I am definitely speaking from experience! My loved (some would say spoiled!) only child (excuse me, cat!) and a Siamese one at that was four years old when I decided to introduce a new cat. For those that know about Siamese kitties, they know that they can be the most finickety and the most jealous and possessive (of their humans) than any other feline.

I felt that dear Katy (of course she had a human name) needed a friend, of her own species (for those times when I was not there to cater to her every whim). A potential nightmare of a problem, at least initially introducing a new cat into a household where one has previously reigned supreme.

Still, I was determined to give it a fair try but only after intense investigation and research, for I knew I did not have the fortitude to handle the potential problems I so often heard about. I knew I did not want to wait for endless days or more realistically weeks or months a new cat to be hissed at through the door of a separate room, later maybe beaten up, or worse, forever ignored by the incumbent monarch.

All I can say, is if this method worked for Katy and Samanatha, which it DID, it can work for ANY cat on this planet !!! Katy was washing the kitten’s face by the next day! - and quickly ‘adopted’ her. As time went by they were truly close friends, curled up with each other during the day and sleeping together every night on my bed.

The best information I found comes from a book by Carole Wilbourn called ‘The Inner Cat’.

Follow very carefully her 10 basic steps. You must be very careful to keep your own attitude casual and it is suggested to try your hardest to not look at or even touch the new cat for a few days (I could only do it for half a day!) With minor adjustments which I have written underneath her points, I found it to be truly a full proof way of introducing a new cat, which if you knew Katy, you would have said it was a minor miracle!

It is also suggested that you give your cat a great deal of attention for at least a week or so before the newcomer arrives. Give him extra voice and eye contact as well as extra petting. Make your cat feel extra secure so he won’t feel the new cat has come to replace him. You could always put some ‘perfume’ on your friend and a little on the cat to establish a scent connection.

Here are the 10 steps straight from ‘the Inner Cat’with my own comments in parenthesis:

1. Have a neutral party bring in the newcomer. If the party is someone the cat is very fond of, he may feel slighted. (I had a friend of a friend bring in the new kitten).
2. It is preferable for the newcomer to be in a cat carrier with a wire top so that your cat can observe him. The carrier should be lined with strips of newspaper, in case the newcomer has an accident. (I found it to be most important that my ‘friend’ sit with the carrier on his lap for at least 20 minutes) which established most clearly to Katy the connection with the new cat and ‘the stranger’, as opposed to any connection with me, ‘the owner’.)
3. Some of the strips of newspaper (if clean) can be discreetly placed on the floor where your cat will find them. From them he’ll be able to get a good whiff of the newcomer until he decided to go closer to the carrier.
4. You should be oblivious to the new arrival even if he’s staring you right in the face. This would be a good time to join your guest in some light refreshment to preoccupy your mind with eating. (I brought the drink to my friend, too nervous for him to put the carrier on the floor just yet).
5. Don’t discuss how your cat is going to react. Talk about anything that will get your mind off the encounter. A light, cheerful subject is best. (I found step (5) the hardest – and you probably will too. It is so tempting to watch how the cats are doing. So I prepared with a few subjects (mostly inane!) to take my mind off the drama taking place in the middle of my room, like discussing a movie, the weather, the interesting shade of brown color of his shoes… – just about ANYTHING else will do!)
6. When your cat is good and ready, he’ll strut over to inspect the newcomer. Don’t be surprised if he’s sniffing and hissing at the same time. Breathe deeply and concentrate on your juicy conversation. You don’t want to pass your nervousness on to your cat. (Believe me it was hard to keep concentrating on our ‘other’ topics of conversation and keep mind and eyes off the cat. Especially while Katy was giving me the ‘evil eye’ then looking at the kitten in the cage, then looking back at me!, as if she was trying to catch me out, not totally convinced that I wasn’t the master manipulator of this great conspiracy – but with deep slow breathing, and a lot of silent praying! I managed to keep control of my thoughts, worried she could psychically read every one of them! Her very clear message reaching into every pore of my being saying, ‘He better not be thinking of leaving that thing here!)
7. Don’t offer your cat any words of encouragement. If you interfere, your cat will react negatively. It must be his decision. (At this point, there was no way I was going to do that and sabotage my hard mental work!).
8. The newcomer should remain in the carrier for at least two hours. This way your cat will feel he has the upper hand. (After approx 20 minutes my ‘friend’ put the carrier down by his feet. I’m sitting on an opposite chair, far enough away to make it clear to Katy that I have nothing to do with this awful creature by my friend’s side!)
9. After the two hours, lure your cat away from the carrier with food or catnip. While you’re distracting him, your friend can unfasten the carrier so that your cat won’t feel you’re responsible when the newcomer pops out.
10. Don’t be surprised if there are inflated tails, hissing and even puffed up bodies. In case of a bad skirmish, a spray of water will cool things out. You can’t expect the relationship to be an instant success. If your cat should simply decide he is going to ignore the newcomer by retreating to another room the moment after the arrival, casually drop some of the newspaper from the newcomer’s carrier in the room with your cat. If he still insists on being alone, when the two hours are up have your friend open the carrier and the newcomer will take it from there. Don’t try to sneak in pats with the newcomer. Your cat will only have to smell your hands to know you’ve deceived him. (During this 2 hour seemingly endless period of torture for me…. Katy is hissing, and puffing up at the cage - running around it and hissing again. This continued for so long I was convinced this was all a disastrous mistake and could never work…. When finally the cage door was opened by my ‘friend’, the new kitten was fast asleep! And stayed asleep!!! Katy sniffed her little asleep face, then hissed some more and walked away nonchalantly.

Shortly thereafter my ‘friend’ left. Now Katy and I were left alone with this asleep kitten on the floor. Katy looked at me then at the kitten as if to say ‘can you believe he forgot to take that thing with him??” I now ignored the kitten and spoke to Katy (I truly believe all cats understand just about everything, (or at least the energy behind the words) so I (yes, I lied to her) told her I was as surprised as she was, for I certainly didn’t want the ‘thing’ either.

I do have a suggestion though if you have a choice. I introduced a female kitten to a female cat for myself. I would also suggest introducing a new female kitten to a male cat – but I do not feel it is always quite so easy introducing a new male kitten to a male cat because of the male territory issues. Of course this method can work with this scenario too, and usually does. I have successfully helped many friends with this adoption method. Sometimes it takes a little longer and sometimes the cat and kittens in question behave differently to my Katy and Samantha – but it is the most successful method of introducing a new cat that I am aware of – and the lasting results are well worth the time and effort for the human in the beginning. Remember, this can be the beginning of at least a 20 year relationship.

Katy is now turning 20 and Samantha is nearly 16.

Isn’t it worth it?