Introducing a new kitten to an existing cat

[brizzlewizzle]

Hello

Does anyone have any experience of successfully introducing a kitten to an existing pet cat?

We have a five year old rescue cat (girl) and would like to get a second cat.

Any tips? Any guidance as to whether a girl or boy would be better? And where is the best place to get a kitten? Have been trying rescue centres but am not getting through.

Thanks 😻

Anyone? Thanks!

Keep them separate for a little bit. Ideally introduce through a window/screen. Even if that means new cat has to be in a crate/cat carrier.
Take a tea towel (or something similar) for each cat and stroke it over them then stroke it over the other cat. It transfers the smell?

I fully support rescue and hate back yard breeders but I will acknowledge that getting a second cat can be tricky as many centres are not willing to rehome to a home that has a cat already or they will have very very strict expectations.

I would probably try the recuse you got your first cat from? Maybe turn up or see if they do viewing days? They may advertise them on social media.

I've always followed the policy of having a different sex kitten to the existing cat and it's always worked well. We keep them in separate rooms at first if it seems necessary but we also have a big dog cage that we can put the kitten in with it's bed, food, toys, litter tray etc, and start putting that (with the kitten inside) in the front room where the existing cat is and see how things go. Before you know it they are sniffing each other through the bars but they both feel safe so it's less stressful for them. It always works brilliantly TBH.

Ideally, keep the kitten in a separate room at first, then introduce each cat to the other with just a blanket or bedding containing the other's scent. Then allow them so see each other through a window/door accompanied by a treat until they are comfortable with this. Once they are used to the sight/scent of each other they can have short supervised visits and, over time ( sometimes long) they may be happy to co-habit. Some cats welcome a newcomer easily, others less so. Remember cats' territory and scents are very important to them and newcomers are very stressful.

I currently have a 13 year old lady and a 8 month girl, took us over a month before we and the cats felt comfortable to be left in same room unsupervised but they now even lay together and get along lovely.
I started with keeping them in separate rooms for the first week- swapping them throughout the day and using a baby gate on a door and feeding them either side bringing bowls closer to each side of the gate every day for a week till bowls where touching gate.
Following week I kept at the feeding by baby gate every day but also would sit in same room as the older cat with the kitten on my lap and increased time I was there daily
Week after I started letting kitten venture off my lap and every time they locked eyes I would distract kitten with a toy feather stick older cat would watch kitten constantly but only seemed to be upset when kitten and her locked eyes she hissed and tail would go ears back really not happy the kitten was just curious so distracted little one each time with toy as week went by I leave the time they was together in same room longer and longer and would give them both plenty of treats when together and if older girl wanted to leave room at any time she could.
The next week I would do the same
distracting kitten stopping kitten following older cat but they was together all day with run of house unless I went out and still keeping them separate at night time, both had had they meals next to each other by this point the following week I found my older girl didn’t mind so much when little one following her practising her hunting skills creeping up behind her and on rare occasions would happily join in playing ever so gentle and would find them curled up together the week after that I let them have run of house together at night too and after that I quite often find them dozing together in the windowsill or curled up next to each other on sofa and nearly always together, it’s wasn’t easy introducing new kitten into my home, i felt guilty when my cat was letting me know she wasn't happy about it and i had to give it a lot of my attention (clock watching for room swap the first week) watching the kitten explore that she didn't upset my old lady) my mother told me I should just introduce them after the first week or two but I went by my old ladies time which took about 6 weeks and half weeks total but to be fair we had her at 7 months old from a rescue and she never have had to share her home with another cat only ever one dog who she took to within two weeks very territorial when it comes to another cat apparently I’m unsure about the best sex but I would suggest getting a younger cat than your cat now

We have a male rescue cat (we got as a kitten) who is absolutely lovely but I thought it safer not to get a rescue cat second time around as any behavioural issues could have unnerved him and I wouldn’t have the heart to give a cat back to a rescue centre. We got a female BSH in the end, and they’re inseparable now. They were introduced slowly but became fast friends. As PPs have said, introducing them to each other’s scent first worked well for us.

We have three unrelated cats and never did scent swapping or slow introductions - we just let them get on with it.

Apart from the odd hiss we've never had an issue and they all get on great - they share food, beds, litter trays and water and happily pile up together to sleep - and have done so pretty much from day one.

They're now aged 6, 5 and 1. They're always bathing each other too!

Thank you so much - these replies are so useful!