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If you happen to’re a cat mum or dad who’s contemplating bringing a brand new kitten into the house, or when you’ve already adopted one, you’re doubtless questioning how greatest to introduce your resident cat to their new member of the family. Introducing a new kitten to a resident cat could be difficult, and, relying on the cats’ ages and personalities, it could take days or months to take action efficiently. Nevertheless, it’s essential to introduce cats slowly and punctiliously to forestall aggression or preventing.
Beneath are some pointers and useful tricks to get your new feline relations off to a superb begin and hopefully on their strategy to changing into greatest buddies for the remainder of their lives.
Tips on how to Select a New Kitten to Deliver House
In case you have but to undertake a brand new kitten, take into account that most cat consultants suggest introducing a new cat who matches the resident cat’s vitality degree, dimension, and persona. Bringing house a kitten when you have a senior or low-key grownup cat could be like asking a grandparent to babysit a toddler 24/7: The kitten can be unhappy not having a playmate, and the older cat can be pressured by the kitten asking to play always.
The truth is, kittens are a lot happier in pairs, so when you’re set on adopting a kitten, contemplate adopting two. It could appear overwhelming, but it surely might really be the perfect resolution for everybody, because the kittens will play with one another and go away your grownup cat to do their very own factor. Adopting two kittens may even assist them keep away from Single Kitten Syndrome.
Some cat consultants additionally consider that gender performs a small position in how two cats will get alongside and counsel two males or a male/feminine match work greatest. Neutering and spaying all cats, ideally two to 4 weeks earlier than the introduction, can be important so they’re totally recovered.
Regardless of which new kitten or cat you convey house, although, it’s essential to observe the steps under to efficiently introduce them to your resident cat.
Tips on how to Introduce a New Cat to Your Cat
Step One: Isolation
Confine the brand new cat to 1 room with a litter field, meals, water, and a mattress. Feed your present cat(s) and the newcomer on both aspect of the door to this room. Don’t put the meals so near the door that the cats are too upset by one another to eat. This may assist to start out issues out on the proper foot by associating one thing gratifying (consuming) with every others’ presence. Regularly transfer the dishes nearer to the door till the cats can eat calmly immediately on both aspect.
You can even think about using the crate methodology, which primarily replaces a separate room with a really giant crate, which is particularly useful when you stay in an area that doesn’t have an ample separate room.
In case you have adopted the brand new cat from an atmosphere the place they might have been uncovered to diseases, corresponding to a shelter or the road, observe your vet’s suggestions at some point of this isolation. Usually your vet will take a look at for FeLV and FIV after which suggest isolation for seven to 10 days. Which will seem to be a very long time, but it surely is not going to solely preserve your resident cat wholesome but additionally give your new cat an opportunity to get adjusted to their atmosphere’s sounds and smells, bettering the probabilities that the primary face-to-face introduction along with your resident cat(s) will go properly.
Step Two: Scent / Signal Intro
After your new cat’s isolation interval is over, and also you’re certain your new cat is wholesome, you’ll be able to take the next steps. Advance to the subsequent step solely in any case cats are okay with one another throughout every step.
- Swap sleeping blankets between the brand new cat and resident cat(s) to allow them to grow to be accustomed to one another’s scent. Additionally, put the scented blankets beneath the meals dishes.
- Use two doorstops to prop open the door simply sufficient to permit the cats to see one another however not get out and repeat the feeding course of.
- Put the brand new cat in a safe cat service, and open the door so the resident cat can are available and sniff across the new cat’s room whereas the cat is within the service.
- Confine resident cats in one other room and let the brand new cat discover the remainder of the home. This change additionally permits the cats to expertise one another’s scent and not using a face-to-face assembly. It additionally permits the newcomer to grow to be conversant in their new environment with out being frightened by different animals.
Step Three: First Assembly
Open the isolation room door, let your resident cat enter, and calmly observe. Taking part in calming music or speaking in a peaceful, pleasant voice to the cats could provide help to really feel much less pressured, which can assist the cats, too. In case your cats like treats, give them a lot of treats together with verbal reward. Some cats do greatest if distracted with their favourite toys, so they aren’t focusing too intently on one another.
