Have you ever wondered how to introduce a kitten to an older cat?
It might always be challenging to bring a new cat to your existing cat. It is crucial to understand that, even if the introduction procedure is carried out with the utmost care, there is no assurance that the cats will get along well.
To provide the cats in your care with the best well-being possible, both in terms of considering their physical health and their emotional wellness , you must be able to recognize when a cat just does not want to live with other cats and take appropriate action.
You could have your kitties for a very long time. Making the correct first impression and spending the extra time if needed to do so might significantly alter how they view one another.
If cats get along instead of hating each other, not only are owners immensely happier, but the stress level of the cats is also significantly lower.
To provide the cats in your care with the best well-being possible, both in terms of considering their physical health and their emotional wellness , you must be able to recognize when a cat just does not want to live with other cats and take appropriate action.
You could have your kitties for a very long time. Making the correct first impression and spending the extra time if needed to do so might significantly alter how they view one another.
If cats get along instead of hating each other, not only are owners immensely happier, but the stress level of the cats is also significantly lower.
5 Tips for Introducing a Kitten to an Older Cat
1. Get the designated area for your new cat
If you’ve decided to buy a new cat, the first thing you should do when you take it home is to keep it confined to one area. Choose a space that is not frequently used by your resident cat and that you do not require continual access to, such as a guest room or study.
Moreover, the introduction of a synthetic feline face pheromone, in the space where the current cat is spending the most time as well as the new cat’s room will aid in fostering a sense of comfort and security in the physical surroundings.
This may facilitate the new cat’s adjustment to its surroundings more quickly while easing any territorial anxiety felt by the existing cat.
Moreover, the introduction of a synthetic feline face pheromone, in the space where the current cat is spending the most time as well as the new cat’s room will aid in fostering a sense of comfort and security in the physical surroundings.
This may facilitate the new cat’s adjustment to its surroundings more quickly while easing any territorial anxiety felt by the existing cat.
2. Allow felines to exchange scents
The procedure of introducing the cats to one another should start after the cat is completely at ease in its area of the house. Begin by gently introducing each cat to the scent of the other cat (without physically meeting).
This is crucial because cats can tell if other cats are members of the same social group or not by smelling them individually. By producing a collective fragrance, we want to help the cats identify one another as members of a single social group.
The purpose of scent swapping is to have both cats feel completely at ease around the other cat’s scent before they meet. By assuring this, there is a higher likelihood that they will tolerate one another’s physical presence because they are more likely to view one another as a member of the same group.
This is crucial because cats can tell if other cats are members of the same social group or not by smelling them individually. By producing a collective fragrance, we want to help the cats identify one another as members of a single social group.
The purpose of scent swapping is to have both cats feel completely at ease around the other cat’s scent before they meet. By assuring this, there is a higher likelihood that they will tolerate one another’s physical presence because they are more likely to view one another as a member of the same group.
3. Let the cats exchange sleeping areas
Start the fragrance exchange by putting one item of each cat’s bedding, such as a single blanket, in the bed of the other cat. Both cats should have enough bedding so that the change in bedding won’t leave any cat with few options for relaxing or sleeping.
To generate a shared fragrance, it is anticipated that each cat would sleep on the bed of the other cat. Watch the two cats’ responses to the bedding quietly. The procedures may need to be completed much more slowly for a cat who exhibits negative behaviors toward the bedding, such as deliberately avoiding it or even snarling at it.
This cat may be less inclined to accept a new cat into its household. The bedding can then be put into the original cat’s chamber after the cats start behaving calmly around it to allow for more smell blending. You can carry out this procedure on additional pieces of bedding.
To generate a shared fragrance, it is anticipated that each cat would sleep on the bed of the other cat. Watch the two cats’ responses to the bedding quietly. The procedures may need to be completed much more slowly for a cat who exhibits negative behaviors toward the bedding, such as deliberately avoiding it or even snarling at it.
This cat may be less inclined to accept a new cat into its household. The bedding can then be put into the original cat’s chamber after the cats start behaving calmly around it to allow for more smell blending. You can carry out this procedure on additional pieces of bedding.
4. Cats need to explore each other's living area
In a subsequent step, the resident cat could be temporarily segregated to allow the new cat to examine the resident cat’s area of the house if the cats do not exhibit any negative reactions to the scent of one another on the bedding.
Nonetheless, confinement should only take place if it is unlikely to result in any suffering, such as annoyance. On the other hand, the new cat could be temporarily taken out of its room so the incumbent cat can explore the space.
On the other hand, the new cat might be temporarily taken out of its room so the incumbent cat can explore the space. The latter should only be done after the new cat is completely at ease , thus this is unlikely to be advised until a few days after the new cat is introduced.
Nonetheless, confinement should only take place if it is unlikely to result in any suffering, such as annoyance. On the other hand, the new cat could be temporarily taken out of its room so the incumbent cat can explore the space.
On the other hand, the new cat might be temporarily taken out of its room so the incumbent cat can explore the space. The latter should only be done after the new cat is completely at ease , thus this is unlikely to be advised until a few days after the new cat is introduced.
5. Cats meeting each other
The cats shouldn’t be permitted to interact with one another until they are both at ease in the house as a whole and until they smell the other cat. It should be possible to view each other through a protective border.
The act of being in each other’s visible presence should make us feel good. As a result, playing with cats and feeding them goodies are two independent activities. It shouldn’t ever turn into a stare-off. Instead, the cats ought to be content to go about their own business and be allowed to look at one another sometimes.
The next phase shouldn’t start until cats are completely at ease with peering past a barrier. The barrier should be discreetly removed or opened , particularly when the cats are both enjoying something enjoyable, like playing or eating. Never try to hear the cats together, just watch them quietly.
The act of being in each other’s visible presence should make us feel good. As a result, playing with cats and feeding them goodies are two independent activities. It shouldn’t ever turn into a stare-off. Instead, the cats ought to be content to go about their own business and be allowed to look at one another sometimes.
The next phase shouldn’t start until cats are completely at ease with peering past a barrier. The barrier should be discreetly removed or opened , particularly when the cats are both enjoying something enjoyable, like playing or eating. Never try to hear the cats together, just watch them quietly.
Conclusion
As long as there is no bad behavior between the cats during the “physical access but monitored touch” stage, brief periods of free unsupervised access (a few minutes) are acceptable.
Unlimited unsupervised access should be available as frequently as feasible after it has begun. The new cat is still kept apart at other times . But always make sure they have access to their respective areas of the house. If pleasant behaviors are observed between the new cat and the veteran, they can be kept together for progressively longer amounts of time.
Unlimited unsupervised access should be available as frequently as feasible after it has begun. The new cat is still kept apart at other times . But always make sure they have access to their respective areas of the house. If pleasant behaviors are observed between the new cat and the veteran, they can be kept together for progressively longer amounts of time.
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