Saving Strays 😅🩵🐈‍⬛

Introducing an adult cat to a new kitten can be both a rewarding and delicate process. From my experience, one of the most important steps is patience. Taking it slow by first separating them while doing scent swapping—I rubbed a cloth on each cat and then let the other sniff it—helped both of them get used to each other's presence without direct contact. It’s great that you've kept them apart for about a week during this phase. Once the scent swapping phase feels settled, gradual, supervised face-to-face sessions between the adult cat and kitten for short periods (around 30 minutes) allow them to interact safely. This helps them adjust to each other's personalities and behavior without feeling threatened. Having these sessions outside of carriers or barriers helps them feel freer yet supervised. Another tip is to provide plenty of vertical space such as cat trees or shelves so the adult cat can retreat if needed. Feeding them on opposite sides of a door or room can create positive associations with the other cat’s scent. In my case, the new kitten was found stray and brought inside after we ensured it was healthy through a vet visit. Watching the adult cat's curiosity without aggression was reassuring. Remember, some chasing or playful swatting is normal but any signs of stress or aggression should signal a need to slow down the introduction process. Overall, consistency, calmness, and positive reinforcement go a long way. Every cat duo is unique, so observing their behavior closely and adapting the timing of sessions will result in a harmonious home for both your adult cat and new kitten.