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Because cats tend to be creatures of habit, however, making the transition to a new home can be frightening and anxiety-provoking for them. By planning ahead and considering any problems or issues you may face, you can make your new cat or kitten's arrival at your home as easy as possible. Threatened, as well as separate feeding areas/litter box. This is essential not just for transporting them, but it is also important for limiting their ability to physically contact each other. In the event of an emergency, you will need a carrier for each cat. Also, it can help both cats feel like they have a space of their own to hide in and increases their sense of safety.
These types of diffusers may help with the transition for both the senior cat and kitten. Some planning must go into the process of introducing a kitten to an older cat. Friendly, single adult cats can have trouble adjusting to living with a new kitten. Try not to overwhelm your new cat as he learns his way around. Teach children how to interact with him calmly and gently. Show them how to stroke his fur, and don't let them chase him, hurt him, or bother him when he's sleeping, eating, or using the litter box.
Allow Your Cat to Establish Boundaries
This is a slow acclimation process, and you may have to repeat it. WikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Your new arrival should stay safely confined while they settle in.
It may be slow, but it's worth it if your cats will live together in peace. You can leave the baby gates up and the two can meet and greet as they please. Especially when your new cat first arrives, place food dishes on opposite sides of the room, or opposite sides of a closed door. Once the cats are relaxed in the presence of the other’s scent , you can put the blankets back with their rightful owners and you are ready to let your cats meet face to face. Have your cats spayed or neutered to remove the instinctual spraying behavior of intact males.
Helping An Adult Cat Adjust To A New Home
Moving forward, they are only going to get this treat in the presence of the other cat. Good things can also be play time or even grooming if the cat enjoys being brushed. If your cat has never been around other cats except when they were a kitten, it may take them awhile to adjust to a new cat in the home. Ideally, the new cat is known to enjoy the company of other cats as this will likely make the introduction process easier. Another option is to build or buy an outdoor enclosure for your cat.
Best Friends Animal Society, a 501 nonprofit organization, operates the nation's largest sanctuary for homeless animals; provides adoption, spay/neuter, and educational programs. In addition, put a scratching post or cat tree in her room. You can add her scent to the scratching post by gently stroking her cheeks with a towel and then rubbing the scratching post with the towel. This will transfer her scent onto the scratching post, which increases the likelihood that she will use it. Sign up and get the latest pet health tips, news, articles and alerts delivered monthly to your inbox. And get the latest pet health tips, news, articles and alerts delivered monthly to your inbox.
Carefully Consider Personality When You Adopt a Kitten
It is very important to deal with aggression among cats. Cats do not work out their problems with fighting. In cases with extended aggression, it may be necessary to limit or control the cat's the in each other's presence. This is so that they become accustomed to being in a non-aggressive state when the other is near. Allow the cats to smell each other under a door, but do not let them have physical contact.
Keep rubber bands and elastic away from your cats as well because they can swallow these and choke on them or sustain intestinal injuries from them. You may need to move the location of the cat's bed a few times before you find a place that your cat prefers. The cats ultimately were not intimidated by each other's presence." Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 549,068 times. Idiopathic aggression is spontaneous, and may be a threat to the physical safety of those who come into contact with the cat. Know that there are many ways in which cat aggression manifests.
Stage them meeting face to face, using a barrier to prevent physical contact but allowing them to eyeball one another. Enlist a friend to play with one cat, while you play with the other in sight. If your older cat shows signs of aggression toward the new kitten, then the cats should be separated.
A very young kitten especially doesn't need the run of the house—there are too many things to get into that might hurt her. Ideally, place your new cat in a separate, closed-off bedroom for at least the first few days. Provide your new cat with a litter box, food, water, bedding and toys.
It’s also important that there be enough high resting spaces for the cats . Cats love to perch and this helps them to feel safe in the home. Also, high resting spaces increase the amount of territory in the home, which makes peaceful coexistence among cats more likely. It’s a good idea to adopt a cat around the same age and/or who has a similar energy level. Signs of stress can include decreased appetite, decreased grooming, hiding, lack of interest in attention or affection, and sleeping in unusual locations. A stressed cat may be more quiet than usual, which can be difficult to notice.
Have your cat wear a jacket that can be used with a leash for additional security. Check with the airlines for their policies and cost, including carrier dimensions. If you must ship your cat by cargo, it’s essential to keep your cat secure in its carrier and include identification. A cushy carrier such as a SleepyPod is comfortable and can be strapped in using the seat belt.
(It will only take a few minutes each time.) The key to this process is keeping the interactions very brief and positive. Don’t wait for one of the cats to show stress; instead end the interaction on a positive note before any signs of stress. The cats should not be directly interacting at this stage. Instead they should be separated by a tall, sturdy baby gate (at least 36” high) in the doorway of the new cat’s room. Neither cat should be picked up and forced to see the other. You can encourage the resident cat to come near the baby gate using treats or play, but again, the pace of this introduction is determined by the cats.
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