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Remember to do this gradually, with each family member greeting the cat one by one. It can be overwhelming for your new cat to meet everyone at the same time. "When you bring the new cat home, do so in a cat carrier," Hollow says. "When the carrier is empty, let the established cat explore it." Ignore any signs of hissing or attacking the empty carrier. Choose one room with familiar objects and furniture.
Have cat trees and shelves on multiple levels as areas of escape and retreat for safety. Some cats can be so aggressive that it may be necessary to re-house them. Sometimes your old cat will still hate the new arrival. It helps if both of them are kittens, or if the new cat is a kitten. Your old cat is more likely to accept a younger cat than an older one.
Introducing your cat to other pets
Finally, clear off a shelf for the cat to perch on to view his new world. I was intending to get just one but they were best buddies at the rescue Center so ended up with both! One was about 2 and very shy, he hissed and hid when I met him.
Don’t wait for one of the cats to show stress; instead end the interaction on a positive note before any signs of stress. Your new cat should be kept in a single room during the initial stages of this introduction process. This is important for both the new cat and for the resident cat (so they can adjust to the new cat’s presence in the home). To set everyone up for success, ideally the new cat is kept in a room that the resident cat doesn’t spend all that much time in.
Carefully Consider Personality When You Adopt a Kitten
Set up a litter box in a quiet, low-traffic area. The majority of cats prefer fine grain clumping litter. Try that first unless the new adoptee is so young that she is in the litter-eating stage. Non-clumping litter is recommended for kittens under ten weeks of age. Make a “new normal.” Leading up to the move, keep your cat’s routine as normal as possible. The sudden appearance of new people and moving materials, along with the disappearance of favorite furniture or objects, can cause stress for cats.
There are several different ways that you can allow your cat to enjoy the outdoors without the risks. You can install perches on windowsills around the house so that your cat can sit at the window, watch what’s happening outdoors and enjoy the sunlight. With patience, you can teach your cat to walk with a harness and leash, and then you can take him outdoors for walks. If your kids are too young to follow instructions, show them by example. For instance, have them stand a safe distance away as you interact with the cat gently, and then let them have a turn under your watchful eye. If the cat seems distressed, get them to back away and give the cat more time to get comfortable.
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For more information take a look at how to stroke a cat and interact with them. If after several days your cat seems relaxed, confident and keen to explore then you can let them out of their room . Bring your new feline to a caring veterinarian for a wellness exam within one week after adoption.
How these introductions go will depend partly on the personality and temperament of your new cat. Some stray cats enjoy their independence and are looking for a quick meal rather than a new place to live. If the cat seems to be scared of you or shows signs of aggression, you should contact animal control or a local animal shelter for professional help in dealing with the situation. By this point, the cats are increasingly comfortable with each other, but have not yet directly interacted. Now you can give them supervised time together without the baby gate. Reward them with treats for any positive or neutral interactions.
Interact with your cat on their own terms
You will receive text messages with ways to help animals right from your phone. Consistent hissing or growling towards the other cat. A hiss here or there is not a concern, so long as the cat is otherwise showing some positive indications as well. Ignoring each other and going about their own business on opposite sides of the baby gate. Lately he want to sleep with me, he has to be touching me or he get cross and hisses, even bites if I try to move him. He has never hissed, scratched or bitten before.
When introducing a kitten to an older cat, slow and steady is the name of the game. You’ll also want to prepare a temporary room for your kitten that has everything he’ll need as you slowly work to introduce him into your home. For females not spayed, they run a higher risk of ovarian, mammary, and cervical cancers. Plus, without a heat cycle, lady cats tend to be more relaxed and not inflamed by their instinctual needs. Urine is more than an elimination product for cats.
Most cats choose several favorite sleeping spots where they can be comfortable, warm, and free from drafts. Providing a bed for your cat may discourage him from sleeping on furniture. A cozy box or basket lined with soft, washable bedding and placed in a quiet corner makes a suitable cat bed. Provide your cat with an uncovered, clean litter box. Covered litter boxes can trap odors inside the box, which is nice for you, but not for your cat. Scoop out the litter box at least once a day, and empty it completely to clean it every two weeks.
If your cats are male and aggression seems to be an issue, have your boys neutered so they enjoy napping rather fighting with each other. To find each cat’s happy place, keep an eye out for the places your kitties choose to go for a nap on their own. Deck out the discovered spot with their favorite blanket, bed, and toys. With all their goodies bearing their own familiar scent, your cats will rest easy in their special space. Toys can be a great buffer for the introduction, but to keep the affair civilized, choose a room where you can control “the Unders and the Outs”.
Cats don’t like change, so a new home is always going to be a big adjustment for them. While some cats can settle in quite quickly, for many cats you need to give them plenty of time to get used to their new environment and build a bond with you. Most cats are very territorial and are creatures of habit. As a result, they don’t like to travel – you might notice that most cats aren’t keen on being stuck in a cat carrier! If you’re looking to choose a cat carrier, aim for one that is strong and secure and can be easily cleaned. If your cat is particularly nervous, you might want to spray a pheromone spray at least 15 minutes before putting your cat inside.
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