Introducing 2 new cats - need suggestions!

[Callisto]

So there is tons of literature out there on introducing a new cat to a home with existing cats, however my upcoming issue is a little different. This weekend we'll have 2 cats (mine and my new roommate's) both being introduced to a new house AND to each other. I'm concerned about letting one have run of the whole house and quarantining the other because I don't want either of them to claim the house as their territory before the other. My cat is very shy and panicky while his is very outgoing if that makes any difference. Any suggestions or first hand experiences?

 

[dragonfly411]

callisto - my thought was to confine both cats to your bedrooms for the first two days? And then introduce them while you are both there to supervise?

 

[random_thought]

I've always heard to confine them to their own spaces but I did the opposite with mine (and also this exact situation with a roommate a few years ago). They both kept to their own areas and in the end were best friends in both cases! I know this doesn't work for everyone but it worked fine for me

 

[Haven]

I would confine each of them to a bedroom at first, and then take them out one at a time to roam the whole place for a day each, at least. While they are roaming they can sniff each other out under the door, and that will be their first introduction to each other. After you see that they're both more familiar with the whole space, then I'd let them both out of the rooms at the same time and supervise their first interaction.

We adopted our three cats about a month apart each, and that's what we did. They're now best friends, as I like to say, and they often sleep together in a big pile of mushy kitty.

Congrats on your two new kitties! Do they have names yet? Do you have any pictures?

 

[Callisto]

Congrats on your two new kitties! Do they have names yet? Do you have any pictures?

They're actually not new kitties, just a new roommate who has a cat also, but we're moving to a new house as well. My cat does well moving to new places so I'm not worried about that, she just doesn't like dogs so I'm a little worried about introducing her to another cat. She hasn't been around other cats since I've had her so I have no idea how she'll react.

 

[Haven]

Oh, sorry I misunderstood.

I hope they get along! In my experience with cats, the younger they are when they meet, the easier it is for them to accept the presence of another cat in the house. But even my 18-year-old kitty was able to adjust to living with three rambunctious young boys when DH and I moved in together, it just took some extra time.

I hope it goes smoothly!

 

[Callisto]

Thanks, I hope so too! His cat is super friendly and get along with other cats. My cat is just... weird. She's totally unpredictable when it comes to her reactions to things.