Introducing a new cat into the home can be a scary thing not only for your new cat but also for the other cats that already live there. Putting them all together and expecting them to be friends won’t work. Nor will it keep them apart forever in the house. The key is time and patience and almost always cats will eventually get along.
When you bring a new cat home, it’s best to set up a room for them where they can be confined to begin with. The room should have plenty of room for them to walk around and have a litter tray, water, food, bedding, and some toys. Let your other cats do the rest of the house as usual so as not to upset what they already know. Then each day, make several trips to the room where your new cat is, cuddle and play with him. The idea of the first week is to install your new cat in his new home. Make sure you continue to pay attention to your other cats by playing with them and cuddling with them.
After a week or so, allow your new cat to go outside for a few hours during the day or night with the supervision of others. Never keep them all in a confined space as if a fight breaks out more damage can be done as there is less room for them to get away from each other. One way to get them to interact without them realizing that they are playing together is to play with all of them with toys. This takes their mind off who they are with. If things get a little heated, just take your new cat to her room, give her a hug, and try again the next day. The same goes for cats that are already in the house… make sure to hug them.
Slowly, you should find that over the next few weeks they start to hold on more and more. During this stage, you should never leave them alone when you leave the house. Not only could one of your kitties get hurt, but you could also find yourself with a bill from the vets for treatment that is unnecessary since it doesn’t have to happen!
After a few weeks, you should find that your cats have bonded enough to allow them to be together all the time. It may take a little longer, you may find that they bond a little quicker, but whichever way you do it, just be patient, don’t yell at your cats, and give them time to get along.
You will soon discover that you have some very happy cats when they realize they have new friends.
robin lang
cat activity center
