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At this point I let the cats have the run of the house. It took about 7 months before Kitkat would let me stroke him in his bed and a little longer before he sat by me on the sofa. He is now a real snuggle bug and cuddles up quite happily.
Cats are generally very independent and are typically able to adapt to almost any situation. However, every cat has its own, unique personality; just like you, any pre-existing animals, and your home have their own, unique personalities, too. If a cat has always been shy, bringing a frisky new kitten home might have a negative effect. Have your cats spayed or neutered to remove the instinctual spraying behavior of intact males.
More in Cat's First 30 Days
This means growing the family by another cat can be an unpredictable affair. Some cats will welcome a housemate with open paws or at least a curious sniff before moseying on their way. Others might not be thrilled with the idea of a new kitty brother or sister and throw epic hissy fits.
You’ll want to set up two different rooms of the house that the cats could be in. Keep them in their private room for a few days providing litter and food and then you switch the cat’s positions for a few days. This way they get a chance to walk around and smell the other cat’s scent. By smelling each other first, we will have a gentler and less aggressive introduction.
Is a scratching post really necessary (aka Cat Tree)?
Your senior cat could be hiding something – other than your car keys. That’s right, yours could be hiding an illness right now and you’d never even know it. Learn how to properly introduce a cat and a new baby in the home to ensure they are both safe and get along well. If you're able to choose from a group of kittens, avoid a kitten that’s hissing, growling or engaged in serious battle with his mates. Here are some tips that can increase your chances for establishing a peaceful multi-cat home. The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian.
Go and prepare a small amount of a premium quality cat food. Regardless of whether or not you are a first-time cat owner or adding a new cat into a home with other animals, there are certain, basic supplies that you need to have beforehand. Make sure that you have food and water , a litter box with litter, a scratching post or scratching pad, a bed or cozy spot, grooming supplies and toys. Keep them separated for the time being and get set up for the reintroduction.
General Health
"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. Do not move on to any further steps until both the new and the resident cat are showing calm and relaxed behavior. The new cat should be confidently exploring their room and showing social behavior with the people in the home. The resident cat should be acting as they always did prior to the new cat’s arrival. During this separation period, you can switch the cats’ bedding so that they get used to each other’s scent.
Before you get another cat, think about the personality of the cat or cats you already have. With research, time, and patience, your cats, both new and long-time residents, will find themselves part of a loving and happy forever home. Male and female cats tend to roam less when fixed, keeping them closer to home. Both sexes are also at lower risk for contracting feline leukemia and feline AIDS once they’ve been spayed or neutered.
Once a kitten has used a tray once, it will instinctively try to ‘over-mark’ its own toilet scents. If a kitten has soiled on the newspaper or litter pads, small amounts of this can be transferred to the tray to create the first ‘marking’ process on its behalf. However, the longer the condition is left, the longer the cat will feel alienated. Be sensitive to what a big change this is for your resident cat. Give him the security of his usual routine and his own special time with you.
Remember to get toys and scratching posts for your cat. While some cats may be happy to sleep on other furniture in the house, they will feel more secure and comfortable if they have their own bed. Be cautious about this with very young kittens or elderly cats. Based on advice from cat behaviorists, we’ve developed a step-by-step guide to a healthy routine that brings out your cat’s best. From daily habits to yearly must-do’s, we’ve laid out everything you need to set the foundation for a stress-free, happy life. Plus, it’s simply a good idea for your new cat to get a full check-up during this initial stage of adoption to be sure that it’s healthy.
Don’t wait for one of the cats to show stress; instead end the interaction on a positive note before any signs of stress. It’s also important to use the supplements when they are segregated from each other. There are devices you can buy that aerosolize a feline hormone in the air that has a calming effect. This can also be used when they are separated in different areas so that it starts working and keeps them happy when they are confined.
These supplies include food and water, a litter box , a scratching post or scratching pad, a comfy bed or cozy spot, grooming supplies, and some toys to play with. After two to three days, switch the cats’ locations so they can investigate each other’s smell. This also allows the new cat to explore a different section of your home.
The vet will check the cat’s heart and lungs will perform the necessary cleaning from parasites and fleas. The vet will also determine the gender and the age of the cat. It’s also important to run some tests on dangerous feline viruses like FIV, FeLV, and FIP. The first few weeks after bringing home a new cat can take some adjustment for everyone. You can help make the transition to a new home smoother and easier by providing some privacy for your new cat.
Sometimes a cat finds you rather than the other way around. If you have a stray cat coming to your door, you should think about it carefully before you decide to keep them as your own. Best Friends Animal Society, a 501 nonprofit organization, operates the nation's largest sanctuary for homeless animals; provides adoption, spay/neuter, and educational programs. It depends on the cat’s background and past and of course on the characters of both cats. Proper socialization can help and your friendly and calm attitude as well. They should meet, of course, but give them the chance to meet each other in the safe mode.
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