How long did it take you to introduce new cats?

[strawberrylove]

Just that really. We are in the process of introducing our new cats. It's been 2 weeks. We rushed it at first (silly) and we've gone back a few steps now. I'm just wondering how long it took for your cats to atleast coexist together? I don't want to rush it again.

When we put them together, our old cat hisses and growls and new cat chases him. We haven't put them together since.

Just curious to know how long it took you? I'm happy to wait as long as it needs! X

I introduced 2 kittens to a 2 cat household about 7 years ago. One of the incumbent cats was fine immediately - the other took three months. The two old boys have since died so I introduced 2 new kittens earlier this year - again one of the existing cats was fine and the other is still objecting (growling and hissing) - but is now improving significantly (nose to nose contact yesterday).
Give the existing cats as much fuss as possible - it can just take time. Good luck

Thank you, I've just bought a dog crate so we can feed them near each other and so they can interact a little without chasing/fighting! Going to do this everyday and hopefully that will help! X

I was just going to ask the same as we are 4 weeks in and tonight being the first time they’ve been in a room together. It did not end well with a big fight and my older 18 month boy scarpering outside. I’ve gor feliway plugged in but my existing cat won’t stay in long enough to get the benefit. I’m really worried in case he choose a a new home because of the new boy who is 1 months.
Don’t know what else to do for the best.

I’m in almost the same situation here.

Just taken on 2 cats from my sister who is moving to France.

I’ve got the 2 new ones contained in our dinner house (with tray, food water and places to hide) whilst my boy (who turned up here from miles away last year) is residing in luxury in the house.

The new cats are both outdoor cats. How long should I keep them contained? I’ve introduced him this morning and there was lots of hissing and growling....

Dinner house??? Summer house, although dinner house sounds quite cool!

It needs to be done slowly, they need to be familiar with each other's scent before even seeing each other. Can do this by confining spaces and swapping after 48 hours. Introduce them to pillows/materials the other may have slept on/been on. Then feed them either side of a closed door. Then supervised and with plenty of "escape space" for the both of them, let them interact. It takes a couple weeks for them to be generally comfortable with each other, don't rush it.

What kocerhan says.

You need to keep them in separate rooms (so they don't kill each other), put an old towel in their beds and swap it over every morning. That way they will get used to the scent of the other cats.

Introduce them every morning, but in a supervised way, and separate them as soon as they start growling and hissing before it deteriorates into fighting. You should notice that after a few days, the aggressive behaviour gets less.

It took us 8 days of doing this. Cats are now good friends and sleep in the same bed.

We have now had the kittens for about 8 weeks. Spotted this tonight - significant progress from Sybil.