This also applies to children, employees and other situations that could potentially create hostile reactions to change.
You introduce a kitten to an old cat by making it look like the cat is responsible for the kitten. This brings up feelings of care-taking instead of competition.
You let a neighbor drop off the new kitten and don’t get involved in care-taking for two weeks. Your hands-off approach teaches the old cat that it’s responsible for the new kitten. You give your attention to the old cat.
The only involvement is to feed the kitten by placing two bowls of food. But even here, you explain to your old cat that it’s being done so that the old cat isn’t bothered. Try to stay out of the house more often during this time.
In employee situations, the new person should be introduced or trained or helped by the person who would most likely see them as competition or someone who could usurp their position. Make it their responsibility to look after the newcomer.
Your children should help take care of the newborn baby so that they develop kindness toward it instead of a sense of competition-for-attention.
