INTRODUCING THE REST OF THE SPACE
Now it’s time to learn about the rest of the house and its home pets. Again, one thing at a time.
Once the new cat is comfortable in its safe room, try moving its food closer to the door. At the same time, put a food dish on the other side of the door for the home pets. Pay attention to signs of fear in the new cat, ready to back the food up if it refuses to eat. Your goal is to get all the pets to eat without fear on both sides of the door.
Another way to get them used to each other is to switch around their sleeping blankets, so they’ll have a chance to get used to each others’ scents. If they like to be petted, you can also use a small towel to pet one, then the other, switching back and forth.
Then identify the part of the house you want to introduce the new cat to, the smaller the better (like a single floor rather than a whole house). If you have no other animals, this part is a cinch. Just be patient until the cat shows you it’s ready for new stimulation…like Tagg here, who’s completely relaxed, with soft eyes and body position. At this point, continue returning the cat to its safe room after it’s finished exploring and repeat a couple of times.
