How to introduce your cat to other pets in the house
Introducing a new cat/kitten to the rest of the pets in your home (cat or dog) can be quite stressful. You, of course, want your pets to happily accept the new tenant and everyone to live together, but it's rarely that easy - even if you have a second cat for the first one's company. Your pets may not be at all inclined to welcome the newcomer with open arms! Careful acquaintance will speed up the achievement of harmony in communication between your pets. Keeping control rather than leaving the pets to fend for themselves will increase the chances that the meeting will run smoothly and that your pets will get along well.
Presentation of cats to each other
Remember that cats do not need social relationships - unlike dogs, which are pack animals, they live happily alone outside any social structure. Cats do not tend to feel the need for a friend, even if you would like to have another cat.
You won't be able to get cats to love each other - some will get along easily with a new neighbour, while others will never get along or will only learn to live next door to each other, maintaining a fragile peace. You can only try. However, if there is no competition for food or safe resting places (as in most good homes), cats will eventually accept each other, and some animals may even have a close bond. How the cats get along depends only on their desire, but you can still influence the success of the operation: it depends on how you present them. If the relationship becomes tense or intimidating, if the cat feels threatened, it will be very difficult to change behaviour afterwards. Therefore, it is extremely important to introduce the animals carefully and gradually,
Here are some factors that influence the success of a first date:
Adult cats or kittens? A kitten is less of a threat to the first cat than an adult cat because it hasn't reached puberty. You may also consider choosing a kitten of the opposite sex to reduce competition between them. Spaying or neutering helps to solve most of these problems, but not eliminate them completely. If you take a second adult cat, it is also best to choose the opposite sex.
Time Choose a time when the house is quiet and peaceful - avoid introducing cats during holidays, parties, visits from family or friends, choose a time when you can give your pets full attention and support.
Smell matters Remember that smell is the cat's most important sense of smell and the most important for communication and well-being. You can help your new cat to integrate into your life and not be a "stranger" - just mix her scent with the smell of the house before introducing her to the first cat. To do this, pet each cat and, without washing your hands, mix the scents together. You can also collect the secretion from the glands on the cat's head by stroking it with a soft towel and then wipe all the corners of the house and furniture with this towel. Allowing your cat to get used to new smells in the house and to the smell of another cat before your first encounter will make it more tolerant. For this reason, it is best to postpone the first cat meeting for a few days or even a week. During this time, keep them in different rooms, allowing each to explore the other's home and bed in the absence of the owner.
When introducing cats, use a pen or a cat carrier - your job is to make sure that both of your pets feel as safe as possible and that the newcomer is not subjected to persecution or aggression (or does not show aggression himself). If the first acquaintance turns into a fight or chase, problems may arise. The best way to avoid this is to use a kitten pen at your first meeting. This is a metal honeycomb structure of about 1 MX 0.75 MX 1 m (lxwxh) with a door that can be left open or closed. The cat, being inside, can see everything that is going on around it, and at the same time feel safe in its shelter.
You may want to put a blanket on top at first to help your pet feel even more relaxed if you see it feeling vulnerable. The paddock allows cats to see, sniff, meow or whistle at each other without direct threats or attacks. The bars allow the animals to be close, but at the same time protect them from each other. If you have a kitten, it makes sense to buy a larger pen so you can keep your pet in it from the start. By using it, you can introduce animals, you can also close the kitten by putting a tray and a bed inside if you are going to leave and you don't want the kitten to face any problems or danger in your absence. The kitten can be locked in the pen at night (be careful so that she has a bowl of water) in the same room with other animals - then they will get used to each other in a quiet atmosphere. If you can't find a pen or crate, use a cat carrier or basket for a first acquaintance. Of course, it is too small and will not serve as a refuge for your cat, and you will not close the cat (kitten) in it for a long time, but it is better than nothing.
How to use a sling or pencil at your first meeting
Place the kitten/cat in the pen/stand and let the first cat enter the room. If you are using a sling, place it slightly above the floor so that the cats do not make direct eye contact, which can cause aggression. When your first cat enters the room, give it attention and cheer it up. If the animal decides to leave the room and not meet a new neighbour, don't force the issue, remember that the dating procedure may take some time. Perhaps your cat is the type of animal that does not show aggression when meeting a new neighbour, but rather gradually gets used to his presence. If cats show signs of aggression, distract them with a little noise and then praise them for their calm behaviour when they go out together. With treats, you can encourage cats to stay close and comfortable with each other. Make their communication positive, let it be accompanied by enjoyable events, not shouting and chasing. If you use a large pen, after the new kitten/cat has been indoors for a few days, you can allow the first cat to approach it freely at times when the cat/kitten is indoors, so that they can gradually get used to each other. If you use a carrier, you need to be a little more active and plan more frequent visits. Then, after a few days of a new kitten/cat's stay, you can let the first cat approach it freely in the moments when the cat/kitten is indoors so that they can gradually get used to each other. If you use a carrier, you need to be a little more active and plan more frequent visits. Then, after a few days of a new kitten/cat's stay, you can let the first cat approach it freely in the moments when the cat/kitten is indoors so that they can gradually get used to each other. If you use a carrier, you need to be a little more active and plan more frequent visits.
