My new male cat scares my female. How do I introduce them safely?

Do it gradually. First, allow them to hear and smell one another but not see each other. This is best accomplished by keeping her in a small, closed room. Once your male has accepted her presence, have them see one another form a distance for ever increasing periods of time. The next step would be to place her in a closed carrier in the same room as your male. The final step step would be a supervised physical introduction. Use leashes on both for safety. The entire process may take days to weeks. A pheromone product, such as Feliway Spray or plug in diffusers, may decrease any anxiety or aggression. Ideally, you will also need to provide a litterbox for each cat plus an additional box in a neutral area. Extra bowls, toys and beds should also be provided to prevent resource protection.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I would put the new cat in a room by herself. This allows them to sniff each other under the door and get used to each other that way. Purchase Feliway diffusers for the room the new cat is in and where Muezza sleeps the most. After a week either use a baby gate at the door or put the new cat in a carrier and let them see each other through that. Then let the new cat out, again after a week, only when you are home to watch them closely. Over the 3-4 weeks of slow introduction, hopefully it will go well. If the new female cat has never allowed a male to breed her I am a bit concerned she will not allow Muezza either. I do not think age makes a big difference in animals. I hope this helps! http://pet-supplies.drsfostersmith.com/search?view=grid&w=feliway&visitorID=&cartcount=0&wishcount=0&division=dogs

I am not sure what you are concerned about as far as safety. I do recommend keeping new kittens quarantined away from other cats for 2-3 weeks so you can monitor them for any illness that could be incubating. It can take time for cats to adjust. Getting a new cat is like getting a new roommate. Sometimes it is a perfect match and sometimes you can't wait to move out! Giving them time and space to adjust is the best thing you can do right now. You will need to have separate spaces, each space with its own food, water, and litter box. Sometimes using a feline pheromone diffuser can help with stress, like Feliway or Comfort Zone. Here is an article you may find helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-steps-to-introducing-your-cat-to-a-new-feline/

I would recommend getting a few Feliway Multicat diffusers before bringing the new cat home to try to calm tensions that may arise https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-MultiCat-Diffuser . I would also recommend reading this article on how to deal with cats that do not get along by Dr. Sophia Yin, which may provide you with a plan on how to deal with conflicts: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/feuding_felines/

Adding a new cat to your home can be a lot of fun, but can be stressful both for you and for your current cat. Unfortunately, there is never a guarantee that both cats will become best buds or even tolerate one another very well. However, you can take some steps to slowly introduce a new cat to your home to ease the transition and make it as low-stress as possible for both cats. Prior to bringing home your new cat, consider using calming pheromones such as the [Comfort Zone® Calming Diffuser](). Also, be sure that both cats have been spayed or neutered to eliminate hormone-influenced aggression issues. Initially, keep the new cat isolated in a separate room (oftentimes a spare bedroom or the bathroom works well), allowing the cats to smell and paw at one another under the door. After a few days of this introduction, allow the cats to explore each other’s space for a few hours. In another day or so, allow them to see one another with an exposed barrier between them (i.e. a crate, screen door, etc.). If all seems to be going well introducing both cats, allow them to meet in an open room with plenty of supervision. Be sure that both cats have a way to leave the room should they feel stressed or threatened. Continue supervising all contact for at least a few days, possibly a few weeks, to assure that all goes well.

Have the stray examined and treated by your veterinarian. Once he has recovered from his wounds, have him vaccinated and dewormed. Keep them separated during this time. Allow them to hear and smell one another through a closed door. Once they have acclimated to the sounds and smell of a new cat, allow them to see each other at a distance for ever increasing periods of time. Progress to placing the new cat in a closed carrier in the room with your cat until she acclimates. The use of pheromone products, such as Feliway spray or plug in diffuser, may decrease any anxiety or aggression.

The next step is to rotate rooms daily for at least 2-3 days. This allows the new cat explore the rest of the house while the resident cat spends some time in the new cat's room. This will give your resident cats a chance to smell the new cat and rub their own scent on objects. The cats should be fed in each area with wet food twice daily, and it is also good to play with the cats in each area at least twice daily. The practice of setting up a schedule of feeding treats of wet food, as well as a playtime routine, minimizes anxiety and makes the cats feel more secure. Keep the cats in separate areas for as long as it takes to allow them the chance to become desensitized to the smells and sounds of the cats in the other area. When they all seem particularly relaxed with this process, begin to expose them to the sight of each other. A good way to accomplish this visual introduction is to bring the new cat(s) in a carrier to meet your cats and sniff each other through the carrier wire door. Place the carrier on the floor and allow them to meet this way several times a day for about an hour. Continue these meetings for several days or until they remain calm in each other's presence. If and when the cats are able to stay calm in each other's presence during these meetings, it is time to let the new cat out into the rest of the house for a few minutes. The length of the visits can be increased gradually each day. Depending on the personalities of the cats involved, this process may take a few days or a few months. If it appears that any fighting maybe be close to occurring while you are supervising, put the newcomer back in his/her room and proceed more slowly. If those supervised play times go well, you can begin to allow them to cohabitate in your home. If any aggressive behavior occurs at any time, begin the introduction process again. It is very important to understand that this process can take as little as a few days, to sometimes much longer. It is all dependent on the cats involved. If things don’t go well right away... One of the most important steps to dealing aggressive behavior between cats is to recognize the different types of aggression and understand their underlying causes. A short list and description of some commonly seen aggressive behaviors include: chasing; ambushing; hissing; swatting; and/or biting. If you see these behaviors, seek help from your veterinarian. Most cats get along fine if the introductory process is done correctly. Please seek help from your veterinarian if you feel that things are not progressing well, or if you have other questions.