How do I introduce our current cat to a new cat

[Louise07]

We have an 11 year old cat which we got from a rescue centre just over a year ago, we would like to have another cat, maybe even a kitten, but our current cat does not seem to get on with other cats, he hates any new cats coming anywhere near our house. We had a stray cat start coming and our current cat soon saw him off, he would wait at the door and hiss and spit and chase him away. I know cats have their own territory but is there any way our current cat might ever get on with a new cat. Has anybody been in this situation before. Thanks in advance

[pawsntails]

I would suggest not getting a new cat, as your current one obviously doesn't like other cats and since he is a rescue cat, you have no idea what happened in the first 10years of his life and this may be a deep rooted problem not just a teritorial one.

However if your insistant on wanting a new cat, I would recommend a kitten as they are less threating then bringing in an adult. To help your cat adjust always praise and treat him when he and the kitten are in a room together, if he associates the kitten with getting more positive attention from you then when he's with you on his own, he will see it as a good thing to have the kitten around.
Also if possible give him and the kitten a bath when you first get it (seperatley of course) this will help remove any poutsider smells from the kitten, plus it will give both of them a similar smell.
Make sure the older cat is fed 1st and given attentrion first etc, before showing the youngster attention so your older cat still feels he's in charge. As a kitten the other one will not be as bothered about being 2nd as an older cat would be. Above all make sure each has its own bed, food, toys etc and at the start they are not forced to be together, however this lot still might not help if hes behavior is a deep rooted problem instead of just teritorial

[Ed Strong]

I mentioned this in a previous post. Try to get hold of a book called Cat Confidential by Vicky Halls. She specialises in cat behaviour and without going into detail here gives great tips on getting cats to accept another one in the house and how to cope with problems that may arise. I learnt quite a lot that when it's spelt out seems blindingly obvious and you think "why didn't I think of it?"

[andorraroxy]

take a look at :

http://wizz-catz.co.uk/introducing.html

Looks of good advice on the website and I personally endorse Wizz's advice!

[WendyS]

Your cat is quite elderly now and probably used to having his own territory. I think it would be unkind to introduce a kitten now. He has probably undergone a fair amount of trauma, having lost his previous owner and he may have been in the rescue centre for a while which was probably an unsettling process for him.

I'd been inclined to let him live his days out with you in solitary splendour. I'm sure if he could talk, this is what he would prefer !