The First Meeting

For several weeks beforehand, we had been preparing for Jonatan’s arrival. We placed a blanket with his and his family’s scent multiple times so that the other cats could get familiar with his smell. In the bathroom, we had set up everything he would need: a litter box, food bowls, and a scratching post.

Jonatan had also gained a lot of experience before coming home. He had been on car trips, trained in a carrier, met different people, and been exposed to various environments outside his home with the breeder and his siblings.

When we arrived home with him in the carrier, Jesper was already waiting eagerly to greet the little newcomer. He didn’t have the patience to wait for us to take off our winter jackets—he was practically trying to squeeze through the carrier to meet Jonatan. This was the same Jesper who had once hated other cats!

We carried the carrier into the bathroom and placed a simple pet gate in the doorway. This allowed all the cats to sniff each other and retreat if they wanted, without anyone becoming too pushy. It also meant we didn’t have to intervene—the most important thing was for the introduction to be calm and controlled. A simple pet gate is worth its weight in gold: an inexpensive and effective way to create a safe boundary.

As we opened the carrier, Jesper and Kasper took their seats as eager spectators on the other side of the gate. With wide, curious eyes, they watched the little newcomer, wondering what Jonatan would be like. After weeks of sniffing his scent from the blanket, they had probably already formed an idea of who he was. Now, they just needed confirmation of what their noses had told them: a small, harmless kitten.

There was no noise, just quiet sniffing and careful studying. Jonatan confidently explored his toys and his new feline friends. We waved a toy to encourage him to come forward, while the other cats received treats for good behavior and warm hospitality. It was all so simple!

Jesper was the first to sniff Jonatan, followed by Kasper. Finally, Odin was allowed to enter. One by one, they politely greeted and welcomed Jonatan—just as we had hoped. The most excited one, of course, was Odin, who eagerly joined Jonatan in playing with the feather wand. Jonatan had never been around dogs before, but he didn’t hesitate to join in.

This just goes to show how easy it can be to introduce a new family member when the breeder has done a good job with socialization and environmental training, such as car rides. When a kitten is already confident, you don’t need to spend days or weeks on a difficult adjustment period. It creates a much smoother transition for both the new kitten and the existing cat family. Instead of arriving in fear, being placed in a carrier, and suddenly finding themselves in a home with cats that weren’t expecting a newcomer—leading to days of hiding under the sofa—Jonatan was instantly included in his new family.

Unfortunately, we often hear stories of kittens being ripped away from everything they know, transported in a carrier, and suddenly thrown into a household where the resident cats were not prepared for a new arrival. The result? A terrified kitten hiding under the couch for days. Many of these situations could have been avoided with better preparation. That is neither good animal welfare nor a good start for a new pet.

It was wonderful to see how polite and respectful they all were towards each other. And for a little kitten, who for the first time was without his mother and sisters, it was a safe and warm welcome into a brand-new family.

This is going to be amazing!