Introducing a kitten to your home and other pets

Start in a separate room

ICatCare says to keep the new cat in a room the resident cat does not use, with its own food, water, bed, hiding places, litter tray, toys and scratching post. Settling in can take several days to a week or two.

A settled kitten greets you, plays, eats and uses the litter normally. A frustrated one scratches the door, cries for minutes, or paces.

Go step by step with other cats

ICatCare lists five steps: swap bedding so each cat smells the other, let the new cat explore while the resident is shut in one area, let them see each other through a glass door or stair gate, allow short supervised meetings, then allow unsupervised time starting with just a few minutes.

If a cat hisses or seems upset, calmly go back one step. ICatCare says not to punish it, and not to use food or play to distract cats from each other during meetings.

Dogs and other resident pets

VCA says to keep a resident dog or cat on a leash or held by a grown-up at first, keep their food and sleep areas apart, and make sure the kitten always has a place to retreat. VCA says introductions usually take one to two weeks.

Kids and the new kitten

ICatCare says to make house rules before the kitten comes: who feeds it, who cleans the litter, and which rooms are off limits. Keep one room as a safe place children cannot go into.

Kids should handle a kitten gently, support its front and back legs, and learn to notice when it has had enough. Young children need a grown-up watching.