You decided to add a rescue cat to your family. First, kudos to you! There are many wonderful cats in shelters and rescues who need homes.
Now comes the hard part. Those who adopt dogs are often reminded of the “Rule of 3s,” which means 3 days to adjust to the new environment, 3 weeks for training and learning the household routine, and 3 months to truly integrate the new dog into the family. Forget that advice for your new cat! As with so many things, cats do everything on their own timeline, and that timeline depends on many variables.
For any new cat, the big three are:
Time
Patience
Calmness
If your new cat is coming from a feral or semi-feral situation, you will need extra doses of all three. If your cat has spent time in a foster home or good shelter situation, the transition will often be easier.
Integrating Into the Family
One thing that complicates many cat adoptions is many, if not most, cat adopters already have a cat. Sometimes, several cats. You need to consider your current feline family members as well as the newcomer.
It is ideal to start with the new cat in a separate room if possible. Use a neutral space and don’t hand over the prime real estate to the newcomer. Your resident cats will already be stressed, and keeping them from their favorite spots to lie in the sun won’t help. The separate setup will help as a semi quarantine for any health problems the newcomer may have and will give the cats a chance to sniff each other under the door.
While the room should have some safe spaces for the new cat to hide, you need to be sure there are no places for a cat to literally disappear, such as behind cupboards or in the ceiling. A cat carrier with the door removed can be a safe hiding spot.
If you don’t have a room, a large dog crate can work to keep pets separated and safe. Covering part of the crate makes it more of a den if it is a wire-type enclosure.
Eventually, the cats will need to meet. Ideally, this should be done with baby gates (doubled to fill a doorway), or you can use a crate or carrier to introduce cats. Just remember that a cat in a carrier may be fearful if she feels she is trapped and can’t get away. Be prepared to step in with a thick towel and remove a cat if things don’t go smoothly at first. Having cats on leashes and harnesses can greatly help you control the introductions.
Touches of the Home
To make the transition as smooth as possible, try to duplicate the rescue cat’s food, bowl types, litterbox, and litter. After the first week, you can gradually start shifting over to your preferred choices. Meanwhile, stock up on special treats and provide these to the resident cats and the newcomer near the door that separates them. This will help build good associations with the new smells.
Some people have had good luck by switching blankets between the two spaces, so the smells can be carefully checked out. You can also sprinkle some catnip around (just remember that some cats get hyped, not mellow with it!) or add feline pheromone sprays or diffusers to the area.
Even if you don’t have another cat, it is best to confine your new family member at first anyway. Cats are master hiders! Families have gone weeks without seeing their new cat once they set them loose in their big house. You can track her presence by litter usage and food disappearing, but it really is nicer to see the cat.
Sometimes you luck out and the new cat simply moves in without any hassle. Your other cats ignore her or cuddle up to snooze together with her. When that does not happen, be prepared to help your new cat adjust to her new home.
