🤝 New Cat Introduction Planner
Most failed introductions fail for one reason: they went too fast. Answer five quick questions and get a stage-by-stage plan paced for your cats — with clear signals for when to move on, when to wait, and when to step back.
Your household
Territorial = has hissed, swatted or chased other cats before.
A bad first meeting isn't a disaster — this plan restarts from separation, which fixes most of them.
Typical pace
Your introduction plan
Before day 1 — set up the base camp
Tick things off as you set them up — your ticks are saved on this device.
Daily log
Each day, note four things for the new cat: eating, litter box, playing or exploring, and relaxed enough to rest in the open. Two “no” days in a row at any stage means stay put — don't rush forward.
| Day | Stage | Eating? | Litter? | Playing? | Relaxed? | Notes |
|---|
How this plan works
The stages follow the graduated protocol shelters and feline behaviourists use: cats meet by smell first, sight second, touch last — never by being put in a room together to “sort it out”. The time estimates are scaled by your answers: a territorial resident, a shy newcomer or a bad first meeting all slow the plan down, because moving at the cats' speed is the whole point.
The day ranges are a guide, not a deadline. The green signal at each stage is what actually decides when you move on — some pairs take three days, some take six weeks, and both are normal.
One resource rule runs through every stage: one litter box per cat, plus one extra, in separate locations (boxes side-by-side count as one to a cat), and separate food and water stations. Resource guarding is the most common cause of introductions that stall late. Our Multi-Cat Resource Calculator works out the exact numbers for your home.
This planner is behaviour guidance, not medical advice. If a cat stops eating for more than a day, hides constantly, or you're worried about their health at any point, pause the plan and talk to your veterinarian.