How do you get a new cat integrated with the existing cats?

[Wcross]

I seem to have a new cat, she was dumped yesterday afternoon in front of my house. The dogs all seem to tolerate her after their initial curiosity was satisfied. My two cats on the other hand want to fight with her. She seems to want to be friends with them but so far they are resisting.
Any advice/tips? Anyone need a new cat? Shes only about 6-8 months old and pure white.

[kedrys]

1. When we brought in the triplets

(rescued kittens about 6 weeks old), we put them in their own room, with food, water and litter, and didn't let the two grown cats go in at all for about 2 weeks. The older cats could tell there were kittens in there, from the smell and vocal calls, but they didn't get to actually meet for a while. When they did, it was under strictly monitored conditions, with both the humans in the room. Over time, everybody recognized everybody else, and that was that.

[Wcross]

2. This ones a "growler", she does a dog like growl.

She only does it when she feels threatened. Maybe she is aggravating the other cats by doing that?

[kedrys]

4. She's holding her ground

All my cats do that when they feel one of the other cats has crossed the line. It can boil over into a fight, though, so I'd make sure to keep your cats separate as long as possible so they can get used to the idea that there's another cat(s).

There's not really an indicator - at least not one that I've noticed - of when a cat will stand down and when s/he will get into a fight. Without a human to referee, it's pretty much up to the cat's mood. I've seen Evie (12lbs) stand for a bath from her brother Plato (18lbs) with a look of resignation on her face, and I've seen her try to disembowel him. He usually loses more fur than she does when that happens.

Just keep an eye on everyone, and put the new kitty somewhere the rest of the household crew can't get to her if you have to leave the house.

[MedleyMisty]

3. Yeah, that's what we did too.

The kitten stayed in the bedroom and there'd be occasional supervised visits. Then eventually we moved her playpen out into the living room with the adult cats, but kept it locked at night when we were asleep.

Then after a few weeks everyone was fine together and now they all sleep together and give each other baths.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

9. same. Also- we would make a big deal about giving treats to new cat and old cat at same time

Ex- my partner was on the other side of the door. and I'd say "one for Preston" and hive him a treat. Then, Dan would say one for Savannah and give HER a treat. So, both cats associated the one on the other side of the door with treats.

Onc they all were in the supervised visit stage, we did the same thing- except with them next to each other.

Of course, I have PIGS for kitties. :hi:

[Wcross]

5. Right now they are just staring at eachother.

One on one side of my desk, two on the other. The existing cats don't have "fat tail" anymore so thats a good sign.

[zanne]

6. I've had that problem...

Someone who knows alot about cats (especially stray cats) told me to let them work it out themselves. Human intervention will just make them more irritable. I was advised not to interfere unless I saw blood. This person was right. Cat "disagreements" are loud and scary, but they seldom really injure each other.

[ronnykmarshall]

7. We just went through that.

Let the new cat have a room to herself for a few days and then let her out for a bit.

It takes some time but they'll get used to her.

[meldroc]

8. I remember this trick:

Lock the new cat in one room, separate from the other cats for a while, maybe for a day (make sure he's fed, watered, litterboxed, loved...) The other cats will think of the place as that cat's room after smelling and hearing the new cat, and the cats will familiarize with each other through the door without being able to actually kill each other.

Then switch them. Let the new cat out, and lock the old cats in the same room. Then the old cats will leave their smell marks on the room, and the new cat will leave his smells in the rest of the house.

Once that's done, let them out. The old cat and new cats will have all their smells established through the entire house, and they'll naturally establish their own subterritories and get along relatively peaceably. Relatively...

[Crazy Dave]

10. We have 13 abandoned cats

Usually the new one will get a swat or two from a couple of our grumpy ones and there's two that love everybody. Just a natural thing and after a while they've all grown used to each other. Unlike people it's just a natural, territorial thing versus just pure intentional meanness, jealousy, and hate that only we humans have for others.
I noticed too that when a new cat shows up then the last cat before that gets to move up in the ranks and gets to join in on hazing of the new arrival.