Getting Your Old Cat To Like The New Cat

A certain excitement enters your heart when you learn that you are acquiring a new cat; however, will your old cat be as excited? It may look difficult at first but by following the pieces of advice here, you can successfully introduce the new to the old. Cats are very protective of their territory so you have to make sure that your new cat is introduced correctly to the old one.



The time period to introduce the two cats can be short if they are still kittens. The introductory period for kittens often lasts for 10 to 15 days. Temperament and the personality of the cats can greatly influence the introduction process. Make sure that your old cat feels secured and do not show favoritism so that it will not think that the new cat is a rival for affection.



At first, you have to assign a safe room for the new cat when you bring it in your house for the first time. Have the new cat stay in this room during the period of the introductory process. The space that you could use to keep the new cat can be the bathroom or a bedroom; any spare room will do. The only thing to remember, however, is to use a space that the old cat does not go into. Put a scratching post, litter box, bed, water dish and food dish inside the room so the new cat will be at ease.



The new cat may be dominated by the old one by making it feel that it is not accepted in the house. It can do this by hissing and howling at the new cat when it knew that it is in one of the rooms. Ignoring what the old cat is doing is the best thing to do. Otherwise, it may turn to a bigger problem later when you try to chastise it for its behavior. Eventually, the old cat will calm down when it goes near the door of the new cat. When it does this, praise and pet your old cat.



The introduction begins when the new cat is no longer aggressive when it sees the new cat by the door. Use each cat’s odor to introduce them. Having them utilize the same food dish is the first thing to do. They have to get used to each other’s odor first so you will need to feed them at different times.



You can feed them closer after they have gotten used to each other’s smell. Close the door of the safe room while you are giving food to the new cat inside. Then, set up the place at opposite side of the door as the new place to feed your old cat. After a while, they will get accustomed to eating simultaneously without growling or hissing. Then, it is time to make them see each other face to face.



Making them meet each other face to face may become difficult once again because the growling and hissing may resume. The new cat may have a difficult time with the old cat as it may refuse to share its territory. If you are planning to make them meet face to face, you have to make them greet and smell each other while playing together with them. Give them some time away from each other if fighting commence.



Giving them time is important. If you want them to get used to each other properly, be patient and follow the tips above. If the introduction is done correctly, they will live peacefully together. The old cat will surely like to have the new cat as its companion. Adding yet another pet later will them become much easier for you.



For help with cat stress and how to treat an abused cat, check out introducing a new cat.