There is no doubt that the question about How to Introduce a Second Cat into Your Home This is most common among cat owners who think their best friend needs company. We know how difficult it is for us to adopt one kitten, because we love these beautiful animals, because we want to expand the family, or because we found a stray cat on the street who urgently needs a home, so I would like to explain how to conduct a presentation.
Unfortunately, introducing a new cat into the house where the cat already lives is not so easy! So much so that if the introduction between cats is not done correctly, the process can be very stressful for both the old cat and the newcomer. Many people choose the technique of combining them and wait to see what happens, but there are a few cases that give a positive result. Animals can be nervous, anxious and even aggressive towards each other. That’s why at Pets Feed, we have prepared this article on How to Introduce a New Cat to Another Cat. Take out your notebook and write it down!
How to bring the cat to the new house?
There are several steps you need to take to introduce a new cat into the family and make the animals tolerant and friendly. First of all, it is necessary to be very patient! Never force cats to be together, because if you do, they are more likely to attack each other.
Remember that cats hate changes in their daily routine and are very territorial animals. How do you think your cat will accept a new cat if you don’t follow the right steps? Although it is a slow process, you will find that in the end it will be worth it, and you will receive your reward when you see kittens sleeping together, playing and spending hours next to each other. Regardless of the age of the new cat, be it a puppy or an adult, the process is the same. We will explain step by step what you have to do. See how the cat is adjusting to the new home to see how they will feel these days …
Before introducing a second cat into your home
Even before a new kitten arrives, the adaptation process can begin. Buying synthetic pheromones in a diffuser so you can fit them into the new member’s room is more than recommended. However, the old cat will not be able to access this space yet. In this sense, in addition to turning on the pheromone diffuser, you can start preparing whatever you need to make sure the new member has their own room, litter box, water, food, toys, scrapers, etc. This space will be similar to a monastery for a new kitten, a place to hide and feel safe. A sense of security is essential to the adaptation process.
Day One: How to Introduce Two Cats
Place the new family member in the designated area. Right now, you should not let the old cat into the room, since now, everyone should have their own place. Through smell, both animals will know that they do not live alone and will feel uncomfortable, so at first it is important that they identify only by smell …
If you notice cats standing around your bedroom door whistling or growling, don’t scold or punish them. Try to distract the animals, get them out of the area, play with them, and calm them down. The most important thing is that they feel relaxed to start communicating with each other with positive stimuli, and yelling from you will be very negative …
How to get cats to get used to each other
After placing cats correctly, each in their space, it is time to show them that this change is bringing positive results. To do this, it is important to remember the importance of positive reinforcement, which is essential in training any feline …
A good way to start them on a good note, even if they are separated and two to three days after the arrival of the new cat, put a plate of food for each by the door that separates them. This way they will come to dinner and begin to get used to the presence of others. There should be enough distance from the door for the cats to feel comfortable, but if one of them begins to whistle or rummage in its fur, move the food container back until it is in a comfortable position.
Move the bowls closer each day until the time comes when they are glued to the door. Remember that you still cannot open the door, as we mentioned, this is a slow process and must be done correctly in order to get good results. A little carelessness can be enough to get you back to the beginning.
Get used to the smell of another
Smell is the way cats know each other. The pheromones they release are the main method of communication between cats. In order for your cats to get used to and know the smell of others before they see you in person, you must place an object from each of them in the other’s space. You can also rub the cat lightly with a towel or cloth when it is quiet and soft. To do this, pass the tissue through the cheek area where they release more pheromones. The most important thing is to do this when the cat is calm, so that the smell of the other cat is calmly transmitted when they smell like a towel with pheromones …
Now just place a towel next to the other cat and watch closely for his behavior. If they just smell and don’t do anything, reward them! This is a very good sign that they are not spreading or showing signs of aggression. Play with the cat near the towel and reward him. It is very important to associate another cat’s scent with positive things so that they know something good for them.
Room exchange
Once the cats are used to each other’s scent, it’s time to change rooms. Start by inserting the old cat into the space provided for the new member and leaving him locked out for a moment. In the meantime, free the newly arrived kittens around the house and let them walk freely. You may find that he does not want to leave your comfortable space, you should not force them to do this and try the exchange again on another day. When either of them is behaving correctly, remember to reinforce that attitude with food and lots of affection …
If at any time the new cat starts to feel stressed, put it back in a safe place and try to calm and relax.
Let the old cat explore new space
When the new cat is completely at home and the old feline is not around, lock him in the room and find the old cat so they can silently explore the new member’s space. As we pointed out with the previous one, if the old feline is unwilling to cooperate or is restless and stressed, don’t force him. You can repeat this process as many times as necessary, recalling the popular saying, “Haste is the enemy of perfection.”
Introducing a second cat in a new home is not an exact science. Each cat has a different level of adaptation to new situations and therefore it is important to respect each cat’s rhythm and boundaries. Always match the rhythm and training for the shyest, most nervous cat.
First meeting of cats
When cats are completely calm and comfortable in their environment, it’s time to introduce them. This point is very important and you must be very careful to avoid any situation that causes aggression between them …
there are different options imagine two cats for the first time. If you have an area with a glass or window in the center, this is a great idea. Another option would be to place the new cat in his room and repeat the previous feeding session, but with the door slightly open so they can look at each other. If they are calm, you can use the fishing rod toy to play around and associate them with the fun times.
If the new cat is a kitten, a good alternative is to place them in a carrier for the old cat to come up to her.
And if any of the cats are stressed or aggressive, throw the treat or toy away from the other cat to distract and separate them. As we mentioned, some animals take longer and can always try again tomorrow. It’s important not to screw things up by wanting to get things done quickly.
When cats no longer show any aggressiveness or discomfort towards each other, congratulations! They managed to get used to each other. Now you can let them meet, be together, smell and play, but always with caution. Watch them during the first few days of complete freedom to make sure there is no quarrel between them. Also, keep prizes and toys nearby in case you need to use them to keep one of the cats safe …
How to make two cats look alike
However, if after figuring out how to introduce a new cat to another cat, you notice that you did the wrong thing and therefore your cats don’t get along … there is still hope! Our advice is that you make the entire process outlined in the article as if the newest one had just arrived and left room for them. While we cannot guarantee success, it is possible that by following these steps you can bring your animals closer together and at least make them tolerate each other so that the world will return home …
If, unfortunately, none of this works and you can’t get your cats to stop fighting, you should see a feline ethologist …