Tuesday, March 19, 2024

How To Introduce New Cat To Cat

Don't Miss

Special Times To Transition Your Cats Food

How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Cat | Cat Care

Knowing when to switch from between different lifestage cat foods is crucial:

  • Kittens should switch to an adult cat food at 12 months of age to ensure they are receiving proper nutrient levels for adult cats.
  • For cats who are 7 years or older, they too should change to a mature adult or senior cat food that ensures that they are receiving the appropriate level of nutrients for that older lifestage.
  • Pregnant or nursing cats need energy-dense foods with increased calcium content. Be sure to transition them during this special time to a kitten food.

Give Your Kitten Her Own Litter Box

Always provide your new kitten his own litter box and food and water bowls away from where your current cat dines and does her business. Todd says that kittens and cats should have their own everything. If each animal has their own dining and bathroom facilities, there’s less chance of disputes.

RELATED: How to Litter Train Your Kitten

Signs That Your Cat And New Babe Are Accepting Along

Look out for moments back they:

  • hold their cape cocked back they see anniversary other
  • greet anniversary added by affecting noses
  • rub themselves forth anniversary others anatomy back they airing beside anniversary other
  • sleep in concrete acquaintance with one another
  • play with anniversary added after ascent into a confrontation
  • intertwine their tails.

Read Also: What Was Hp Lovecrafts Cats Name

Choosing The Right Cat

A kitten might be less of a threat to a resident cat than an adult, because it is still sexually immature – however introducing a playful youngster can be stressful for an older cat who prefers the quiet life, so an adult might be a better choice. Consider your own cats personality and age when deciding on what sort of cat to introduce. Cats who have lived alone for many years or those who have lived with cats unsuccessfully in the past will find it harder to adapt to living with another, so think carefully about whether introducing a cat into your home is the right thing for your existing pet. If you already have two or more cats that get on well, another addition may destabilise the group. You will have to make sure that there is enough space and resources available to allow all the cats to share peacefully, and a very slow and careful introduction will be needed.

Introduce Kittens Slowly As Well

How to Introduce Your Cat to a New Cat

At times, the new member of your family can be a kitten you have adopted, or one of your other cats has given birth to. This is why one of the recurrent questions we get is introducing a kitten to a cat? The way to introduce cats to kittens is a bit different since kittens are smaller and more curious than adult cats or dogs.

You will need to ensure that your kitten does not get too close or bother your older cat too much since cats do not respond well to much attention. Since new kittens are also getting used to their surroundings, they may observe your older cat a bit too much. That is fine, as long as you ensure that the older cat is not getting too angry or agitated. If you think things are not going well, keep your younger kitten in a secure place when you are not there to directly supervise their meetings.

Read Also: Kitten Age Calculator

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.

Bringing Your New Cat Home

  • Cats feel safe when surrounded by their own scent. Place towel or bedding she has been sleeping on in the carrier box so that she has familiar scent during the trip.
  • Once home, take your cat to her room right away. Do not come into contact with the resident cat.
  • Keep her inside the carrier box until you are in her room with the door shut.
  • Place her box or other hiding area in a corner of the room and place the carrier box beside it. Open the door.
  • Do not force her to come out. She may be scared and stressed by the new environment.
  • Leave her alone in the room. Allow her to settle down and come out on her own.

Recommended Reading: Why Does My Cat Move The Water Bowl

How To Introduce A Shy Cat Companion The Exception To The Rule

If youve adopted a shy cat or kitten to provide companionship for your resident cat, a quicker integration may be best. Shy cats are often used to and welcome other feline companionship. They will be very lonely on their own, so we recommend that the integration take place very quickly unless there are significant problems.

How To Introduce A Kitten To A Cat

How to introduce cats to dogs

Bringing home a new kitten is an exciting time for any cat owner, but if you already have a cat at home, youll need to think carefully about how to introduce them to their new furry friend.

Follow our 10 must-know tips to make sure that those initial meetings go without a hitch. Before you know it, your cat and kitten will be more than happy to spend time in each others company. They may even become the best of friends!

You May Like: Are Rose Leaves Toxic To Cats

Play With Your Cats At The Closed Door

A fun idea on how to introduce cats fast is with play. Get your cats active near the closed door so they are aware of each other.

