BPT - Do you already have a cat or two, but want to grow your feline family? You may be wondering the best ways to go about it. While it's true that cats are more social than they're given credit for, animal behaviorists still recommend a slow, strategic approach when introducing a new cat to your household.
Here are some tips to help your new cat get along more smoothly with cats you already have in your home.
First ensure your new cat is healthy, up-to-date on vaccinations and already spayed or neutered. Reputable animal shelters will be able to provide documentation on each cat's vaccinations and health screenings. Then you may also want to take them to your regular vet for a checkup.
Contrary to popular opinion, it may be best to consider a mature cat that has a history of living successfully with other felines. Younger cats do not necessarily show deference to an older cat, and some older cats are stressed by a young cat's high level of energy.
Consider housing the new cat in a separate room or floor before making any introductions. That means providing a new set of everything a cat needs to be comfortable: litter box, food and water dishes, a soft place to sleep and enrichment like toys, a cat condo or places to climb and perch. You may want to consider revamping spaces throughout your home to provide multiple places cats can enjoy before introducing them.
Make sure your new cat and existing cats won't accidently run into each other every time you open the door to the new cat's space by setting up a baby gate or barrier. In addition, keep your cats' claws clipped so they'll be less likely to do serious injury if they get into a scrap when they first meet.
Give your new feline lots of time to get used to you, and the space, before attempting introductions. Every cat is an individual, and may take time to become comfortable in their new home. Because they're so unique, you won't know who'll be more stressed about the introduction — your existing cat(s) or the newcomer.
Chances are good your cats are aware of each other long before they can see one another. Feeding or offering treats on opposite sides of the door can foster positive associations before they meet.
Depending on your home's layout, your cats may already smell and/or hear each other. At the beginning, find ways to limit the senses by which they're encountering each other. For example, let them smell each other's scent by swapping their beds or blankets for a few days. If your home allows, try a room swap, letting each cat inhabit the other's space for a while. You can also try feeding them on opposite sides of a baby gate with a sheet draped over it, so they'll hear and smell each other without visual contact.
Later, if you have a glass or plastic door or partition, you could feed them within eyesight but without them being able to smell or hear each other well.
You probably recognize signs of displeasure in your cat, like hissing, growling or their fur fluffing up. More subtle signs of stress can be ears flattening, tail twitching or the death stare: unbroken eye contact between cats who appear frozen in place.
Positive body language may also be visible: tail straight up, ears facing forward. One cat may lean forward to sniff the other cat, even showing playfulness by rolling on their back to reveal their tummy. Signs like this show they're ready to accept the other cat — though it may not be mutual yet.
If you see signs your cats aren't happy, don't panic. A little hissing or growling doesn't mean they'll never be friends. Try giving them treats together, or coaxing them to play with favorite toys at the same time. Most importantly, keep their interactions limited and supervised while they figure out this new relationship.
Depending on your individual cats, it may take weeks, months or even years before they happily coexist, but that doesn't mean all-out warfare. With patience and preparation, you can help your cats successfully navigate their new social interactions.
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