CatWorldly Cat Introduction Progress Tracker

Purpose
Use this as a staged behavior tracker, not a way to force animals together.

Animals involved
Resident cat:
New cat / kitten / dog:
Date started:
Current stage:

Session record
Date:
Stage:
Session duration:
Distance between animals:
Barrier used:
Eating response:
Play response:
Tail notes:
Ear notes:
Posture notes:
Chasing / blocking / fixation:
What worked:
Next session plan:
Reason to slow down or seek help:

Stage 1 - Separate spaces
[ ] Each animal has a secure room or zone.
[ ] Food, water, litter or potty access, hiding and rest are separate.
[ ] Doors, gates or barriers prevent surprise contact.
[ ] Appetite, litter use and sleep look normal enough to continue.

Stage 2 - Scent exchange
[ ] Swap bedding, cloths or room scent.
[ ] Keep swaps brief and calm.
[ ] Reward sniffing, ignoring or walking away calmly.
[ ] Stay here longer if either animal hides, refuses food or escalates.

Stage 3 - Visual contact
[ ] Use a door crack, gate or distance barrier.
[ ] Keep sessions short.
[ ] End before staring, stalking, lunging or panic builds.
[ ] Return to scent work if visual contact is not boring yet.

Stage 4 - Shared-room practice
[ ] Supervise every meeting.
[ ] Keep escape routes open.
[ ] Use distance, treats, toys or calm parallel activity.
[ ] End after a calm moment instead of waiting for trouble.

Stage 5 - Shared-home resources
[ ] Add enough litter boxes, food, water, scratchers and resting places.
[ ] Prevent one animal from blocking doors, hallways, food or litter.
[ ] Keep the original safe room available as a retreat.
[ ] Continue short sessions before leaving animals unsupervised.

Slow down if you see
[ ] Stalking, blocking or repeated chasing.
[ ] Fixation that cannot be interrupted.
[ ] Growling, swatting or hissing that escalates.
[ ] Hiding that increases after sessions.
[ ] Appetite, urination, stool or sleep changes.
[ ] A dog fixates, lunges or cannot disengage.
[ ] The next session plan is only "try longer" without a reason.

When to call a veterinarian
[ ] Sudden aggression appears with pain, hiding or health changes.
[ ] Appetite, litter, breathing, vomiting or weakness changes.
[ ] Any animal is injured during an introduction.
[ ] Fear or stress is not improving despite slower steps.