Cats prefer solitude, but their temperament and age can affect whether they accept a new acquaintance.
Create a “starter room” for your new cat with everything they need and segregate them from your current cat.
This is crucial to prevent disease and parasite transmission and ensuring they're healthy enough to adjust.
Cats communicate mostly by smell, so swapping smells is a terrific method for them to get to know each other before meeting in person.
Never let cats meet without you. The new cat should stay in their starter room, but your resident cat can sniff around the entrance.
Rewards calm and curious behavior from both cats during introductions with food, toys, and praise.
PetMD recommends providing enough litter boxes, food and water dishes, toys, and scratching posts for all cats and spacing them out.
Schedule playtime for both cats and let them view each other through a baby gate or other clear barrier.
Cats, like humans, need time and positive interaction to bond. Never hurry or force cats to interact before they're ready, and never dismiss fear or anxiety.