How To Introduce Your New Cat To A Feline Family Member
It’s an exciting moment when you bring your new kitten or cat home. The first few weeks, however, are critical when introducing a cat to a new territory and new family members (both human and feline).
Here are some important steps to take to ensure a happy and harmonious multi-cat household:
Introduce your new cat or kitten gradually
Keep your new cat restricted to one room in the home and swap scent between the cats. This can be done using their bedding or by stroking one cat after another without washing your hands or rubbing material on their cheeks that you then place with the other cat. This will allow them time to get used to each other’s scent before actually meeting.
Once this has been done, you can introduce them physically, ensuring that this is supervised and that each cat has somewhere to escape to.
Look out for stress signals
Two cats are ready to be introduced as long as neither is showing any signs of stress or exhibiting any aggressive behaviour like hissing, growling or swatting. Signs of stress include poor appetite, inappropriate urination or defecation or excessive hiding.
As long as neither cat is exhibiting any of these behaviors they can be introduced through a slightly cracked door. If that goes well, they may be ready to meet without a barrier between them.
If one cat becomes aggressive do not try to calm or soothe them. Give them some space and keep them separated from the other cat. Wait until they seem calm and then begin repeating the initial introduction phase.
Ensure there are plenty of resources
It’s recommend that your new cat has most resources in one room to start off with. This will give them time to adjust gradually to their new environment and will help to build their confidence before they start to investigate elsewhere.
When cats start sharing the home, it’s crucial for harmony that resources are plentiful and available to each of your cats. These include litter boxes, food & water bowls, bedding, scratching posts and toys.
Food and water bowls should be separate and litter boxes away from where they eat. As cats like privacy, litter boxes should be away from each other too.
Make sure there are enough comfortable sleeping and hiding places so your cats can rest without being disturbed.
Be patient and keep watch
Just like humans, every cat on cat relationship is different. Cats may need more or less time before they can be left alone together — much depends on the individual cats and the environment. One thing you absolutely should not do is force the issue because then you might have a Larry-Palmerston situation on your hands!
Keep a close eye when your cats are first introduced and look out for any symptoms of aggression. If you see such symptoms be ready to react quickly. If two cats display aggression during their first meeting, this may set the mood for their future relationship.
Use Feliway
Feliway Friends, with its cat appeasing pheromone, can also help reduce tension and conflict in multiple cat households. Plug a Feliway Friends diffuser in the area your cats spend most of their time and leave it on continuously, refilling every month for constant support. You may need several diffusers if your cats use different rooms.
Using Feliway during this time is advised as it will encourage feelings of safety and security and help reduce the chance of viewing one another as a potential threat.
Use Feliway Friends for as long as needed. For example, until you see them rubbing faces or hopefully sleeping close to each other.
