This week I’d like to talk about bringing a new cat into your home when you already have other animals. Before you decide to adopt a cat when you already have other animals, consider the practical side of things.  I am definitely a person that ALWAYS wants more cats- but I recognize I am at my limit in my current living space.  There simply isn’t enough space for me to provide enough litter boxes, enough water dishes, enough vertical space, or enough other enrichment to keep more than the three cats I already have happy.  Other than the long-term additional supplies you will need to provide for an additional cat, you also have to think about where their initial adjustment space is going to be.  Cats are going to take time to settle into their new home, and you’ll need a nice cozy room to set them up in where the other animals in the home won’t have access to them, as even if your new cat is confident and ready to explore the whole house from day one, you will still have to keep them isolated until you’ve had a chance to do proper introductions with your other animals.  Many people think of a bathroom as being a good place to set up a new cat; while having them take over your bathroom might not sound inconvenient short-term, you should prepare for the possibility that the room you’re going to be using may be their main base for weeks, or even months, depending on how smoothly introductions go.  Bathrooms are also normally not ideal for creating a cozy, safe environment for a cat- it can be difficult to fit a cat tree, a litter box, food and water, hidey holes, and toys.  If you’re fortunate enough to have an extra-large bathroom, it could be a good option for your new kitty’s home base, but using a bedroom or office space or something else similar is usually a better choice.  (Stay tuned for a future Caturday post that talks more about helping a new cat settle into your home.) Now, let’s talk more about introductions.  Not doing proper introductions between animals is probably one of the most common mistakes people make.  People always have this urge to rush through them- and I get it, they are a LOT of work!  I think we all have heard an anecdote from someone about adopting a new cat, throwing them into a room with their other cat, and now they’re best friends.  This should not be the expectation, and I NEVER recommend that introductions be conducted in this way- there is a serious risk of injury, either to one or both of the animals, and potentially to you as well if you get in the middle of an altercation.  There is also the possibility that animals will seem like they are accepting each other at first, because they are confused, in shock, or otherwise just don’t understand what’s going on enough to react to it,  and then a few days later issues will arise.  The best way to solve problems between your animals is to prevent them from happening in the first place- if you rush things at the beginning and your animals don’t like each other, it can be VERY hard to undo things and start fresh.  If you truly do find yourself with two easygoing animals who are going to like each other quickly, then you will be able to breeze through the steps of an introduction.  To ensure long-term peace, it is best for both you and your animals to stick to the tried and true introduction method. HSSC has handouts available that go over the introduction process between cats, and between cats and dogs: https://humanesocietysoco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/HSSC_Cat-Cat-Intros_2020-12.pdf https://humanesocietysoco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HSSC_Dog-Cat-Intros_2020-12.pdf It’s impossible to say exactly how long an introduction will take, as every animal is different.  From what I have experienced, the average amount of time to go through all the steps is 3-8 weeks.  You need to take the longer time into consideration when deciding what is realistic for you to do; being pleasantly surprised at the process going quickly is much better than feeling frustrated if you were hoping you’d only have to use your second bedroom as a base for the new cat for a single week.  In some cases where a cat is extremely shy, it can take significantly longer for them to feel confident enough in their new space to even BEGIN the introduction process with your other animals.  Be honest with yourself, and if you don’t feel you can take on the challenge of integrating a new animal into your home right now, it is 100% okay to wait until you are ready.  I am a huge advocate for having multiple cats- once they are getting along and become friends, it truly does add to their quality of life- but if bringing a new cat home is going to make you more stressed, it will probably make your animals more stressed as well.  Be kind to yourself, and it will help you be more kind to your animals too!