How To Introduce A New Cat To Your Home

A Word About Kittens And Puppies

Because theyre so much smaller, kittens are in more danger of being injured, or being killed by a young energetic dog, or by a predatory dog. A kitten will need to be kept separate from an especially energetic dog until she is fully-grown. Usually a well-socialized cat will be able to keep a puppy in its place, but some cats dont have enough confidence to do this. If you have an especially shy cat, you might need to keep her separated from your puppy until he matures enough to have more self-control.

How Long Will It Take

It may only take a day or two or it may take several weeks for cats to tolerate each other. It may take months before the cats are relaxed with each other, but you are on your way to success if you reach the stage of a calm truce between them. It is amazing how a cold wet day outside will force even the worst adversaries together in front of the fire after a large bowl of food.

Start By Keeping Them Apart

When you bring your new cat home, place them in a room thats not your resident cats primary space. Keep both animals isolated so that they cant see one another, preferably with a solid door between them. Make sure each cat has their own food, water, litter box, and scratching post.

Before introducing the cats, make sure they are both relaxed and adjusting well to the situation. At first, the cats may sniff one another under the closed door, which can help them get used to each other in a nonthreatening, nonvisual way.

You can start to create a positive association by placing their food bowls far enough away from the closed door that each is comfortable and relaxed on their own side. If this is several feet from the door, gradually move the bowls closer to the door until they are very close to it.

This might take several days or more, so dont rush the process.

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Introducing Another Adult Cat Or Kitten To Your Cat

23rd July 2020

It is always going to be potentially difficult to introduce a new cat to your resident cat. It is important to recognise that even when the introduction process is conducted as carefully as possible, this is not a guarantee that the cats will happily accept one another. Some cats simply do not want to live with other cats and it is important that you are able to recognise and act on this in order to ensure the cats in your care have the best welfare possible, both in terms of thinking about their physical health and their mental wellbeing.

Reading Thinking of getting a cat? will help you decide whether your home and lifestyle are able to support another cat effectively.

Your cats may live with you for many years. Getting the introduction right and taking extra time if necessary to carry it out could make a huge difference to their perceptions of each other. Not only do owners feel much better if their cats get on rather than disliking each other, but also the cats stress is reduced considerably.

Spay Or Neuter Please

Speaking of adoption and shelters, please make sure your new cat or kitten is spayed or neutered to avoid contributing to the cat overpopulation problem with an unexpected litter.

Spaying or neutering also has important health and behavioral benefits, such as preventing certain types of cancer and eliminating behaviors associated with mating, like yowling or trying to escape from the safety of your house when in heat.

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Allow The Cats To Interact For Longer Periods Of Time

Now comes the really hard part. You have to begin letting the new kitty into your home with the resident cat. You can start after a few days of keeping them separate, but only let them out for just a few minutes. You will know if it is too soon and then just put the new guy back. Make sure you stay close and remove the newbie if there is trouble. Let the kitty out for longer and longer periods of time. If there are lots of fights, don’t give up. Just keep trying and be brave about it because it will work.

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Households With Senior Citizens

Cats make great companions for seniors. To avoid accidental scratching or nipping, its important they learn how to properly hold and pet a cat. They should also learn basic cat body language so they will know to leave the cat alone when his ears are back, his tail is twitching or he is growling or hissing.

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Creating A Happy Home

Remember, an anxious cat is much more likely to behave aggressively than a cat who is comfortable and relaxed. If you use patience in the initial stages of the introduction process, you will probably increase your chances of a harmonious household.

The above recommendations are guidelines to increase the likelihood that your new cat will get along with the existing cat in your household. If you have tried these techniques and your cats are still not getting along, please seek the help of your veterinarian or a behaviorist.

How To Introduce A New Cat To Your Current Pets

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Introducing a new cat or kitten to your resident cat or dog can be quite nerve racking. You want them all to get on together and welcome the new feline into the house, but this seldom happens quite so easily – even though your reason for getting another cat may be to keep your resident cat company. It may not rush out and welcome the newcomer with open paws! Careful introductions can help to smooth the way towards harmonious merging of animals – controlling the situation rather than leaving the animals to sort it out for themselves will give a much better chance of a smooth meeting and the best possible start together.

