There may come a time when you are faced with the challenge of having to introduce a new cat to your old one, at home. Given that cats have a complex personality, how well you go about the same will set the tone of how the two interact with each other going forward.
It is not a must that two cats will like each other at the first line of sight. Knowing what to do in case the unexpected happens will be key to minimising potential negative emotions of the two.
Choosing the right cat to bring at home to an older cat is key to both having a cordial relationship? If you have an older cat, it would be wise to bring a cat that is almost its age. A playful youngster might be a nuisance to the older cat, leading to problems. Taking into consideration the old cat’s personality is also key if the two are to be friendly with each other without any negative reactions.
Introducing too quickly will most of the time lead to a disaster as one will feel threatened leading to aggressive behaviour change. It would be wise on the first day to separate the two cats by ensuring they do not see one another. For two weeks keep the new cat’s food water and litter box away from the old cat. This way the new cat will make itself comfortable in the house before meeting the old cat.
During the initial two weeks, integration is key if the new cat is to feel at home. This process involves ensuring the new cat develops the scent of the house such that when the old cat smells it, it can feel it is part of the house. This process involves bringing towels or beddings of the old cat to the room of the new cat so that it can sleep on them to acquire the new scent.
Once the two weeks are over, bring the old cat into the room where the new cat has been staying. Do not take the new cat to the whole house, as it may feel overwhelmed with a sudden change of environment. Once they two cats meet, they may start hissing at each other. This is a sign that they are trying to familiarise with each other.
Once the two cats are friendly with each other, opening the door for the new cat to explore the whole house will mark the end of the introduction process.
For a lengthy relationship, it will be important to ensure the two cats do not share resources on the initial stages. This involves separating things like sleeping areas, places of a toilet as well as the bowls from which they partake their food.
