Bringing home a new kitten is a moment of pure joy for the human members of the family. However, for your resident adult cat, that tiny ball of fluff represents something much more sinister: a territorial intruder, a resource thief, and an unpredictable “chaos agent.”

Cats are evolutionarily wired to be “control freaks” about their environment. In the wild, a strange cat in one’s territory usually means a fight for food or mating rights. To ensure your home doesn’t become a feline battlefield, you must move slow. The goal is a “scent handshake” that builds a Positive Association long before the cats ever lock eyes.

Phase 1: The Sanctuary Room (Days 1–3)

The biggest mistake owners make is the “sink or swim” method—dropping the kitten in the living room and hoping they work it out. This often leads to immediate aggression and long-term trauma.

Instead, create a Base Camp for …