Introducing a New Cat
By Betty Sleep
Many people find that a single kitten, or a cat who has perhaps lost a companion kitty, needs a new friend. But often, then don’t know how to go about bringing in the new family member without getting into territorial issues.
Whether you are getting a new kitten, or an adult cat, the procedures of introduction are pretty much the same. The only difference is that with older cats, it may take a little longer to establish a trust with the new cat, who after all, has established behaviour and patterns that will require time to adjust. Adult cats within a household, are also less receptive to other adult cats, because they represent a territorial challenger, where kittens will pretty much roll over and let them still be King of the Hill.
If you are getting a new kitten/cat that you will be waiting for, perhaps a purebred from a breeder, you might ask if you can give them an item such as a towel that has been well handled or slept on by the family, so that the smells of your household will not be totally new to them. This is especially handy for animals being shipped. I use it myself, and often put the towel in the carrier prior to shipping, and allow the other cats to inspect it. That way it carries the secure smells of “home”, and the new smells of the home they are going to.
Once you have picked up your new pet, bring them home and place them in a room with food and litter and leave them to their own devices for a while, with the door closed. If it has been a long trip, or they were shipped, or perhaps are a bit shy, the kitty will need a bit of time to unstress themselves. If they run and hide under the bed, don’t force them to come out. Go in occasionally and talk to them, or dangle a toy by the bed, and see if you get any interest. If not, that’s fine too. It will come in time.
Segregating them like this serves two purposes. First, it gives them limited new territory to become familiar with. For kittens, this can be especially daunting. On the other hand, some kittens will have their paws in everything right off the bat. But you can’t count on it. Nor can you count on the reaction of the resident cat(s). The second advantage, is that the new and older cats, can introduce themselves under the door by sniffing. There may be some initial huffing and hissing, but this is generally gone by the second day, once the smell as part of the household becomes familiar and accepted. While the newcomer is investigating their new quarters, give the resident kitty extra attention and treats, to let them know they haven’t been supplanted.
If there appears to be no hostility, or if the first growls and hisses are over with, open the door a crack and allow the cats to make nose/sniff contact. If there is any paw action, or attempts to smack each other, quietly close the door, and don’t scold. You can try again later.
When there is no overt hostility, you can let the newcomer out to explore, with supervision, to make sure your resident cat doesn’t take exception to the intruder. Close doors to closets, upstairs and basements, so you don’t have to go searching in case the new cat has run and hid, or goes off exploring when your back is turned.
If you feel that the introduction has gone well, you can leave the new cat out among the rest of the household. If you’re unsure, put them back in their room at nights, or when you are at work for the first few days, until you’re sure there is going to be no fighting or domination issues.
It’s surprising how many people will take home a new cat or kitten and expect their other cat(s) to accept it without question, forgetting that cats do have territorial instincts and not just about property. They occasionally resent affection being spread to someone else other than them.
A slow introduction avoids these problems, and even if you have no other cats, confining a new kitten and then allowing it supervised visits to the rest of the house, will start it out with confidence, and you will have some quality time in a limited setting, where you can get to know each other.
About the Author:
I am an obedience instructor, kennel owner, and ten year breeder/exhibitor of Golden Retriever dogs. Over the years I have experienced the best and worst of pet buying and selling, and responsibility/irresponsibility on the part of both breeders and buyers.
That, combined with my other hobby of breeding Birman cats, which I also show, and have placed in several countries, gives me a fairly comprehensive overview of pet care, ownership, training, feeding, and health issues.
Article courtesy of Suite101.com.
