Happy Healthy Cats | How To Introduce Cats To Each Other

How To Introduce Cats To Each Other

Filed Under Cat Health, Cat Safety, Feliway |

Come the time to bring a new cat into your household, everyone is going to have to learn to make some adjustments for cat health and cat safety. It will probably be quite easy for the humans, but the existing cat and the new cat are the most critical components of this puzzle. While cats are usually solitary in nature, they are generally able to adapt to new additions if done in the proper manner. The main concern will be that of their territorial nature, so you will need to move slowly and carefully when introducing cats to each other, for Happy Healthy Cats.

When the introductions are between kittens, the whole process will not take very long, not more than a week or two. Kittens are much more adaptable and not set in their ways like an older cat might be. The temperament and personality can be a critical factor. It is crucial to give a lot of attention and love to your existing cat, so they will not feel supplanted by the new arrival. Put the new cat up in a safe room to start the introduction process. A spare bedroom or bathroom with food, litter box, scratching post, bed or other comfy area to sleep on, some toys to play with, and room for a human visitor is what you need. You will keep the existing cat out of this room, so the new cat will not feel threatened.

Now of course, the new cat might feel a bit threatened, because your existing cat may hiss and yowl near the door. They are letting the existing cat know that the house has already been claimed. Don't interfere with this, because the last thing you need to do is punishing your cat when they aren't doing anything wrong. This will eventually pass by the wayside. The cats will be able to smell each other through the door, and if you are lucky, they might play "paws under the door" and get to know each other more easily. When your existing cat starts to relax be sure to praise them for their forbearance.

The second phase to the introduction comes from eating out of the same food bowl. This will extend the scent trail even more. You don't feed them at the same time yet, you're just passing the bowl back and forth. Slowly but surely they get used to each other and the "threat" is minimized by dribs and drabs.

Soon, you can let them both out in the house together for short periods of time. There will be hissing and posturing, but break up any fights. Play with both of them together while they are getting used to each other. Do this for lengthening intervals, but put the new cat back in the safe room for periods too, so they can both relax and de-stress.

It will take a bit of time, but eventually you'll be able to leave them unguarded, out and free. It may still take longer for them to be 100% and turn into pals, but there will be acceptance, which is the majority of the battle. Use of Feliway by either the Feliway spray or some Feliway diffusers can make a huge difference in introducing cats to each other and helping keep them relaxed. Everything beyond that is relatively easy and takes time more than effort. Once the territorial issues are resolved (and that includes ownership / sharing of the people, too!) your cats can get on the road to being lifelong friends and Happy Healthy Cats.

For a great cat care resource, have a look at The Complete Cat Care Guide, below.

As mentioned above, Feliway comes in sprays and Feliway diffusers as well. Check below for a good selection of Feliway items.

Tags: Cat Health, Cat Safety, Feliway, Feliway diffuser, Feliway spray, happy healthy cats, introducing cats

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