When introducing a pet to cat(s) already within the house, take it sluggish, new analysis suggests.
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By Zazie Todd PhD
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When you’re bringing a pet into a house with an present cat it’s necessary to do gradual introductions, in accordance with new analysis by Rachel Kinsman et al, printed in Animals, that investigated the elements that result in success.
Total the outcomes of the examine are promising, although solely 7% of the puppies behaved in a totally fascinating method within the presence of the cat. In any case, puppies are nonetheless studying, so it’s no shock that 93% confirmed some undesirable behaviours at the very least among the time. However greater than 25% of the puppies may very well be calm across the cat, and fewer than 2% confirmed indicators of aggression similar to growling on the cat.
Fascinating behaviour was outlined as being calm, uninterested, or ignoring the cat. Undesirable behaviours have been being fearful, aggressive, cautious, chasing the cat, being too excited, or taking part in with the cat; mainly, something that the cat would possibly understand as a risk.
Whereas chasing may very well be a play behaviour, it may be an indication of the pet’s creating predatory sequence, and it could be difficult for folks to inform these aside. Plus, the cat may not respect being chased in play, both. Chasing would additionally turn into a extra severe difficulty because the pet will get older and due to this fact larger.
One other difficulty was that many individuals didn’t understand that if the cat was aggressive in the direction of the pet or hid from them, that may very well be as a result of the cat was pressured.
One of the best outcomes have been discovered when the pet guardian led the introduction between the pet and the cat. Examples embody utilizing pet gates and making certain cats have excessive up areas the place they’ll get away from the pet, supervising interactions between them, holding these interactions brief, and rewarding the pet’s good behaviour.
Many individuals let the pets lead the introductions, for instance letting the cat select once they would meet. Folks on this class assumed that the cat would “put him in his place” if the pet misbehaved. In fact it wasn’t a transparent distinction; some folks had a mixture of some supervised and a few pet-led introduction.
40% of individuals made the introduction gradual, which is the advice for introducing a canine and cat.
Individuals who took a guardian-led strategy to the introductions have been extra more likely to consider that cats and canine can get alongside properly—they usually have been extra more likely to have a pet who confirmed solely fascinating behaviours across the cat. They have been additionally extra more likely to have a pet and cat who would sleep collectively and groom one another.
The analysis was a part of a wider examine known as Era Pup, which is following hundreds of puppies from all breeds and mixes by way of their lifespan to study extra about methods to give canine blissful and wholesome lives. The scientists are nonetheless recruiting extra pups to hitch, so if you’re within the UK or Republic of Eire and have a pet beneath 12 weeks of age, you’ll find out extra right here.
This specific piece of analysis concerned a number of questionnaires accomplished between the pet first becoming a member of the examine and changing into 16 weeks outdated. Questionnaires have been accomplished for over 1200 puppies who lived with at the very least one cat, and 97% of them had already met the cat.
These outcomes present the significance of supervision, coaching, setting the home up proper, and taking time over the introductions between a brand new pet and a resident cat. The connection between canine and cats is usually a pleasant one if their guardians get issues proper.
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Reference
Kinsman, R. H., Owczarczak-Garstecka, S. C., Casey, R. A., Da Costa, R. E., Tasker, S., & Murray, J. Ok. (2022). Introducing a Pet to Present Family Cat (s): Blended Methodology Evaluation. Animals, 12(18), 2389. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182389
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