Advice For Introducing A New Cat?

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aclockworkorange

Dovii
MFK Member
Jun 24, 2010
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Rose City
Today I adopted a 3 year old male cat from a local shelter that had been brought in from an animal hoarder's house (they had 111 cats). I have a female cat I adopted that's the same age and have had her for about two years now. Both are fixed.
I read lots online about the best way to introduce a new cat, so far they have not seen each other, just smelled each other through the bottom of a doorway. I understand this is her territory and she isn't happy about the situation.
She hisses whenever she goes to the doorway to investigate. She's also become extremely moody (more than usual ;)).
Anyone have any advice to smooth this transition? I'm just trying to get them used to each others smell at this point. Any advice is appreciated.


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Expect a lot of hissing, meowing, spitting, etc.. Everything that shows the existing cat isn't happy. They will have to work out between themselves their hiarchy. This could take days, weeks, or even months. I have 7 cats myself, what I have done when introducing a new one is keep it in a place away from the other cats for a couple days so it can destress and get used to it's new home and all the sounds, smells, and activities that go along with it. Then I simply let it out with the others. I have found that they will work it out on their own and I let them. I have not had a problem with physical fighting. I have 1 cat that tolerates the others, but isn't "friends" with them and will still hiss and mildily swat at the others if they come to close when she doesn't want to be bothered. Other than that they all have their place.

Since the new cat came from a hoarding situation it probably has skills in how to deal with other cats and will make use of them with it's new housemate. The existing cat on the other hand will probably take more time to get accustomed to the new addition. There is only one real way to see how they will get along and that is to let them be together. I reccomend letting them work things out on there own as long as fur doesn't start to fly. They will get accustomed to each other at there own pace. Whatever you do, don't close them in a room together where neither can escape the other.
 
just throw them together and let nature take its course
 
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