Cats do not need to like each other on day one. They need to feel safe, and safety comes from scent and space long before it comes from face time.
Week one: separate rooms
Set your new cat up in a closed room with their own litter box, food, water, and a hiding spot. Your resident cat keeps the rest of the house and their normal routine.
Swap bedding and blankets between the two spaces daily so each cat learns the other's smell as a normal part of home.
Week one, later: feeding through the door
Feed both cats on either side of the closed door, starting a few feet back and moving the bowls closer over several days. Good things happen when the other cat is nearby.
If either cat stops eating or growls, move the bowls back and slow down. There is no prize for finishing early.
Week two: visual introductions
Crack the door a couple of inches with a doorstop, or use a baby gate. Keep the first sessions to a few minutes and end while both cats are still calm.
Hissing is information, not failure. Sustained stalking, blocking, or swatting means you moved too fast.
Setting up for the long term
One litter box per cat plus one extra, spread across the house. Add vertical space with cat trees or shelves so cats can pass each other without meeting.
Most pairs settle into polite coexistence in two to six weeks. Napping in the same room is the goal, not grooming each other.
Give an animal a second chance
There are so many animals who still need a safe place to land. Whether you’re ready to adopt, open your home as a foster, or simply want to support our work, there’s a way to help.