The introduction of a new feline into the home is very common among cat guardians, however, the idyllic image of several happy cats usually becomes a reality of snorting, chasing, fighting and stress Because, due to the nature of the species, it is not always easy to get a quick and pleasant coexistence.
In this article on our site we will explain how to make a cat accept another, detailing what to consider before adopting to guarantee a good coexistence or how to act when two felines are already living together and conflicts appear.
How to choose a second cat?
It is totally understandable that we feel tempted to adopt a cat because of its age or its physical characteristics, however, it is essential to take into account the specific character of the individualto guarantee a good coexistence. It will be important that we check with the shelter or foster home if it is properly socialized, because otherwise it is very likely that it does not know the feline language and that it shows fear or aggressiveness towards our feline. We'll also ask about activity levels, gaming needs, and more, to on a day-to-day basis.
An elderly cat that needs a lot of calm and quiet will easily suffer from stress if we adopt a restless and active puppy. Likewise, those cats that have a very close bond with their owners and that show little interest in the game will feel very uncomfortable in the presence of a feline that constantly wants to incite them to play.
How to introduce a new cat at home?
Once the perfect companion has been chosen, we will proceed to adapt the house for the cats, placing shelves, nests or a scratching tree so that they can move to a safe place whenever they feel uncomfortable. We must also ensure that the new feline has its own utensils: bowls, bed, litter box and scratching post.
To guarantee a conducive environment we can also use appeasing pheromones for cats, synthetic copies of the natural pheromones that cats release to their young and that provides well-being and relaxation to all kittens. In this sense, Feliway Friends Diffuser is one of the most recommended options on the market, as it improves the well-being of felines, helping them to live in harmony and thus avoiding tensions, fights and conflicts. This product also has scientific studies that support its effectiveness [1]
Introducing the cats
Once we have everything ready, we will take the new cat home in a rigid carrier. Under no circumstances should we leave the cat free at home as soon as we arrive, as this would cause racing, nervousness and favor the appearance of aggressive behavior.
We can use the 15-day method, which consists of both animals starting by being inside the home, separated, and without them even having a chance to make eye contact.
The first initiative for coexistence will be to mix the smells. We can exchange accessories or simply touch one cat and let the other sniff us and vice versa. We will maintain these exchanges until no negative reaction occurs in any of the cats.
The next phase is the visual phase and in it we can allow the animals to see each other through a glass window or keeping one of the them inside a carrier for about 10 or 15 minutes. If someone is upset, we will end the contact and try again until the reactions are positive. Offering them prizes or caresses creates a good atmosphere that allows the cat to associate the other with positive feelings.
Finally, we can let them share space, always in our presence to be able to separate them at the slightest conflict. Each cat must have its own sandbox, feeder, scratcher, etc. These items should be easily accessible to both of you.
Why won't my cat accept another cat?
Cats are territorial and habit animals They like to live in an environment without changes, as well as having their own space and resources. That is, his bed, his litter box, his feeder, etc. And, although it may happen that our cat is a very sociable animal and willingly accepts the company of a second individual, the most common thing will be that he is dissatisfied with the arrival of another cat in its territory.
It will manifest itself by acting against the newcomer with greater or lesser intensity or by developing a stress picture In the first case, the animadversion. On the other hand, in the second it may go unnoticed because there are no direct attacks against the new cat. Although this is an important problem, throughout the article we will see how to make one cat accept another.
Why won't my cat accept the new kitten?
If we introduce a new cat into the home without any precautions, the most common is that we witness symptoms of non-acceptance in both cats, such as the following:
- The cat hisses at the new kitten or the other way around, which is usually the most common sign. In some cases the disagreement remains in this gesture or, at most, the cat will growl at the new kitten.
- Other signs of nonconformity will be giving striking with the paws, staring or preventing access to food, litter box or rest areas.
- There are also cats that react by becoming stressed. They seem to ignore each other and withdraw, hide, stop eating, over-groomto the point of losing hair, etc. All this describes a picture of stress.
- In the most serious cases the cat attacks the new kitten or vice versa Luckily it is not the most common behavior but we can run into cats that can not even see a congener. We will observe a very specific body language: ears very close to the head, backwards or to the side, hunched body, raised tail, snorts, hisses, growls and other warning signs. In the most serious cases, the tail will be bristling and the cat will attack while making powerful meows.
Many people also wonder "why does my cat hiss at the new kitten". Well, we must know that aggressive reactions between cats are independent of the sex or age of those involved Thus, it could perfectly well be a cat who snorts, growls or attacks and a kitten of a few months can be a victim of this situation.
However, we must know that even in situations as serious as attacks it is possible to redirect the situation.
How long does it take for one cat to accept another?
Once we have seen how to make a cat accept another, it is important that we bear in mind that we cannot speak of fixed deadlines to finish presentation guidelines, as these must be adapted to the reactions of each cat. We will follow the steps explained and we will only move on to the next one once both cats are comfortable with the new situation. The process can take days or weeks and it is important that we have patience since pretending to rush it could cause stress to the animals and end up delaying coexistence.
How to correct jealousy between cats?
Some problems between cats like the ones we have described are interpreted by some caregivers as jealousy in cats, but the truth is that it is not proven that cats can express this feeling. On the contrary, the disputes between cats that have just been known are explained by the behavioral characteristics of felines. In this way, these supposed jealousies are corrected by following guidelines that improve the well-being of both individuals and that favor a good association between them.
How to improve coexistence between several cats?
To end the article we will share some basic tips that every owner should know to make two cats get along:
- We will always use positive reinforcement (caresses, words, toys…) so that the cat associates the presence of the other individual in a pleasant way. On the contrary, we will avoid using thepunishment, since it can cause the feline to negatively associate the presence or approach of the other cat. Even if conflicts occur, we should not shout, "punish" or repress the felines. We will try to separate them calmly and firmly.
- We will ensure that all felines have their own accessories and places to hide when they feel scared, uncomfortable or in search of calm.
- We will use a synthetic pheromone diffuser that is supported by scientific studies, such as Feliway Friends Difusor, to help us improve well-being individuals and create a more comfortable environment. We will only need to connect it to a socket that is not under any furniture, away from windows and doors, in the room where they spend the most time. In about 7 days we will start to see the effect on our cats, that is, a reduction in conflict and hostile signals
- If serious fights continue and none of the measures taken seem to work, we will go to a veterinarian specialized in ethology to rule out he alth problems and arrive at an accurate behavioral diagnosis.
- We can also evaluate, together with the advice of our trusted veterinarian, the castration of entire adult males, since studies indicate that aggressiveness is reduced in 53% of cases, escapism in 56% and dialing by 78% [2].
