Black cat on couch

NOW that you adopted a cat from AnimalKind, you may want to read through the steps below to make yourself familiar with introduction.

The first week

For the trip home, confine your pet in a sturdy cat carrier. Don't leave them loose in your car, where they might panic and cause an accident, or get out when you open the car door.

After the ride home, they will, most likely need time to adjust. To make their transition to your household as comfortable as possible, select a quiet, closed-in area, such as your bedroom or a small room away from the main foot traffic, and provide them with a cozy bed, litter box, food and water, toys, and a scratching post.

Let your new pet become acquainted with the limited area for the first few days. Be sure to spend plenty of time with them in that room, but if they're hiding under the bed, don't force them to come out.  If necessary, sit on the floor to talk to them and offer treats. Let them sniff all your belongings and investigate all the hiding places.

Your new cat may be full of self-confidence and itching to get out and make him or herself at home. Or they may be more of a shrinking violet that needs more time to adjust.

Avoid conflict when bringing a new cat into the family by carefully introducing them to any other pets. 

Over a few days, slowly help your cat become familiar with the rest of the family, including other pets and household members. Make sure they always have access to "their"room so they can retreat into security if they feel nervous. Eventually they will comfortable at home.

Cats vary in terms of how demanding they are as pets; so let yours guide you to the level of attention they want, whether it's your hand for petting, or your lap for sitting. Provide them with the necessary creature comforts and give them the companionship they seek, and they'll be content.

Preparation: Supplies for a new cat

  • Food and water bowls

  • Food (AnimalKind will send you home with Hills Science Diet, that we feed here)

  • Treats

  • Collar with ID tag

  • Cat bed

  • Cat toys

  • Cat brush

  • Cat litter box and litter

  • Catnip

  • Scratching post

Recognizing signs of stress in a cat

Signs of stress can include decreased appetite, decreased grooming, hiding, lack of interest in attention or affection, and sleeping in unusual locations. A stressed cat may be more quiet than usual, which can be difficult to notice.

Feline diet

Leave dry food and fresh water out all day and feed moist food 2 x day.

Litter box

Provide your cat with a clean litter box. Scoop out the litter box once daily, and empty it completely to clean it every week. Remember that if you do not like the smell of the litter box, your cat probably doesn’t either; keep it clean and you’ll have a happy cat.

Cat toys

There are many different toys that your cat might like to play with. Cats like novelty, so buy several different types of toys for her and try them out. Play with the toys with your cat; do not set them out and expect her to play with them on her own. If she is not interested in them for the first few days, give her time, and try different toys. Do not play with your cat with your hands. Using your hands as a toy teaches your cat that it is okay to bite or scratch you.

Indoors vs. outdoors

One of the big decisions cat owners must make is whether to allow their cat outside. There are many risks outdoors that can shorten your cat’s life span. He could be hit by a car, poisoned, attacked by a dog, or infected with an incurable virus. However, many cats really enjoy being outdoors and miss the stimulation of the natural world if they are kept inside all the time.

There are several different ways that you can allow your cat the stimulations of outdoors without the risk. You can install perches on windowsills around the house so that your cat can sit at the window, watch the outdoors, and enjoy the sunlight. With patience, you can teach your cat to walk with a harness, and then you can take him outdoors for walks.

Another option is to build or buy an outdoor enclosure (often called a cattery or catio) for your cat. You can search the Internet for “cat enclosures” or “catios” to find out what other people have done. At C & D Pet Products, you can buy a prefab cattery. If building a cattery is too ambitious a project for you, check out the many alternatives offered by Kittywalk Systems. Another popular way to give your cat the freedom of the outdoors is with Cat Fence-In, a product that makes it impossible for cats to climb over regular backyard fencing.

How to Introduce Cats to Cats

Phase 1 – Cat Smells Cat

  • Successful introductions take time. DO NOT !! try to introduce the new addition to your resident cat(s) immediately upon arrival. You may damage the new relationship irreparably and initiate fear, anger, aggression, spraying and litter box problems in the new cat and/or resident cat(s). Successful introductions take time.

  • Let the cats sniff out the situation. Let “smell” be the first introduction as the cats sniff each other from under the “safe room” door. Within two to four days, begin exchanging the bedding between the new and resident cat(s) daily. This helps familiarize the cats with each other’s scents.

Phase 2 – Cat Continues to Smell Cat

  • Let the sniffing continue. If there are no marked signs of aggression from the cats, such as hissing and growling, the next step is to confine your resident cat to a room and let the new cat explore your house for a couple of hours each day for several days.

