If he wants to use the litterbox and scratch the post, let him. Then, after a few days, exchange scents and continue to feed and play at the closed door. Your new cat may be too stressed out to eat for a couple of days, but your resident kitty has a favorite treat, and you know what that is. Keep reading to learn how to introduce your cat to a new home or other four-legged family members. A safe way to do this is with the Door Buddy. Note: Every cat is an individual. After reading this you might be wondering, do cats and dogs get along? If you’re bringing a new cat into a household with multiple cats, introduce each resident cat … Disclaimer: I earn a commission through affiliate links below. This site, like many others, uses small files called cookies to help us improve and customize your experience. Feed both kitties by the closed door. Once you have selected a potential new cat, ask the shelter or breeder if you can take home a blanket the cat has slept on to give to your resident kitty. This will improve the cats behavior. Maine Coon Cats vs. Ragdoll Cats. These are defense mechanisms that cats use when they feel threatened. Floppycats™ | Uniting Ragdoll Cat Lovers Worldwide Since 2008. 8 Easy Steps to Introducing Cats… Cats are keen on smells. The use of cat stress relief products can be tremendously useful in introducing cats to one another. Comfort Zone makes cat products in diffusers and sprays that mimic the pheromones that cats produce naturally, and having these Feliway products in your home could help your cats … One of the most popular topics I talk about over the years - and topics I get asked about the most - is how to introduce cats to cats. <3, Great post. Only introduce one cat at a time because you don’t want your current cats to gang up on the new cat. This will let your cats see each other safely without too much physical contact. Try to pick a room next to a tile floor or one that has a little space under the door. <3, Great guidance/advice here and you obviously worked very hard to put all this info together and share it with us! Raised fur makes cats appear larger and thus more threatening. Play time is a special way to cement a bond. Separating the Cats Initially Begin with a confinement period. Despite the stereotype, many dogs and cats learn to live together peacefully. Cat Care Tips .. Pictured with me are my Ragdoll cats, Charlie and Trigg. Take little steps and evaluate how your cats react. Since they are the masters of the household, the answers are all up to the cats. Get my proven step-by-step strategy and get your lazy cat to play in just 30 days! Have multiple play sessions daily at the closed door. Supervise children, advising them to always be gentle with the cat. Be aware that some cats never do adjust to having a companion cat. The best way to introduce cats fast is to keep them separate. Here is a schedule: Set up a room for the new kitty.. Have a spare room ready, complete with litter box, bed, cat food, and water. Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. If you’re bringing a new cat home, you’re probably wondering how to introduce cats fast. And they probably won’t accept the new cat quickly. Keep the animals in separate rooms for the first few days. It’s wonderful when your animal friends get along. If both animals are indoor-only, you might … You will have to decide when your cats are ready to roam free based on their behavior with the steps above. Just watch out for cat fights and feed the cats well with lots of treats. You want to start the process slowly by keeping the dog and the cat in separate areas. The next step to introducing cats is feeding them at the closed door. Before you bring your new cat into your home,... 2. This pet care process can be adjusted to the amount of time you have. Gotta LURVE that ability of The Cat to turn their humans into their servant…lol!! What tips or tricks worked for you? You may do all 3 steps at the same time for a few days. The next step to introducing cats to cats is feeding them at the closed door. They love to sniff. Starting your new cat off with her own cat supplies will make her feel at home. When you are ready to introduce your cat to your dog, make the initial meeting a quick one—approximately ten minutes. Grab my ebook 5 Secrets to Get Your Cat to Play! Cats sniff to get to know you. This separation is crucial. Your new and current cats will be aware of each other but not by direct contact. Keep Your Cats Separated At First. Using scents to introduce cats is very effective. