and some cat furniture for the cats, especially until they are lovey dovey with each other.  Lack of territory is a major reason cats in multiple cat household have squabbles, and providing them each with their own property helps prevent this.

As for the baby, I would recommend beginning to introduce her to Squeak within the next couple weeks if you’re planning to keep her.  The younger they are, the easier they are for the older cats to accept.  You just want to supervise her very immediately (hold her!), since she doesn’t have the reflexes to react if Squeak decides to swat.  Most cats are pretty gentle with very young ones and would rather hiss and run away than try to harm them.  Be sure to keep Bib out of the room when allowing Squeak to investigate the little one for now, as she may still be very protective.

I hope everything goes smoothly!