Phase 3 – Cat Sees Cat

  • Organize a carrier meeting. Place your new cat in a carrier and put the carrier in a location of your home outside of the safe room (for example, the living room). Allow the cats to look at each other and sniff through the carrier door.

  • Any signs of aggression? Keep the visit short and return the new cat to its safe room.

  • Repeat this phase 2 to 3 times daily (if possible), until cats appear to be more comfortable with each other.

Phase 4 – Cat Meets Cat

  • Let the cats meet at their own pace. If there are no signs of aggression between cats, leave the door to the safe room open a crack. This will allow the new cat to explore and/or your resident cat to visit. Supervision is necessary for the safety of both cats.

  • In case of aggression, have a spray bottle filled with water or a towel handy. Always stop serious threats and/or aggression immediately, as a serious fight may damage the potential for successful integration and relationship.

  • If over a period of weeks your integration plan is not going well, consider the installation of an inexpensive screen door from a building supply store. The screen door allows the cats to continue to get to know each other by sight and smell, while keeping both parties safe. Each cat can take turns in the screened room.

  • A Feliway diffuser may also prove helpful when integration is difficult.

Phase 5 – Integration Complete

  • You may notice some occasional hissing, swatting and grouchy behaviour over the next few months (and years). This is normal. Cats are hierarchical by nature and must establish and affirm the pecking order within your household. Plus, much like humans, all cats have the occasional “off” day.

Please note: The 5 phases detailed above offer only approximate timelines. Some integrations may proceed faster or slower and integration is dependent on the personalities of the cats involved. Remember, you know your cat(s) best. Use common sense and patience when integrating a new cat or cats.

How to Introduce Cats to Dogs

Phase 1 – Cat Smells Dog

  • Follow the steps detailed in Phase 1 of the How to Introduce Cats to Cats section above.

Phase 2 – Switch Spots

  • If there are no other cats in your home, confine the dog to one room and let the cat begin to explore the rest of your house for one to two hours each day until the cat is familiar and comfortable with the layout of your home.

Phase 3 – Cat Meets Dog

  • Bring the dog in on a leash. Once the cat is used to your home, let the cat roam loose in one room. Keep the dog on a leash and have dog treats ready in your pocket. If possible, have another person the cat is familiar with on the other side of the room to reassure and distract the cat from the dog.

  • Sit and meet. Keep the dog seated and focused on you as the leader. Try offering the dog a toy. If the dog focuses on or accepts the toy, reward the dog with a treat. If the dog tries to stand and move towards the cat(s), correct the dog slightly with the leash and reward him or her with a treat. If at any point the dog is not responding to your commands or the cat’s stress level appears elevated, remove the dog from the room. Keep repeating this process until the dog is responding to you and either ignoring or accepting the cat(s). This process helps teach the dog that cats are not prey, toys to be chased, or threats.

  • Watch. Never leave the dog and cat(s) unsupervised until you are absolutely sure they have built up a mutual, trusting and respectful relationship.

  • Make sure kitty has some space for alone time. Even once the cat(s) and dog(s) are comfortable with each other, cats still like having the option to retreat to a space away from the dog. Place a baby gate across the doorway of a room in the house where the cat or cats like to hang out, or buy or build a tall cat tower so they can retreat when needed.

Note: The length of time required to successfully integrate cats with dogs varies depending on the previous experiences of the animals involved. For example, your dog may have had previous encounter with a cat or the cat may have had prior experience with a dog. Often, when the cats and dogs are used to being around the other species, integration can be quicker.

Little boy smiling while holding a fluffy cat

Tips for Kids

To help introduce your new cat to children, we’ve included a little message with some tips from the cats

Hi there! I’m your new cat and I’d like to tell you a few things:

  • Your house is brand new to me, so I am a bit nervous and shy.

  • It will take me a few days to feel comfortable, so please be patient.

  • Please don’t chase me; I will start to play when I feel more comfortable.

  • I will learn about my new house by smelling everything.

  • Because I’m new, I might run away from loud voices, noises and fast movements.

  • Because I’m a bit nervous, I might hiss; that’s how I say, “I am scared.”

  • I need quiet times just like you do, so I might find a hiding spot and take a nap.

  • Please put my litter box in a quiet spot and let me use it alone.

  • Please remember to pick up all my legs when you carry me or my tummy will hurt.

  • I won’t mean to, but since I have claws I might scratch you if we play too much.

  • I’m not sure where to sleep yet, so I might try a lot of places before I get comfortable.

  • Please pet me gently and don’t pull my tail; I am small and can be hurt easily.

  • Make sure you don’t let me outside. I don’t know where I live and I’ll get lost.

  • Oh, and one last thing. Please remember to close the door to outside behind you. I’m naturally very curious!