I've just read the excellent info on this thread re introducing new cat and old cat (what the article calls Snowy to Blacky, in our case, Ariel to Simba) and am concerned that my two seem ready more quickly than wisdom suggests.
I've been scent transferring with blankets for the last two weeks before she arrived (Sunday, yesterday) so they are used to the smell and Simba was particularly interested when I brought Ariel's blanket home for him.
She's been confined to a utility room (a large one at that) with hiding places etc is super confident, always comes out when she sees us, is very trusting etc, etc, very fussy and cuddly and purry.
Simba has the playroom from the house to the garden and there's a kitchen in between where today I've been letting one in at a time, with the curtains drawn from the glass windows to the kitchen to the playroom.
Now, this evening, Simba got behind the curtains while Ariel was in the kitchen with me, so I moved her out, let him straight in; he was mewing to meet her under the door. I resisted the temptation - I was i in on my own and didn't know what I'd do if anything went wrong.
So when he was satisfied, he went back to playroom, I shut that glass door and let her in. This time, I let them look at each other through the glass - no hissing, just curiosity. I held it open a finger space; they had a sniff of each other and then she gently put a paw up to the gap without claws, hasten to add and he sniffed more.
They seem to be going through this introduction lark more quickly than I'd have thought, although the homers at Battersea, contrary to their paperwork general guidelines which say wait a week, said I should be able to introduce them quicker than that as Ariel's so confident.
What do you think my next step is? I'm going to swap blankets again one last time before bed ... do you think they'll be ready tomorrow???
