The standard recommendation for introducing a new cat into the household is to keep the cats isolated from each other putting one in room or blockedoff portion of the house and letting the other cat have the rest of the

house. After a day or so, switch them so that they are confined in theportion of the house that was the other cat’s “territory”. Continue to dothis for a few days to a couple of weeks so that they get used to eachother’s presence gradually and there is less chance of aggression between them.I am not sure that your situation calls for this much caution, though.Since you are adopting two kittens there is a good chance they will keepeach other occupied, giving the older cat a break from unwanted kittenattention. It would probably be a good idea to bring the kittens into thehouse in a crate or secure box and set it down where your cat is sure tonotice it. Then see what the older cat’s response to them is. If it isobviously aggressive, go to the plan above. If it is curious or if itignores the kittens, then it is probably safe to let them out, as long asyou are present to intervene if there is trouble. If that goes well, thenyou are probably going to have no major problems. Do expect some hissing orswatting at the kittens when they pester the older cat too much essbutanything more aggrive than that should prompt you to separate thekittens from the older cat for a while to let things settle down.Hope this helps some. If you have major problems there are some other
things that might help, so please feel free to write for additional
information if you need it.

Mike Richards, DVM

7/24/2000n