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Two: Introducing Kitty To The Rest Of Your Home/family

Homes With Small ChildrenIf you have small children, it is especially important that they leave the kitty alone during this time. Because small children make sudden loud noises and movements. they are particularly terrifying to cats. Introduce children gradually. Ideally, these visits should occur when the child is in a quiet, attentive mood. Tell the child. Were going to visit kitty now. We have to be very quiet and gentle, and move slowly, so that kitty will learn to trust us. Do not leave small children alone with a kitten under 6 months of age.

Homes With Resident CatFollow the same basic guidelines as Step one with a couple of exceptions. The newcomer must be given a safe place to retreat, and the resident cats must be given adequate time to get acquainted and work things out among themselves.

The new cat should stay in its own room for at least a few days. This room will then smell like the newcomer, and the resident cats will be more likely to treat the room as the newcomers territory. The new kitty will, thus, have a refuge when you finally open the door. This also allows both the newcomer and resident cat to become familiar with one anothers scents before their first face to face interaction.

A dog that is continually showing overt aggression, such as lunging, snarling, growling, baring teeth, etc. will probably never accept a cat. The cat is better off being returned to the shelter.

It Is A Good Idea To Install Feliway Diffusers In Your Home One Or Two Days Before You Bring Your New Cat Home Ideally One In The Area Set Aside For Your New Cat And One In The Main Area Of The House

How to introduce a new cat into a home with cats. The following short video by Johnson-Bennett describes this process. Keep the door closed so Noodles cant enter. To introduce a cat to a new home start by keeping it sectioned off in a small room for 1-2 days so its not overwhelmed.

Then after a day or 2 let your cat out to explore its new home. The best way to do this is by taking your original pet and putting them in a closed bathroom or bedroom for a moment while you move the newcomer to the main part of the house. Dont force them to come out.

Before bringing your new cat home we recommend that you. This exercise tells them that you are accepting the new cat into the clan and helps them get used to the smell. As time goes on each cat will.

Many cats are returned to Cats Protection because they havent got on with the adopters other cat. But cats arent like people or dogs for that matter and many prefer to spend their golden years alone. Once the door is shut place the new cat in a corner of the room or in an area they can hide.

When you bring the new cat home make sure you make a beeline for their room. The door to this room should be kept closed and the room should contain a litter box dry food water as well as comforting objects like a scratching post comfortable bed and cat. Your new cat should be kept in a single room during the initial stages of this introduction process.

How To Introduce A New Cat Into Your Household Cat S Pride Introducing A New Cat Cat S Cats

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Later That Day Swap Cats Scent

Cats communicate visually but also by scent. So you must start by introducing the cats to each other by swapping scent.

• Place your new cats towel on or near your resident cats favourite place and encourage him to approach
• If your cat starts to hiss, spit or avoid the towel place it on the floor away from his bed or food bowl. Each day move the towel closer to the cats food bowl.
• Do the same thing with your resident cats bedding giving it to the new cat for her to smell.
• Swap food bowls between the cats. They will start to associate the positive act of eating with the scent of the other cat. If one of the cats is sick or on a special diet, ask your vet before trying this.
• Once they are completely tolerant of each others scent proceed to visual contact.

How long will it take for cats to like each others scent?

This can vary from a few hours to a few months.

Important tip when introducing cats

Set aside special play and petting time each day. You want to have one on one time with each cat when your introduction is taking longer.

Phase 1 Cat Smells Cat

• Successful introductions take time. DO NOT and we repeat DO NOT try to introduce the new addition to your resident cat immediately upon arrival. You may damage the new relationship irreparably and initiate fear, anger, aggression, spraying and litter box problems in the new cat and/or resident cat. Successful introductions take time.
• Let the cats sniff out the situation. Let smell be the first introduction as the cats sniff each other from under the safe room door. Within two to four days, begin exchanging the bedding between the new and resident cat daily. This helps familiarize the cats with each others scents.

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How To Introduce A Second Cat To Your Home Safely & Happily

Sydney ChamberlainJun 09, 2020â7 min read

If your cat has grown up as an “only child,” they may not be too quick to welcome a new feline friend. And, you understand, change can be difficult â especially when that change means splitting snacks, attention, and time on the sunniest windowsills in the the house. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to remain a one-cat household forever. And that also doesn’t mean your cat has to hate it! If you’re thinking about adopting a furry sibling, these tips and tricks to introducing a second cat into your home can help you do it right.