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other (Ragdoll) cat lovers around the world. We buy them furry mice and cuddle beds, and when they fall asleep, we don’t even like to disturb them. Currently, I am training to be a Clinical Pet Nutritionist. Again, do this for a few days while you work down this guide. If you already have a cat and have decided to increase the family by introducing a new cat into your home, you should know the best way for both pets get along and to get to know each other. Some posts on this blog contain affiliate links which generate commission if you purchase anything starting with those links. So you will have to keep your cats separate first. Your email address will not be published. Cats’ running and chasing games can provide the aerobics every feline need on a daily basis. Start By Keeping Them Apart. Your scent will be on the toys too which is an added bonus. How to introduce cats to each other. Exchange scents and introduce them gradually. Once the new cat moves in, the two kitties can spend a few hours playing paws or hissing at each other under the door. Let your current kitty see what you are up to. Continue this for another few days, based on your cat’s behavior. You should continue feeding them and playing with them at the slightly open door. Hi! Uniting Ragdoll Cat Lovers Worldwide Since 2008. … The reintroduction gives each cat time to get back to normal and not be so stressed so you … There is no magic formula that will tell you when a cat is ready to be fully … Check out my lazy cat toy guide and my book How to Play with a Cat… Pro Secrets on Indoor Cat Toys if you can’t get your cats to play. Set up a special isolation room for your new cat, recommends Jane Harrell, long-time cat foster parent. If you only have the new cat and one other cat, you may try letting your new cat free. The way I tell my clients to do new cat introductions is to take it “one sense at a time.”. Therefore, the thought of introducing two cats into the household can be an intimidating prospect. If you have a couple of days, great. Fishing pole toys allow the new cat to participate in the fun from afar. This will allow her to mark them as her territory. After a lot of hissing, posturing, chasing, and … As a precaution, make sure both cats have a handy place to hide and be sure to trim their claws before the introduction. Sit on the floor during the cat introduction. Thanks Jenny! © 2008 - 2020 Floppycats.com All Rights Reserved. I’ve also learned the hard way what commercial food does to cat health. Play with your cats at the closed door. Slowly introduce cats by exchanging scents, Switch the cats quickly so they can explore, How to Play with a Cat… Pro Secrets on Indoor Cat Toys, Helps cats smell each other without direct contact, Cats will associate each other with mealtime, Cats know their way around based on scents, Play keeps cats busy and makes them feel good, Cats are curious creatures and might even paw around under the door trying to catch the other toy, Eliminating direct contact eliminates the opportunity to fight, Leave socks or shirts with your new cat and your current cats, This will allow the cats to sniff and get to know each other without direct contact, The clothing and toys will also have your scent on it which is a bonus, Put your current cats into the closed-off room, Put your new cat in the rest of your home area, Adjustable latch that goes on the door and frame, Props the door open at a controlled space, Cats cannot open the door more than you allow, Raised fur, hissing, and growling is a sign of anger, Cats lick their mouths a lot when they are nervous, A low and curled under tail means cats are scared, Return your new cat to the closed room if a fight breaks out, Dogs show their excitement much differently, Your cat may feel threatened because of the dog’s size, Prevents dogs from getting into the cat’s food and litter box, The stopper keeps the door open just enough for your cat to pass through, Much easier to install than a door flap, especially if you rent an apartment. What happened, do you think and why? All photos are of my cats. While living with dogs requires us to be master, or at least act that way once in a while, there is something about a cat that instantly transforms us into servants. You are saving lives! Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and our privacy policy. Have someone help you or use another room to close off the new cat while you exchange the others. https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-introducing-cats … We teach cat parents all about cat happiness through food and fun. After he has checked out the new stuff, take him out. When you introduce cats to each to each other, it really is like opening a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get. Pay close attention to their actions. No additional cost to you. Explore. More info can be found here. Yes, they can! This will also put your scent and her scent on the cat furniture. This will also reduce cat stress and reduce the chance of cat to cat aggressive behavior. Learn how your comment data is processed. If there are more than two animals in the house, do the same for … Have you had to introduce two cats before? They want to do the same with other animals. Leave your new cat in the spare, closed room for at least a few days while you continue through this guide. Have a spare room ready, complete with litter