How to safely introduce an old stray cat to my dogs and cat?

Many thanks for adopting a stray! If you haven't yet, before you introduce Pumpkin to the rest of your household, I strongly recommend you take him in to see your vet for a check up as well as vaccinations. In addition, he should be checked for the feline viral diseases including feline leukemia and feline AIDS, since he could transmit these to your cats. If all checks out well, start by bringing him into the house (making sure the other cats can't see him) and getting him comfortable in his own room with food, water, toys, a litter box, etc. Spend plenty of time with him there every day, making sure that you also give plenty of attention to your other cats. After a couple of weeks, when everyone had gotten used to everyone's scent, you can try a controlled introduction, perhaps with Pumpkin in a carrier. If all goes well there, allow them to share space but make sure they are monitored and make sure there is a way for everyone to get their own space - a cat tree is perfect for this - until they are comfortable together.

Great question! Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first bring Mousewhisker (I love his name!) home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure your cat has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the dogs's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in the dogs's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for your dogs. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once all the pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the cat in the dogs's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are all comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce the dogs on a leash to the cat while he is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the puppy for being calm and quiet near the cat. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure your cat has a cat tree where he can escape from the dogs as needed, and don't allow the dogs to chase the cat. I hope this helps!

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.

Prior to bringing her into the house with your other cats I would recommend she be evaluated by a veterinarian. You would want her tested for any diseases she could transmit to your cats, such as feline leukemia or feline AIDS. If she has fleas or mites, I would recommend treating her prior to coming home. At the same time, she can have her skin lesion looked at. Finally, I would give her a rabies shot as well. Good luck!

Hi there Adjusting to a new animal in the home can sometimes take months. There are a few things that can help, but honestly time is the best remedy. I would make sure all the pets have enough space, and a safe place to eat and drink that is away from the new cat. I would also use the Adaptil spray and Feliway spray diffusers in your home. This helps animals calm down and can make their enviornment more neutral while they adjust. Finally, just be sure to keep things routine. Pets love routine and while a new cat isn't routine, keeping everything else this way will help. Best wishes and thanks for using Pet Coach!

Hello. If your first dog has been routinely vaccinated, then there should be no danger introducing him to the newcomers. Make sure everyone has been treated for fleas & ticks, & the new guys checked for intestinal parasites & hopefully everything should go smoothly. You are a remarkable individual for rescuing 3 dogs, so I do hope everything goes well. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Good question! You do the introductions slowly, yes. The ideal way is to put the kitten in one room and the other cats in the rest of the house. Once the kitten is cleared by the vet, you will want to put the kitten in the rest of the house and all the other cats in his room. Do this for 30-60 minutes a couple times a day. That way they can get each other's scents. Also, at this stage you will want to feed the cats by the door of the kittens room; feed the kitten on the other side of the door too. So they can smell the kitten and get a reward at the same time. Once that is going well you can use a baby gate to separate them at the door for feeding. After a few days if that is going well (no hissing etc) you can let them all out together. When I say feed them at the door I mean something really good that they will consider a treat like canned cat food, canned chicken or canned tuna. Make it a really pleasurable experience! I also strongly recommend you get some Feliway diffusers. It is "happy cat pheromones" that really works to calm cats down. Use it for at least 2 or 3 months time. Hope this helps. I know it's a long process but it is much better to do it slowly than to cause issues by just throwing him in!