Festo, meet Theo. Introducing 2 cats in an apartment!

Cats are notoriously finicky, so what happens when you want to add a second feline friend to your home? Introducing two indoor only cats can be a challenge, especially in tight spaces. Don’t worry, though; it’s very possible. The key is a gradual approach, giving your cats time to adapt to each other’s presence.

Before diving into the introduction process, it’s crucial to understand your cats’ personalities and preferences. Some cats are naturally more social, while others are more reserved. Recognising their individual needs will help you tailor the introduction to their unique characteristics.

Here are some tips that helped:

1. Create Safe Spaces

Begin by designating a secure area for each cat. Separate essentials like food, water, litter, and toys. Having their own space to retreat to ensures comfort. Cats love to explore, so if you’re able to have multiple sanctuaries, it allows them to choose where they feel most secure.

It’s important that each cat has their own separate food and water bowls, as well as their own litter box.

We had our new kitten Theodore in our bedroom, for more supervision and bonding.
While Festo remained in the living area which he already knew well. Due to their size difference, we kept them apart for a couple of weeks, while Theo grew. At the time Festo was 6.5kg, and Theo was around 500g!

2. Feliway Diffusers

Feliway diffusers emit synthetic feline facial pheromones, creating a calming atmosphere. They can help not only during an introduction process, but times of change, stress or sickness on cats.

As they can cover a decent area, I placed one in the most central part of the apartment, where the cats spent most of their time. The diffusers act like a silent peacemaker, helping the cats adjust to each other’s presence.

3. Gradual Scent Introduction

Place a cloth or soft toy with one cat’s scent in the other cat’s area. Or another way is for them to sniff out each other through a closed door. This will allow them to get used to each other’s scent without being able to see each other.

4. Controlled Visual Contact

After a few days, you could open the door slightly so they can see each other while still being separated by the door. This controlled environment allows them to watch each other without direct interaction.

Our bedroom linked to the open plan living via sliding loft door which was very handy. We could slide it open a little to let them see each other, but not necessarily touching. I liked that Theodore could walk away from Festo if he got scared, and Festo couldn’t pounce on him.  And there was a glass window above the door separating the rooms, so both cats could see each other that way too if they wanted.

5. Feed Them Together

A great way to help the cats get used to each other is by feeding them together in the same room. This will help them associate positive experiences (i.e., eating) with each other’s presence. You can start by placing their food bowls on opposite sides of the room and gradually move them closer together over time.

For us I decided to feed them together in the same area after only 3 days of totally separate living. I had read somewhere that some cat’s aggression towards another is based around food supply. So as Festo had been well-behaved thus far, I gave it a go to success. I also rewarded both cats with some food treats.

They were supervised every meal time, to make sure Festo wouldn’t be aggressive towards Theo.

6. Swap Their Spaces

You can also periodically swap the cats’ living spaces. This switch encourages them to adapt to each other’s scent, making the eventual meeting less intimidating.

We didn’t use this tip so much as, the joint feeding time was in Festo’s space. I was also happy with using tip 3, with the slightly open door times etc.

7. Playdates

Before giving them free rein, (and if your kitten has grown more!), schedule controlled playdates. Ensure the cats are comfortable, and then gradually extend the duration of their play sessions.

It’s a great way to help the cats bond with each other. Start by playing with one cat at a time in the presence of the other cat. Once they’re both comfortable with this, you can start playing together with both cats in the same room. Be sure to have plenty of toys on hand so they don’t get bored, and plenty of reward food treats to dole out!

For independent play, supervision is key again, and only intervene if you have to. I would sit in the room with them, and make sure there was no hissing or growling going on. If everything seemed to be going well, I gradually increased the length of these visits.  Until they were spending most of their time together without any issues.

8. P for Patience

It’s important to give the cats plenty of time to get used to each other’s presence before allowing them free reign of the house. This process could take days, weeks, or even months depending on the temperament of your cats. Occasionally, there might be hissing or disagreements. Don’t be discouraged; it’s normal. Take a step back if necessary and give them more time.

Don’t rush it as much as you may want to. I think it can absolutely depend on the cat pairing. I’ve read that some cats bonded within a few days, and others months and months. Because of the big size difference between our cats, I didn’t feel that Theo would be able to defend himself, even in rough and tumble play.

So I waited for them to get used to each other, and Theo to get bigger, which took around six weeks. It was worth all the effort to see Festo have a feline buddy, and Theo has brought us so much joy and love.

A Couple More Tips For Success:

• Be sure to reward good behaviour with treats and affection to create positive associations.
• Jackson Galaxy on YouTube is an invaluable wealth of knowledge! I watched this video a fair bit.
• A veterinarian can provide guidance, and ensure both cats are in good health before the introduction.