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Multi-Cat Homes

AAFP's (American Association of Feline Practitioners) official 11-step process for introducing a new cat, letting resident and new cats gradually get used to each other to reduce conflict. There's no fixed timeline for each step — adjust the pace based on your cats' reactions, and step back if things feel tense.
  1. 1

    Health Check First

    Make sure every cat has had a recent vet check-up, and have the new cat tested for common contagious diseases

  2. 2

    Prepare the Home and Base Room

    Provide one of each resource per cat plus one extra; stock the new cat's base room with food, water, litter box, perch, hiding spot, scratcher, and a high-sided bed

  3. 3

    Pheromone Diffusers

    Plug one into the main living area and one into the base room 24–48 hours before the new cat arrives

  4. 4

    Find Favorite Rewards

    Note each cat's favorite treats or games to use as rewards later

  5. 5

    Bring Into the Base Room

    Bring the new cat in a towel-covered carrier and let them come out when ready; stay here until they stop hiding all day and explore confidently

  7. 6

    Scent Swapping

    Swap bedding or toys daily until neither cat reacts tensely to the other's scent

  8. 7

    Scent Transfer

    Rub a soft cloth on one cat's cheeks and chin, gently rub it on the other cat, then leave the cloth where they can smell it

  9. 8

    Play on Either Side of a Door

    With the door closed so they can't see each other, use two toys tied together on a string so each cat plays on its own side, 5–20 minutes per session

  10. 9

    Supervised Exploration

    Put the resident cats in a separate favorite room, let the new cat briefly explore the shared areas, and gradually lengthen the time

  11. 10

    Visual Access Through a Barrier

    Let them see each other briefly through a screen, glass door, or tall gate; if they're uncomfortable, go back to the previous two steps

  13. 11

    Supervised Close Contact

    With harnesses and leashes, or one cat in a partly covered carrier, let them share a room briefly, then gradually lengthen sessions if all goes well

Further Reading

Resource Allocation in Multi-Cat Homes (The N+1 Rule)

Unlike dogs, cats aren't naturally wired to share resources. Resource scarcity is the most common root cause of conflict between cats — the N+1 rule is the most basic way to prevent it.

How to Read Social Signals Between Cats

When introducing a new cat, reading the signals cats are sending matters more than rigidly following the steps — it tells you whether to move forward or pause.

Want to track this over time? Try Trucelo

Multi-cat conflict management — log introduction progress and conflict incidents to find the root cause.

Coming soon — app in the works

Source: American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). For reference only — if aggressive behavior persists, consider consulting a cat behaviorist.