It is exciting to have a new cat but what if you already have one? It may look difficult at first but by following the recommendations here, you can successfully introduce the new to the old. Cats are very protective of their territory so you have to make sure that your new cat is introduced properly to the old one.
If your cats are still kittens, it may take only a short while to initiate them. They may get along within 10 to 15 days of introduction. Both cats’ temperament and personality influence the introductory process. Make sure that your old cat feels secured and do not show preferential treatment on the other cat so that it will not think that the new cat is a rival for affection.
When bringing the new pet home, allot a safe room for the new cat to live in for a while. Let it live there until you are in no doubt that both the old and new cat are properly introduced. There are no specifics for the room that you could make use of - it can be a spare bedroom or a bathroom. However, the room that your new cat will live in should be a place that your old cat does not go into. Place a scratching post, litter box, bed, water dish and food dish inside the room so the new cat will be comfortable.
Since a cat is new, the old one may try to dominate it and make it feel that it does not belong there. The old cat may hiss and howl at the new cat when it notices it by the door. Not paying any attention to what the old cat is doing is the best thing to do. Punishing the old cat for its aggressive behavior may cause bigger problems later on. Eventually, the old cat will calm down when it goes near the door of the new cat. When it does this, praise and pet your old cat.
The introduction starts when the new cat is no longer hostile when it sees the new cat by the door. An effective way to do this introduction is by using their odor. Having them utilize the same food dish is the first thing to do. It is strongly recommended that you give food to them at different times but using the same dish because it is important that they get accustomed to each other’s scent first.
In a few days, the old and the new cat will probably be used to each other’s scent; then you can attempt to feed them closer to each other. To do this, hide your new cat in the safe room then shut the door. Feed the new cat in the safe room with the door shut behind it. Then, set up the place at other side of the door as the new place to feed your old cat. Later on, they will stop hissing and growling at each other and eat peacefully at the same time. Then, the time to meet each other has come.
Introducing the two cats to each other in the same room can once again be tough because there might be some growling and hissing from both parties. Even though they are used to each other’s scent already, your old cat may still feel uncomfortable seeing the new cat in its territory. At first, play with them both so that they can greet and smell each other. Allow them some time to be apart if fighting commence.
Giving them time is important. Have patience. Both cat will turn into happy and satisfied pets if you have introduced them properly. Though it may be tough at first but your old cat will later appreciate its new company. Later on, if you want to add yet another kitty, it will then be easier on your part.
For help with cat stress [http://www.kittybehaviour.com/understanding-cat-stress/] and how to treat an abused cat [http://www.kittybehaviour.com/dealing-with-an-abused-cat/], check out introducing a new cat [http://www.kittybehaviour.com/techniques-in-introducing-a-new-cat/].
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