Tips For Introducing Cats
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Tips For Introducing Cats
When you decide to add a new cat to your home, it’s normally more
exiting for you and your family than it is for the cat you already own.
Although most cats are solitary by nature, most will also come to
accept or eventually tolerate any additions.
Cats can be very territorial, which is why you should always be careful
when you introduce a new cat to your current cat.
If you are introducing kittens to one another, the entire introduction
process can be short, lasting as little as 10 – 15 days. Introducing
cats to each other all depends on their temperament and their
personality. When you introduce a new cat to your current cat, you
should always make sure that you give your current cat plenty of love
and attention.
This way, your cat will feel secure and know that he isn’t in
competition with your new cat for affection.
When you bring your new cat home, you should let him stay in a safe
room until you have finished introducing the cats. Your safe room can
be any small room in your home, such as a bathroom or spare bedroom.
The key here is to use a room that your current cat doesn’t go in. In
the room, you should leave your new cat a scratching post, bed, water
dish, litter box, and food dish.
At first, your current cat may howl and hiss when he stands at the
door, trying to tell the other cat that he doesn’t belong. When this
happens you should ignore it, as punishing your cat for his behavior
will only lead to more problems. After a while, the first cat will
start to act calm when he is near the new cat’s door. As he starts to
act calm, you should pet him and give him praise.
When your first cat starts to go by your new cat’s door and doesn’t
howl or hiss; you can start introducing them to each other. The best
way to do this is to get them used to each others scent. You can start
letting them eat out of the same food dish, although you’ll want to
feed them at different intervals at first. This way, the scent of each
cat will be present at the food dish, and each cat will get the scent
when he eats his food.
Once both cats have got used to the scent, you can begin to feed them
closer together. To do this, you should keep your new cat in the safe
room with the door closed, and your first cat on the other side of the
door with his food dish. This time, feed both cats at the same time.
After doing this a few times, they should start eating without any
hissing or growling. At this point, they are ready to be introduced to
one another.
When you introduce them to each other in the same room, a bit of
growling and hissing is to be expected. Although they may be used to
each others scent; your first cat will still feel a bit awkward with
your new cat being in his territory. You should play with them both at
first, so they can smell one another and greet in their own way. If
they start to fight you should break them up, and give them some time
apart.
It may take some time to get them fully used to one another, although
once they do – they will become playmates for life. Cats love to be
social, although it may be a bit rough at first, especially for your
first cat. Cats can be very territorial, especially if you have a
kitten around.
If you get both of them used to each other early on – it will be a lot
easier to add future cats to your home.
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