In both options, you can start feeding the animals at the same time: the new cat is inside the pen/carrier and the first cat is outside next door. At first, the cats may whistle at each other, but gradually this will become a curiosity and they will learn to accept each other - this process can take from several days to several weeks, depending on the individual characteristics of the animals.
Face to face meeting
If you feel that your animals are ready to meet face to face, you can again use the food as a distraction. Don't feed your cats for a while to make them a little hungry, then feed them in the same room at the same time. Choose a room where the cat can hide behind furniture or jump higher if you wish. Let the first cat enter the room, then let the second cat out of the basket and eat. You'll need to decide how close together they should be - don't try to get them as close as possible from the start. Be calm, encourage your pets and reward them for good behaviour with praise, treats or favourites. Watch how your pets communicate - they may find a place for themselves and curl up into a ball to sleep, but you may need to keep the new cat separate from the first cat for a while, using mealtime as an opportunity for them to communicate more closely. Once you're sure your pets won't fight or chase each other, you can open up the rest of the house to them. Most likely, they will find a place to sleep and the daily activities that would allow them to live peacefully in a house and enjoy all its benefits - warmth, food and attention, while gradually getting used to each other.
How long will it take?
It may take 1 to 2 days or several weeks for your cats to learn how to carry themselves. It may take several months before your pets begin to feel relaxed in each other's presence, but if you can achieve a state of truce between them, know that you are on the road to success. It's amazing how cold and rainy weather can make the worst enemies want to sit by the fire after a hearty meal.
Although cats and dogs are considered quarrelsome, it is generally much easier to introduce a cat to a dog than to another cat. At first, the animals may be afraid of each other, but nevertheless, they do not see themselves as rivals and can get along very well.
If your dog is experienced with cats, he will at first accept the appearance of a new neighbour in the house with delight, but then he will get used to his presence and the novelty will quickly dissipate. The dog will begin to perceive the cat as a member of his pack. Many dogs live happily in the same house with a cat and at the same time chase away any foreign cats that have wandered into your garden, so you should keep a close eye on your pets until your cat is perceived as a member of the family. Similarly, if a cat/kitten has experience with a dog, it is unlikely that it will feel uncomfortable in a new home for a long time and will quickly find a common language with the dog.
Safety first
However, safety must come first. You must keep everything under control until the cat and dog get used to each other. Stroke your pets one at a time without washing your hands - this will mix up their smells. Afterwards, the cat acquires a characteristic scent of the house and becomes a member of the dog pack. Once again, a large enclosure is ideal for the first acquaintance - the situation will be under control and the cat is safe. Let your dog sniff the new inhabitant through the bars and face the initial excitement of the reunion. The cat may whistle, but it's safe. If the enclosure is large enough, you can leave the cat indoors during the night in the room where the dog sleeps - this way, your pets will get used to each other for several days or weeks (depending on how accustomed the dog is to the company of the cats). Some dogs, especially those who have no experience with cats, are too restless or aggressive, need special attention when getting to know a cat. Keep this dog as calm as possible, keep him on a leash and keep him sitting. The cat should take a safe place in the room and be able to get used to the dog and, if it wishes, to approach it.
The quieter you are, the further you go
This can take a lot of time and patience, and you will also need to reward your dog for good behaviour. If your dog has a quiet personality or has experience with cats, you can use a sturdy cat carrier to meet animals. Keep your dog on a leash, place the carrier on a surface above ground level and let your animals get to know each other. Contact should be frequent and of short duration. Most dogs calm down quickly when they realise they have little interest in the cat. In the next step, move on to direct contact with the animals, while keeping the dog on a leash for added safety. If your dog is easily excitable, walk him at a fast pace first - he will expend some of his energy and behave more calmly. Dogs of these breeds, such as terriers or greyhounds (like to hunt), are best kept under strict control until they learn that the cat is not a toy. Small puppies are delighted at the sight of a cat and may try to "play" with it, which will not delight it at all. You may have to work hard to keep the situation under control and be prepared for a sudden jump by your cat to provoke a chase. Praise your dog for his calmness, keep him seated and use treats as a reward. Again, try to associate your dog's presence with a reward for calm behaviour. When you finally decide to remove your dog's leash, make sure your cat has a place to hide (high shelves or furniture) to feel safe. Never leave a cat and dog unattended until you are sure the other person's company is safe. Cat food will be extremely attractive to your dog, so keep it away from him. Similarly, the litter box may be of interest to the dog, so if he encroaches on its contents, keep him away.
No comments:
Post a Comment