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Introducing A New Friend Conventional wisdom tells us to hide a new feline family member away in a room for a few days, or even a few weeks. The theory is that the resident cats and the newcomer will get used to each others' scents before they're formally introduced. But most cats don't buy into the conventional wisdom on anything — including introductions. And it's possible that that time in isolation will make your new cat edgy and nervous about the enemy on the other side of the door. In The New Natural Cat, Anitra Frazier suggests another way of introducing cats. While Howard County Cat Club members who foster cats don't follow her instructions to the letter, this is the way the club's cat experts introduce new cats to each other. —Set the new cat up in her own room with food and water, a litter box, toys and comfortable places to nap. The room should have a sunny window. Shut the door, and give the cat time to adjust to her new surroundings. — After a few hours, open the door. Let the cat venture out on her own. If she wants to spend several days hiding under the bed in "her" room, let that be her choice. Chances are, your resident cats will respect her space and leave her alone. — When the cats meet, they'll hiss and growl. REMEMBER: Most neutered cats hate to fight. Watch their body language. If one starts grooming, yawns or turns her head away, she's giving the other cat an opportunity to leave the "battleground" without losing face. — Be patient. It will take days, or even weeks, for the cats to work things out and for the newcomer to learn the house rules. Meanwhile, the cats will pick up on your feelings. If you act like having a newcomer in the house is perfectly natural and not a big deal, the cats will probably agree.

Creating Friendships Here are some ways to help your original cat and a newcomer become friends. — Make the original cat feel special. Give her the most praise and attention, even if that means ignoring the newcomer. The new cat will understand. Her feelings won't be hurt! — Do fun things. Help the cats associate pleasant experiences with each other. Play with them together. Or feed them together. — Don't Force Things. Never force the new cat to come out of her room or associate with the other cats. She'll do these things when she's ready. It may be weeks before she's ready! — Set A Time Limit. Decide how long it should take for a new cat to begin feeling comfortable in your house. If after, say, three months, she's still not fitting in, it's time to look for a new home. It's better to end the relationship before the new cat forms a strong bond with you. Try to place the cat yourself, or work with a cat rescue group. Taking the cat to a public shelter is almost always a death sentence.

Cat Facts

— Female cats tend to be more territorial than males. — Not all cats long for a feline companion. Many are solitary creatures and appreciate having their own space. — Cats like to arrange themselves vertically. Provide cat trees, perches and hidey holes so they can get away from each other when they want to. — Cats rarely fight. If yours do, don't separate them yourself. Make a loud noise, or pour water on them.