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In the event you’re a cat father or mother who’s contemplating bringing a brand new kitten into the house, or when you’ve already adopted one, you’re possible questioning how finest to introduce your resident cat to their new member of the family. Introducing a new kitten to a resident cat might 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 thoroughly to stop aggression or combating.
Under are some tips and useful tricks to get your new feline members of the family off to an excellent begin and hopefully on their option to changing into finest buddies for the remainder of their lives.
How you can Select a New Kitten to Deliver House
When you’ve got but to undertake a brand new kitten, remember the fact that most cat specialists advocate introducing a new cat who matches the resident cat’s vitality stage, measurement, and persona. Bringing house a kitten when you have a senior or low-key grownup cat might be like asking a grandparent to babysit a toddler 24/7: The kitten will probably be unhappy not having a playmate, and the older cat will probably be pressured by the kitten asking to play always.
In reality, kittens are a lot happier in pairs, so when you’re set on adopting a kitten, think about adopting two. It might appear overwhelming, however it may truly 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 also assist them keep away from Single Kitten Syndrome.
Some cat specialists additionally imagine that gender performs a small function in how two cats will get alongside and counsel two males or a male/feminine match work finest. Neutering and spaying all cats, ideally two to 4 weeks earlier than the introduction, can also be important so they’re totally recovered.
Regardless of which new kitten or cat you carry house, although, it’s essential to comply with the steps under to efficiently introduce them to your resident cat.
How you can Introduce a New Cat to Your Cat
Step One: Isolation
Confine the brand new cat to at least one 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 best foot by associating one thing pleasurable (consuming) with every others’ presence. Steadily transfer the dishes nearer to the door till the cats can eat calmly immediately on both aspect.
You may as well think about using the crate technique, which primarily replaces a separate room with a really giant crate, which is very useful when you stay in an area that doesn’t have an sufficient separate room.
When you’ve got adopted the brand new cat from an setting the place they might have been uncovered to sicknesses, reminiscent of a shelter or the road, comply with your vet’s suggestions during this isolation. Usually your vet will check for FeLV and FIV after which advocate isolation for seven to 10 days. Which will look like a very long time, however it won’t solely maintain your resident cat wholesome but in addition give your new cat an opportunity to get adjusted to their setting’s sounds and smells, enhancing the probabilities that the primary face-to-face introduction together with your resident cat(s) will go nicely.
Step Two: Scent / Signal Intro
After your new cat’s isolation interval is over, and also you’re positive your new cat is wholesome, you may take the next steps. Advance to the subsequent step solely in spite of everything 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 develop into 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 provider, and open the door so the resident cat can are available in and sniff across the new cat’s room whereas the cat is within the provider.
- 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 with no face-to-face assembly. It additionally permits the newcomer to develop into accustomed to 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 relaxed, pleasant voice to the cats might provide help to really feel much less pressured, which is able to assist the cats, too. In case your cats like treats, give them a number of treats together with verbal reward. Some cats do finest if distracted with their favourite toys, so they don’t seem to be focusing too intently on one another.
When the cats are collectively, maintain a watch out for the next warning indicators:
- Hissing, puffy tails, and growling: A bit of little bit of this conduct is regular however ought to be minimal when you have taken the time to comply with 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 conduct. A nasty first impression might be tough to alter.
- Fearful or aggressive reactions: If both cat escalates their conduct to fixed hissing or growling, or if there may be any stalking (like they’re looking 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 just a few 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 nicely, let the cats spend as much as 10 minutes collectively (though much less time is okay, too). Then separate them again into their very own areas. Letting them keep whether it is going nicely might be tempting, however it’s a lot better to not push it and have the primary assembly finish badly.
Laura Stolfi / Stocksy
How can I stop aggressive conduct throughout introductions?
The above strategy of slowly introducing your resident cat to a brand new cat will do loads to assist cut back aggression. While 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 could intervene in a sudden assault. Supervise their interactions intently always, and be affected person. It might take a while for the 2 cats to develop into pals, however most cats can be taught to stay collectively peacefully with time and persistence.
Step 4: Slowly Improve Time Collectively
In case your cats efficiently spend as much as 10 minutes collectively, you may enhance their time collectively. For instance, your classes may enhance to 2 classes of 10 minutes every on day two.
Proceed to watch your cats vigilantly, nonetheless, as a result of generally a gathering will appear to be going nicely, after which there’s a spat. If a small spat happens between the cats, do not try to bodily intervene; cats could make a number of noise and roll round fairly dramatically with out both cat being injured. As a substitute, 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 every of them and rapidly corralling the opposite cat out of the room. Give them each an opportunity to relax for a day or extra earlier than re-introducing them to one another.
When can I think about the introduction course of profitable?
You possibly can think about the introduction course of profitable if you observe indicators displaying that the cats are getting alongside, reminiscent of 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 Ideas
When you’ve made it by 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:
- Hold 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, achieve this progressively, just a few toes at a time, to the brand new location.
- Clear all litter containers extra regularly.
- Improve the quantity of playtime and train each cats are getting to assist expend their vitality and maintain them calm.
- Hold the resident cat’s schedule as shut as potential 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 might 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, it is best to think about consulting a veterinarian to find out if underlying medical points are at play, and/or a licensed cat behaviorist. If the problem actually can’t be resolved, you may think about rehoming your cat by way of Rehome by Undertake a Pet.
What are the warning indicators when introducing cats?
Warning indicators when introducing cats embody hissing, puffy tails, and growling. A bit of of this conduct is okay, but when it escalates to fixed hissing or growling, or if there may be any stalking (like they’re looking 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
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