Bringing a new pet into your home can always be a challenge;
especially if it’s not done correctly!
As professional Seattle pet sitters and fellow cat lovers and guardians,
we share our tricks and tips for successfully introducing
your resident cat to a new feline friend.
Are you a cat lover who’s dreamt of creating your own clowder, pounce or glaring in your home?*
Creating Feline Peace & Harmony
When bringing a new tom (male) or molly (female) home, the primary goal is to make the new cat and the resident cat both feel as secure as possible to avoid negative reactions of flight, chase or fight. With a plan in place and some patience, you can peacefully bring a new cat into your life and home.
Introducing a new cat to your current cat?
We can help make the transition a smooth and happy one!
Call us at 206-359-1522 for help or email us here.
- Your new cat should complement your home, lifestyle and the personality of the current cat.
- Should you bring a new kitten or older cat into your home? A kitten is often less of a threat because it is sexually immature. If you get another adult cat, it may help if they are the opposite sex of the resident cat.
- Before bringing a new cat home, be sure you have a plan, time and quiet to slowly and properly introduce the new cat. Always remain calm and positive. Remember, cats do not have the same “need” to be social creatures (unlike dogs). So trying to rush or force introductions can be a recipe for disaster for the present and future. Waiting a few days or even a week (or more) for a face-to-face meeting will be worth the wait.
- Always supervise and control all introductions. Do not just leave the felines (or other pets) to “sort it out for” for themselves.
Using a Separate Room for Introductions
- Place the new kitty in a separate room (with a door) as the cats adjust to each other without feeling insecure/intimidated or threatened.
- Encourage each cat to play and eat in front of the door to help them adjust to each other’s smell. Smell is everything to a cat when it comes to communication and well-being.
Using a Carrier for Introductions
- Place the new cat in a carrier on an elevated surface (to avoid direct eye contact which can create aggression) and let the resident cat come into the room and investigate.
- If either cat begins to show signs of aggression (hissing or spitting), quickly distract them with a noise. Praise them for quiet encounters.
- Feed both cats at the same time, the new cat inside and the resident cat outside the carrier.
Finally, the Face-to-Face Meeting!
Use a room with furniture (to hide behind) or high places the cats can retreat to if they feel intimidated or threatened. Do not feed them side by side in the beginning! Make sure both cats are hungry and offer food to the resident cat first and then let the new cat out to eat their own food. Stay calm and reward the right behaviors. Remember, properly introducing a new cat (or any pet) takes time and patience. If you are unsure of what to do or how to handle the introductions, reach out to a professional! Keep in mind; you are investing in the overall peace and harmony in your home with all your pets together. Using an expert to facilitate the process is priceless and sets both the humans and the pets up for success!
Introducing a new cat to your current cat?
We can help make the transition a smooth and happy one!
Call us at 206-359-1522 for help or email us here.
* A clowder, pounce or glaring all refer to a “group of cats.”
 |
Cosmic Home & Pet also provides: Seattle Dog Walking Seattle Cat Boarding Senior Pet Care Professional Dog Training Overnight In-home Pet Sitters We also love and care for other critters (young and old) including rabbits, ferrets, fish, birds, chickens and more. When you can’t be there, we promise to treat your pet as we would our very own! Call us at 206-359-1522 today! |
Additional Reading:
- The Do’s and Don’ts of Introducing Cats
www.jacksongalaxy.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-introducing-cats/
- How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Current Pets
www.hillspet.com/cat-care/routine-care/introducing-a-new-cat-to-current-pets
- Introducing Your New Cat/Kitten to Your Current Cat
- How to Introduce a New Adult Cat to Your Cat
icatcare.org/advice/how-guides/how-introduce-new-adult-cat-your-cat
- 6 Tips for Introducing a New Cat to Your Existing Cats
iheartcats.com/6-tips-for-introducing-a-new-cat-to-your-existing-cat/
Bringing a new pet into your home can always be a challenge;
especially if it’s not done correctly!