This is helpful because they will get to know each other without being in direct contact.

  • Cats love to play

Check out my lazy cat toy guide and my video on how I get my cat to play with me every day.

All cats are natural-born hunters that love to play.

You should buy new toys for your new cat. This will allow her to mark them as her territory.

You may also use some of your current cat toys. This will help your new cat adjust to your current cats smells. Your scent will be on the toys too which is an added bonus.

Again, do this for a few days while you work down this guide.

Playing simulates the hunting experience for indoor cats. This provides mental stimulation. Positive stimulation will help your cats adjust fast.

How Do You Acquaint A Babe To A Cat

Patience is key back acquirements how to acquaint a cat to a kitten.

In the action of bringing your new babe home, you ability be tempted to let your cat accommodated him beeline away.

However, bodies dont affliction for surprises. So this acquaintance is absurd to be positive.

Thereafter, all affairs amid the two will be sullied.

The best adventitious of creating a blessed artful home is to acquiesce the two to accommodated gradually.

Also Check: My Cat’s Heart Is Beating Really Fast

Ways To Introduce Cats To New Family Members

Cats are creatures of habit, and they are very particular about the people they socialize with and find it extremely hard to adjust their routine. This is why you need to be very careful when introducing cats to new family members. Whether it be a whole new family, a pet dog, a new kitten, or even a baby, there are a few things you should watch out for when you introduce cats. The way you introduce cats to each of these will play a major role in determining.

How To Introduce Cats: Successful Methods & What Not To Do

How to introduce a new cat to your family!

Hissing. Sniffing. Swatting. Hiding. This is all just part of introducing cats. Its a stressful process for everyone involved, but with the right preparedness and procedure, your cats will be hanging out on the couch together in no time. Who knows? They may even like each other!

A lot of people wonder how to introduce cats theyre particular creatures after all. So, lets take a closer look at why cats act the way they do when a new kitty is introduced and what you can do to make your current cat and new cat get used to each other in the safest and most effective way possible.

Also Check: Can I Bathe My Cat With Dawn

Give Your New Cat Some Alone Time To Explore

Your new cat needs to be able to safely investigate the rest of the home. This will help them feel more secure in their new surroundings.

Twice a day, with your resident in their room, open the door to the new cats room for an hour. This will allow the new cat to explore on their own terms and learn about their new environment.

In doing so, your new cat can deposit their scent and also encounter the resident cats scent.

This is nice extension to the scent swapping that was started with the sock.

Make sure each cat is relaxed and calm before moving on to the next step.

Introducing Your New Cat To Resident Cats

Bringing a new cat into your home is a big deal for your resident cat. Why? Because your cats are likely to initially view the new cat as a threat as opposed to a friend. Thats not an ideal way to start a relationship, but thats the reality with cats. However, there is good news! By following these guidelines, your new cat is likely to be accepted by your current cat and there will at least be peaceful coexistence and, ideally, bonding.

Don’t Miss: How Cold Can Cats Be Outside

Keep Up With Your Cat’s Playtime Schedule And Health

You may be running on a few hours of sleep for months, but your kitty still requires your love and attention. You are nurturing the cat-baby relationship by caring for them since they will feel appreciated and more likely to associate with the baby positively. “Keep up with their playtime, feeding schedule, and quality time,” Lugones says. “Maintaining as much of their regular routine as possible will help to decrease their stress and allow for an easier adjustment to the new baby.”

Be Slow When Introducing Them To Dogs

How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Home

New family members can also include dogs and puppies! Introducing a cat to a dog can be a little tricky if you are new to this. The way you introduce cats to these canine members of your household will permanently impact their relationship with each other. When you introduce cats to dogs, do keep in mind that they are completely different animals.

Firstly, keep your cats and dogs in separate rooms when you bring a new dog. This will give them both a chance to get used to the smells and sounds of the other animal. Then put them in the same room, but keep the dog on a leash or behind a baby gate so that you can control it if the need arises.

When you introduce cats to your dogs in such a controlled setting, it gives them a chance to get acclimatized to each other. After doing this a few times, you can let them both stay in the same room without any extra help. However, we recommend leaving them alone only when you are perfectly satisfied that they are comfortable in each otherâs presence.

