Want to add a furry friend to your feline family? Introducing a new cat into your existing feline family can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires careful planning and patience. The following guidelines can help you create a happy and harmonious multi-cat household:
- Personality matching is important
First, consider the cats you currently have. If you have a very laid-back, frail, or elderly cat at home, it is best to avoid getting a kitten or a very playful, noisy cat. The opposite is also true. If you have an active cat who often jumps on the walls of your home, it may not be a good idea to get a very quiet, shy cat. Not all cats want or need a second cat in their territory. If you see that your current cat does not show excessive aggression or signs of fear when getting along with other cats, then you can have a new cat in your home. However, if your cat often shows hostility toward other cats, such as hissing, growling, or marking their territory when another cat enters your yard, it may not be a good idea to get another cat,Please respect your cat's wishes.
- Do a good job in advance
When you bring a new cat home, it is important to make sure that your first cat can take care of their new siblings mentally and physically. Physically, your first cat should be young and healthy enough to play with another cat. Schedule a meeting with a cat veterinarian to ensure that your cat is up to the task and is up to date on all health checks and vaccinations.
- Introduce slowly and make cats good friends
After completing the above two steps, the next step is to introduce cats. This is an ongoing process. You may be very excited about your new cat, but if you rush it and try to force your cat to become friends immediately, you may accidentally ruin a relationship that could have been successful.
The first is to get the cats to exchange scents with each other. Ask the shelter or breeder if you can take a blanket that the new cat has slept on and let your first cat smell it. Also ask if you can bring a blanket from home that your original cat has slept on to the new cat. This may not be possible in all cases, but if you can get the cats to exchange scents with each other before they actually meet, you will be well prepared for the introduction of both cats.
Cats are very territorial animals, so when you are getting a second cat, keep in mind that they need to establish their own space in the home. Next you need to prepare a separate room where your new cat can get acclimated to your home and gradually learn to recognize your first cat. Make sure this middle room is a room that your other cat has been in, that all human family members can easily enter the room for social interaction, and that the room has food/water, litter, toys, and a bed.
Then, feed the cats on both sides of the door. By allowing both cats to experience something positive when they are near each other, they can learn to form positive associations with each other. If one of the cats refuses to eat, try placing tasty treats on both sides of the door. If one of the cats growls or hisses outside the door while eating, don't put them together. Continue feeding the cats this way until the hostility subsides.
Once both cats seem calm and relaxed while eating by the door, it's time for another scent exchange. Place your first cat in the middle room and let your new cat explore the house. Over the next few days, each cat will use the other cat's food and water dishes, bed, toys, and litter box. How to choose the right litter box can also be another article 《The Definitive Guide to Cat Litter Box Sizes》. Continue to feed both cats on both sides of the door while your new cat is learning all the areas of your home.
Once both cats are eating and using the litter box normally, the next step is to allow them visual contact and limited physical interaction. Open the isolation door, but separate it with some kind of pet door so that they can see, smell and touch each other, but not full contact. When the cats show friendly behavior, give timely rewards, such as treats or petting.
Once both cats are back to normal activity, eating, and using the litter box, it's time to remove the fence. A basic rule about litter boxes is to have one litter box for each cat in the house, plus one extra. Of course, make sure the litter box and litter are comfortable, otherwise there will be peeing on the floor. I share some tips for using it in the 《Why is my cat pooping on the floor? 2024 Ultimate Guide》. If the cats seem to tolerate, enjoy, or interact, great! If they hiss or simply ignore each other, that's okay. If there is obvious aggression between them, or even a fight that causes one of them to be injured, you may need to separate them again or reassess whether the new cat is a good match for your first cat.
- Observe carefully and adjust in time
Carefully monitor your cat's behavior and be sure to keep them in a separate room when you are not at home. Once you are sure that they can get along safely, you can gradually start to let them spend more and more time alone together.
The relationship between cats may change throughout their lives. Therefore, it is your responsibility to pay attention to your cat's body language. Behavior changes can indicate stress, illness, etc., or they can be a sign that a housemate relationship is escalating into a toxic situation. Give each cat enough attention and exercise to keep them happy and content, and keep them distracted from each other so they don't get aggressive with each other. Using environmental enrichment to keep your cats content will definitely help avoid dangerous sibling dynamics, and we hope our tips can help you!