As professional Seattle pet sitters and fellow cat lovers and guardians,
we share our tricks and tips for successfully introducing
your resident cat to a new feline friend.
Are you a cat lover who’s dreamt of creating your own clowder, pounce or glaring in your home?*
Creating Feline Peace & Harmony
When bringing a new tom (male) or molly (female) home, the primary goal is to make the new cat and the resident cat both feel as secure as possible to avoid negative reactions of flight, chase or fight. With a plan in place and some patience, you can peacefully bring a new cat into your life and home.
Introducing a new cat to your current cat?
We can help make the transition a smooth and happy one!
Call us at 206-359-1522 for help or email us here.
- Your new cat should complement your home, lifestyle and the personality of the current cat.
- Should you bring a new kitten or older cat into your home? A kitten is often less of a threat because it is sexually immature. If you get another adult cat, it may help if they are the opposite sex of the resident cat.
- Before bringing a new cat home, be sure you have a plan, time and quiet to slowly and properly introduce the new cat. Always remain calm and positive. Remember, cats do not have the same “need” to be social creatures (unlike dogs). So trying to rush or force introductions can be a recipe for disaster for the present and future. Waiting a few days or even a week (or more) for a face-to-face meeting will be worth the wait.
- Always supervise and control all introductions. Do not just leave the felines (or other pets) to “sort it out for” for themselves.
Using a Separate Room for Introductions
- Place the new kitty in a separate room (with a door) as the cats adjust to each other without feeling insecure/intimidated or threatened.
- Encourage each cat to play and eat in front of the door to help them adjust to each other’s smell. Smell is everything to a cat when it comes to communication and well-being.
Using a Carrier for Introductions
- Place the new cat in a carrier on an elevated surface (to avoid direct eye contact which can create aggression) and let the resident cat come into the room and investigate.
- If either cat begins to show signs of aggression (hissing or spitting), quickly distract them with a noise. Praise them for quiet encounters.
- Feed both cats at the same time, the new cat inside and the resident cat outside the carrier.
Finally, the Face-to-Face Meeting!
Use a room with furniture (to hide behind) or high places the cats can retreat to if they feel intimidated or threatened. Do not feed them side by side in the beginning! Make sure both cats are hungry and offer food to the resident cat first and then let the new cat out to eat their own food. Stay calm and reward the right behaviors. Remember, properly introducing a new cat (or any pet) takes time and patience. If you are unsure of what to do or how to handle the introductions, reach out to a professional! Keep in mind; you are investing in the overall peace and harmony in your home with all your pets together. Using an expert to facilitate the process is priceless and sets both the humans and the pets up for success!
Introducing a new cat to your current cat?
We can help make the transition a smooth and happy one!
Call us at 206-359-1522 for help or email us here.
* A clowder, pounce or glaring all refer to a “group of cats.”
|
Cosmic Home & Pet also provides: Seattle Dog Walking Seattle Cat Boarding Senior Pet Care Professional Dog Training Overnight In-home Pet Sitters We also love and care for other critters (young and old) including rabbits, ferrets, fish, birds, chickens and more. When you can’t be there, we promise to treat your pet as we would our very own! Call us at 206-359-1522 today! |
Additional Reading:
- The Do’s and Don’ts of Introducing Cats
www.jacksongalaxy.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-introducing-cats/
- How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Current Pets
www.hillspet.com/cat-care/routine-care/introducing-a-new-cat-to-current-pets
- Introducing Your New Cat/Kitten to Your Current Cat
- How to Introduce a New Adult Cat to Your Cat
icatcare.org/advice/how-guides/how-introduce-new-adult-cat-your-cat
- 6 Tips for Introducing a New Cat to Your Existing Cats
iheartcats.com/6-tips-for-introducing-a-new-cat-to-your-existing-cat/
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