Introducing a new feline friend into the family can be the start of a magical new adventure, but not everyone might be quite so enthusiastic about the addition! If you already share your home with a cat, introducing another to the house could prove stressful for your four-legged friend. At The Insurance Emporium, we know you’ll want the process to go as smoothly as possible. That’s why we’ve put together our guide on introducing a new cat to your current cat!
Slow Introductions
When you bring your new cat or kitten home, don’t introduce them right away! This could prove stressful for your resident cat, and you don’t want the pair to get off on the wrong foot. Give your new four-legged friend their own room, with all the essentials. They’ll need their own food and water bowls, litter tray and scratching post. Don’t recycle any of your resident cat’s things, as this could be a point of contention for both cats! Your new cat might be wary of the unfamiliar scent, and your current cat may not like a change in routine. Both felines might be curious and smell each other under the doorway, which is a good start!
Scent
Once your new four-legged friend is settled in a bit more, it’s a good idea to gradually introduce both cats to each other’s scents. Spend time stroking and handling each cat independently without washing your hands in between. You could swap each cat’s bedding back and forth, associating the new scent with something positive by providing treats. You could also spread either cat’s scent around your house by stroking their head and cheeks with a damp cloth, then dabbing it around your home and furniture. Don’t worry, your house won’t smell like cat, but your felines should pick up on the scent!
First Contact
We’re now getting to the more exciting stages of the introduction, when you’ll want your feline friends to see each other! The first few times you introduce your cats, make sure they’re physically separated, so neither pet can fight or chase the other. The best way to do this is to put one of your pets into a cat carrier, a puppy crate or a cat pen, letting both cats get used to each other’s presence in their own time. Providing this physical barrier could make both cats feel less threatened and prevent any scraps should they not get along! It’s usually best to do this a few times, swapping which cat is free to let each one get used to the other.
Meet and Greet
It might take a while to get to this point, but once your cats are more used to each other’s presence, it’s time to let them meet face-to-face! You should only do this if both cats are calm around each other. If they’re hissing through a cat carrier, their reactions might be less than friendly! Don’t try and rush the relationship by moving the cats closer together. It’s important you let them interact in their own time to avoid any unwanted tussles. Try feeding both pets to distract them and make sure they’re comfortable with each other in a normal environment.
Patience
The most important piece of advice we could give when introducing your furry friends is to be patient! If your cats are hissing or are generally uncomfortable with one another, don’t be afraid to take a few steps back and take your time introducing the pair. Using pheromone sprays and diffusers could calm your cats, and ease the introductions. Don’t be too concerned if they don’t become the best of friends. Many cats simply learn to tolerate each other and can live happily together, even if they don’t have the relationship you were hoping for!
Introducing another feline to your current cat might take a while, but putting in the extra work to ensure they’re both comfortable is definitely worth the effort! If you have some furry friends of your own, you might want to think about insurance. At The Insurance Emporium, our Cat Insurance provides a range of Standard Benefits, including Vet’s Fees cover up to £8,000*. You could even benefit from up to 30% discount^, including a 10% Multi-Pet Discount, perfect for introducing new pets! Head to The Insurance Emporium to find out more.
* Vet’s Fees cover up to £8,000 available on lunar monthly Lifetime Gold policies.
^ The 30% discount is made up of 20% Introductory Discount plus 10% Multi-Pet Discount (if appropriate). The Introductory Discount is available for the first 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies.
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