When the cats are collectively, preserve an eye fixed out for the next warning indicators:
- Hissing, puffy tails, and growling: Slightly little bit of this habits is regular however ought to be minimal when you have taken the time to observe the steps above. Don’t give your cats the chance to accentuate; you are attempting to keep away from the cats associating one another’s presence with fearful or aggressive habits. A foul first impression could be tough to alter.
- Fearful or aggressive reactions: If both cat escalates their habits to fixed hissing or growling, or if there’s any stalking (like they’re searching prey), cornering, swatting, or large posturing shows of arched backs and fur puffed out, separate the cats again into their very own areas instantly. If it was only a hissing match, wait a couple of hours and check out one other face-to-face assembly for a couple of minutes. If the aggression appeared critical, you will have to take a step or two again within the introduction course of.
If the assembly goes properly, let the cats spend as much as 10 minutes collectively (though much less time is ok, too). Then separate them again into their very own areas. Letting them keep whether it is going properly could be tempting, however it’s significantly better to not push it and have the primary assembly finish badly.
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How can I stop aggressive habits throughout introductions?
The above technique of slowly introducing your resident cat to a brand new cat will do lots to assist cut back aggression. If you attain the step of a face-to-face introduction, you might need to have a water squirt bottle in a single hand and a blanket within the different in case you have to intervene in a sudden assault. Supervise their interactions intently always, and be affected person. It could take a while for the 2 cats to grow to be buddies, however most cats can be taught to stay collectively peacefully with time and endurance.
Step 4: Slowly Improve Time Collectively
In case your cats efficiently spend as much as 10 minutes collectively, you’ll be able to improve their time collectively. For instance, your classes would possibly improve to 2 classes of 10 minutes every on day two.
Proceed to look at your cats vigilantly, nonetheless, as a result of generally a gathering will appear to be going properly, after which there’s a spat. If a small spat happens between the cats, do not try to bodily intervene; cats could make a lot of noise and roll round fairly dramatically with out both cat being injured. As an alternative, use a twig bottle to squirt water on the cats to separate them. If that doesn’t do it, strive tossing a blanket over one in all them and rapidly corralling the opposite cat out of the room. Give them each an opportunity to settle down for a day or extra earlier than re-introducing them to one another.
When can I contemplate the introduction course of profitable?
You’ll be able to contemplate the introduction course of profitable if you observe indicators displaying that the cats are getting alongside, corresponding to greeting one another by sniffing or touching noses, headbutting or rubbing in opposition to one another, grooming one another, and, in fact, snuggling and sleeping collectively.
Extra New Cat Suggestions
When you’ve made it by means of the introduction course of, there are nonetheless some issues you are able to do to make sure your cats proceed to get alongside, together with:
- Preserve the second litter field within the isolation room even after the cats are out collectively. Guarantee that not one of the cats are being “ambushed” by one other whereas attempting to make use of the litter field.
- If you wish to transfer the second litter field, accomplish that regularly, a couple of ft at a time, to the brand new location.
- Clear all litter containers extra often.
- Improve the quantity of playtime and train each cats are getting to assist expend their vitality and preserve them calm.
- Preserve the resident cat’s schedule as shut as doable to what it was earlier than the newcomer’s look.
- Attempt utilizing calming merchandise to assist de-stress cats who exhibit indicators of stress.
FAQ (Folks Additionally Ask)
How lengthy ought to I wait to introduce my cat to a brand new kitten?
Introducing a brand new kitten to a resident cat could be difficult, and, relying on the cats’ ages and personalities, it could take days or months to take action efficiently. Observe the above steps for a sluggish introduction.
What if the cats nonetheless aren’t getting alongside after prolonged efforts?
In case your cats nonetheless aren’t getting alongside after prolonged efforts, you must contemplate consulting a veterinarian to find out if underlying medical points are at play, and/or a licensed cat behaviorist. If the problem really can’t be resolved, you would possibly contemplate rehoming your cat by way of Rehome by Undertake a Pet.
What are the warning indicators when introducing cats?
Warning indicators when introducing cats embrace hissing, puffy tails, and growling. Slightly of this habits is okay, but when it escalates to fixed hissing or growling, or if there’s any stalking (like they’re searching prey), cornering, swatting, or large posturing shows of arched backs and fur puffed out, the cats ought to be separated.
References
How Ought to I Introduce a New Cat or Kitten to My Current Cat
