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Q.: I have had my four-year-old female indoor cat for about two years now. My boyfriend's cat is about five years old, female and an outdoor cat and I am not sure yet if she if fixed. We will be moving into a brand new house together and must introduce these cats. I need to know how I should go about doing this.
We tried once before but I brought my cat to his house and only tried it for a week and the outcome was terrible. My cat went under the bed and the other cat was walking back and forth waiting for her to come out. She corned my cat in the kitchen and peed in front her.
Should I be bringing the two cats into the new house together and that way there is no territory claimed yet or should I let one settle in and then the next. Can you please let me know if there is anything I can do or do I have to get rid of one of the cats?
A.: First of all, you need to make sure if your boy friend's cat is neutered, and if not, to have it done. Otherwise the two cats' relationship will be too unequal.
Apart from that I think the best is to bring the cats into the new house together because - as you suggest - they will be on neutral ground. This is generally the best option.
If it is possible, and if things seem very tense in the beginning, you might want to let them have each one half of the house as its own, maybe separated by a screen-door, so they can get accustomed to each other without being able to harm each other.
I don't think you have to get rid of one of the cats, but you may have to prepare yourself for a long period of adjustment. Pecking order systems and territorial behavior are far more complex in cats than in for example dogs, and thus takes a lot longer to fall into place.
Hissing, growling, and "boxes on the ear" are normal elements in this process and thus not signs that "it doesn't work". A bit of chasing each other around is also normal.
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