How Do I Start The Cat

When bringing new animals into your family, the introduction process is paramount. Its also very important to your cat and dogs safety that the introductions go as smoothly as possible

1. Introduce your dog to your cat or kitten slowly. Remember to take things gradually, and proceed step by step without making these introductions a source of stress.

2. Try to make sure that your cat or dog is on board with the idea. This means they should be in a calm state. In other words, dont subject them to this process when theyre anxious or overly excited.

3. Put the pets in rooms separated by a door or a baby gate. This allows them to hear, smell, and see whats happening. But dont allow them to get involved until youre ready.

4. Its best if you limit this first meeting to only one or two interactions. Your dog and cat arent likely to become best friends right away. But, you can let them sniff each other before the meeting, even through a half-closed door, so theyll have an idea of what to expect.

5. At first, allow the dog or puppy to smell the cats scent on your clothing. And maybe give him a treat. You want your dog to associate good things with the cat, such as treats and nice smells. In other words, not things like being swatted by his new enemy. If your dog has a history of guarding territory or snapping at other animals that were too playful or affectionate, you should seek help from a dog trainer before you introduce the cat.

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Moving Day With Your Cat

Before you can get your cat adjusted to a new home, you have to get through moving day. At Goal Line Moving, weve done countless moves for families with cats and we know how important it is to keep them in mind on moving day!

Upon our arrival, typically first thing in the morning, well encourage you to put your cat somewhere to stay for most of the day. Most customers opt to put their cats and belongings in a bathroom or large closet with the door shut for moving day. We recommend taping a note to the door that lets everyone know NOT to open the door.

Once were close to being done, well let you know and give you the green light for letting your cat out. For most customers, they also opt to transport their cat to the new home at this time.

With choosing Goal Line Moving as your moving company, you can trust that well make moving day as easy as possible for every member of the family, including your cat!

Can Dogs And Cats Live Together

The number of households where both dogs and cats are living together is increasing. Research has found that the number of households that own at least one of each of these animals varies. Its about 7% in the UK, and 43% in Italy, for example.

So i f youre thinking about introducing a cat to your dog, or introducing a new dog to your cat, you could have a lot of fun with it. In fact, creating a special bond between a cat and a dog can be done with some understanding of their habits, as well as the right environment.

On an optimistic note, recent research has fun that more often than not, dogs and cats living in the same home get along pretty well.

But of course, a cat and a dog are very different from one another, with very different kinds of animal psychology. That means they require different approaches on this front.

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Provide Enough Supplies For Both Cats

Make sure you have at least one litter box, bed, scratching furniture , toys, food, and water bowls for each cat. That way, they have their own with which to identify. Keep the new stuff in with the newbie for the first few days and be sure the other cats have not been in contact with them. This will help the newbie to be more comfortable in less time because a new place is very scary for a cat of any age.

They have very sharp teeth and claws.

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For Your Information

Rescue cats are often easier to introduce into a new home, and they are happier because they have a home, food, and love.

Introducing The New Kitten To Your Cat

Most adult cats are fairly tolerant of kittens. Keeping the kitten in its own area and then allowing introductions when the cats are eating or playing should help to decrease any initial anxiety. A crate, or a leash and harness, can be used to control one or both of the cats during initial introductions. A synthetic cheek gland scent, either as a spray or diffuser, may also be useful for easing introductions. Most cats and kittens will soon work out a relationship on their own without injury. However, if there is a threat of aggression, a gradual introduction program will need to be followed.

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Choosing A Vet For Your Cat

Youll need to find a vet preferably before you bring your cat home. This way youll know who to contact if your furry friend gets sick or hurt unexpectedly. Remember: even indoor-only cats can get injured. Plus, your cat will need regular check-ups, annual dental cleanings, vaccines, and other routine preventive care.

These treatments can help cats live longer, healthier, and happier lives, but unfortunately too many cats go without wellness care. If youre worried about the costs, you should think about signing up for pet insurance with coverage for preventive treatments . Pet insurance can also cover spaying or neutering as well as any accidents or illnesses that might come up for your cat.

Need help finding a vet? Use our Vet Finder to search for one in your area.