For a kitten
How do I introduce a new kitten to my resident cat?
Do not put both cats in one room on day one. Separate rooms, scent swap, brief visual contact through a barrier, then supervised time together.
Putting two cats in the same room on day one often leads to conflict. Plan for patience and a slow rollout.
A calm introduction often takes one to two weeks. Do not rush it.
Stress from introductions often shows up first as skipped meals or litter box changes. Note both cats if you can.
Step-by-step
- Total separation: keep the new kitten in their own closed room for several days.
- Scent swapping: swap blankets or bedding so each cat learns the other's smell without a face-to-face meeting.
- Visual access: first sighting is short, through a baby gate or screen door. Let the resident cat walk away.
- Supervised contact: same room only when you watch. Separate immediately if hissing turns into chasing or a fight.
Look closer if
- Either cat stops eating for more than a day.
- Either cat stops using the litter box.
- Fights break skin.
- One cat hides and will not come out for meals.
Ask a vet if one of these shows up. This is not a diagnosis.
Add your kitten for age-specific guidance
The answer stays free. Borzi can hold separate profiles and log appetite and litter habits for each cat. It does not decide the introduction failed.