my protocol for the kitten that came in last month

I know we talk about introductions a lot, but I wanted to write down exactly what I did with the 3-month-old tabby I brought home last month. My cats are Luna, a 2-year-old dsh with hypothyroidism, and Kiki, a 4-year-old Maine Coon. Luna is usually very sensitive to change.

The protocol took 14 days. Days 1-7 were strict separation. The kitten stayed in my office with the door closed. I did scent swapping daily, but I made a mistake and rushed it. Luna started hissing at the carrier, which is a red flag I saw in help my cats are hissing at the carrier. I stopped the scent swapping and extended that phase by three days.

Days 8-14 were supervised interactions. We used the door gap method. I fed them on opposite sides of the door, which I detailed in feeding on opposite sides of the door. By day 12, Kiki was sniffing the gap, and Luna stopped hissing. They had their first free-roam meet on day 14. It was calm.

Whoa, 14 days?? That sounds intense. I just let my new kitten run around with Ellie and Cricket and they were playing within an hour. Ellie is 4 and a total goofball, so maybe it's different for her. I mean, if your cats are chill, why wait? I saw this in did you really need separate rooms for the new guy? and thought it was overkill. Maybe Luna is just more of a drama queen?

Emily, while I appreciate your enthusiasm, I must disagree. Rushing introductions often leads to long-term aggression, not immediate play. My Penny is a 10-year-old calico with arthritis. She cannot chase a kitten, nor should she have to. I always recommend a minimum of two weeks of separation for seniors to ensure they are not stressed. You can read my full breakdown in how long should i keep a kitten away from a 12 year old?. Patience is not overkill; it is essential.

i am literally so stressed writing this. my cat shadow has skin allergies and i work night shifts so i cant supervise introductions. i was thinking of just leaving the door open and hoping for the best. is that bad? i saw in help my cats are hissing at the carrier that hissing is normal but i am worried it will turn into scratching. i need a protocol that works for a single person working 12 hour shifts.

There is a rhythm to it, not just a schedule. When I brought home Olive, who is food sensitive, I noticed the other cat’s tail twitching when I opened the door. I waited. I let the scent travel on my clothes first. It’s about reading the body language, not just counting the days. If your cat is hissing, the space is not safe yet. Trust the pause.

@steph_gray, please do not leave the door open unsupervised. If you cannot supervise, use a baby gate or a cracked door with a doorstop. For your specific situation, I would recommend the door feeding method I described in feeding on opposite sides of the door. It builds positive association without physical contact. @EmilyC, I understand it feels slow, but Luna’s hypothyroidism makes her more reactive to stress. What works for Ellie might cause a flare for Luna.