You May Like: Blue Buffalo Cat Food Indoor

Give Your Cat Her Own Space And Territory

Trim your cat’s claws to keep the initial interactions as safe and potentially painless for your new dog as possible. Cat trees may help your cat feel safe, as they allow your cat to get away from your new dog. Keep cat condos and scratchers around so your kitty has her own space and territory.

Don’t let the dog have access to the litter box or the cat’s food and water bowls. That will stress out your cat and potentially bring about territorial behavior.

Problems And Proofing Behavior

Do your best to follow these steps to help your new pet integrate successfully into your household. Remember to give both cats plenty of praise and attention, and don’t forget to continue with any routines you’ve established with your existing pet.

It can take several tries before your cats really begin to accept one another. If things start going badly, separate them again, and then start where you left off. If one cat seems to consistently be the aggressor, give it some “time out,” then try again a little bit later.

Once you’re sure your cats are interacting well under your direct supervision, you will need to “proof” their behavior. To do this:

  • Bring your cats together without offering them special incentives to behave well.
  • Step outside the room, but keep an eye on your cats’ behavior. Are they continuing to behave well even when you’re not watching?
  • Continue to monitor your cats’ interactions over time. All cats will occasionally growl at or chase their feline housemates, but real fighting, biting, or other types of aggression may be signs of trouble.

You May Like: How To Tell Kitten Sex

Use A Calming Diffuser

Plug in a Comfort Zone Calming Diffuser a few days before introducing your cat and new dog. Your cat may display scratching or urine spraying as a result of your dog invading her turf. Comfort Zone products can help by mimicking the soothing feline facial pheromone, giving your cat a calm, relaxed feeling in any environment.

How To Introduce A New Cat To Your Cat

How to Introduce a Cat to a Dog (and to Another Cat ...

If you already have a cat and have decided to increase the family by introducing a new cat into your home, you should know the best way for both pets get along and to get to know each other. Take note that cats, unlike dogs, are animals that do not go around in packs, they are very independent so the introduction of the new family member must be done with great care and attention if you want your cats get along. Therefore, at OneHowTo.com, we give you some tips as to how to introduce a new cat to your cat, you should know that depending on the age and character of your cat the process will vary in length. So do not despair if your cats seem wilder than usual.

Before you bring your new cat home, you should make an appointment with the veterinarian to make sure that the new family member is in perfect condition. Otherwise, it could be contagious for the cat you already have, as well as other family members. With a simple visit to the vet you avoid infectious diseases.

Forget leaving the new cat at home alone, as this will only bring problems, especially if one is an adult. This is not a correct or adequate way for two cats to get to know each other, since the former will be surprised and might think they are invading their territory.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Cat, we recommend you visit our Pets category.

Don’t Miss: At What Age Can Cats Have Catnip

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.

How To Introduce A New Cat In Your Home

Adding another furbaby to your home increases the love, purrs, and cuddles but not always right away. Cats can be territorial, and whether youre bringing home another cat or kitten, there are steps you can take to introduce them to each other and help them learn to live together harmoniously.

Read Also: How Much Food Should A Cat Eat A Day

How Much Energy Do They Have

Its a good idea to adopt a cat around the same age and/or who has a similar energy level. For example, it may seem like your 10-year-old cat would benefit from the excitement a kitten brings into the home, but its more likely your older cat will be consistently bothered by the kitten who wants to play all the time.

Do Cats Naturally Get Along

How to introduce cats

Every cat has its own unique personality, including how they deal with social interactions. Some cats are happiest when they have a fellow feline companion, while some prefer to have you all to themselves.

The reason that cats have a tougher time meeting new pets in general compared to a dog is that they are extremely territorial animals. Picture a big cat out in the wild. Almost all of them are loners, ruling over a territory theyve claimed. They hunt, sleep, and even guard their territory alone.

Cats were domesticated by choice when they noticed a lot of small rodents around human settlements. This ended the cats traditional solitude but didnt quite rid them of their territorial nature. When you adopt a cat, you and your home become their territory. Thats why many cats become aggressive or threatened when a new cat is plopped into the territory they once ruled over without interruption.

Read Also: Blue Buffalo Wet Cat Food 5.5 Oz

More articles

Popular Articles

40 Lb Bag Of Cat Food

Brands Of Wet Cat Food