box, bed, cat food, and water. Not all cats will hit it off with a bang, … A fun idea on how to introduce cats fast is with play. Thank you SOOOOO VERY MUCH!!! Once they’re all in the spare room, close the door and let your new cat out of the bathroom. Switching the cats will allow them to explore each other’s scents safely. Final tips. How to Introduce Your Cat to a New Cat Consider the Implications of Adding Cats. I’m Jess, and that handsome guy is Jericho. Both she and the new kitten are very socialised. Before you bring your new cat home, prepare yourself for the introduction. I’m on a mission to change cat lives! You want your cats to be aware of each other during stimulating situations so they relate to each other positively. The key to introducing cats to each other is to TAKE IT SLOWLY. Never allow two cats to interact face … But you need to introduce cats properly if you want them to be friends. There’s all that … I’ve learned from over 400 cats what works and what doesn’t. If one cat spends most of her time hiding, or if one cat continuously harasses and pursues the other, please consult a professional. Cats like their worlds orderly and predictable. For example, all feeding times should be at the closed door. Do this for a few days while you continue down this guide. We are getting a kitten in a few weeks. Article from caticles.com. I once had a cat … Second, have a stimulating … The Door Buddy latch and door stopper combo comes in handy for cat and dog siblings. Check out these ideas today or save THIS PIN to your Cat Care board on Pinterest. For example, put your new cat in the bathroom and close the door. Once your new cat is all established in his space and knows where the best hiding places are, put him in his carrier, and take him out of the room. Based on how well this goes, you can decide to open the door a little more. It should be done properly in order to minimize stress to both the cat and humans. While it's not always possible to foresee how two cats will interact, there... Be Patient With Your Cats. If you have multiple cats, put one of your current cats in the spare room with your new cat. You may need to return your new cat to the spare room if your cats aren’t ready. To introduce cats quickly, you can play with and feed the cats at the closed door. Well…here it is! If you’re introducing a dog to your cat, use the same methods above. Pet Health. And your new cat hasn’t seen the rest of your home yet. Your housing a cat provides a service to the pet overpopulation problem. Animals And Pet Supplies. The process of … Introducing a new cat to your home requires time and patience. If a saucer full of tuna will tempt him, set that down by the crack in the door. Slowly Let The … You may leave a comment about the post, reply to existing comments, or both. Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! I think a good timeline here would be to switch the cats after 4-5 days of doing all steps above. Enter your details below to get it. Are your cats sniffing around curiously and expressing positive cat tail language? If you are on an accelerated introduction program, there are a couple of ways you can introduce cats more quickly than you might otherwise. If your cats seem curious and happy, you can move on to the next step. Choosing a same-gendered cat or kitten to introduce to your resident cats increases its chances of getting along and having the same type of playstyle. You can let the new kitty live in his cat home and get all the growling and hissing out of the way before they ever lay eyes on each other. First the cats may hear each other (if one or both are vocal), then they’re going to smell each other (in a controlled way via … Becca, Lola & (soon) Bunny. Grab the Floppycats FREE Guide: "Top 10 Pawesome Cat Products" that I know your cat will love. Cats are good at entertaining each other. Think about it: You’re five to six … Introduce your cat to his new home gradually, restricting him to one room at first. Cats are protective of their territory. Learn how to properly introduce a cat and a new baby in the home to ensure they are both safe and get along well. If he prefers dry commercial treats, scatter them near and under the door. While raising more than one dog requires a lot of forethought and planning and might be a no-no if both are in the puppy stage, having multiple cat breeds in a household can be a plus for everyone. It will pay off in the long-run if you take your time now. When deciding which cat to purchase this... 10 Adorable boy cat names and adorable girl cat names that will fit your Ra... Litter-Robot Black Friday Deals for 2020 are here! How to Introduce Cats Don’t Rush the Introduction Between Two Cats. This will help your new cat adjust to their smells. Your current cats will be interested to see why you’ve closed off this room from them. This may sound like musical rooms, but cats are very sensitive to their environments so separate the cats. Cats are protective of their territory. “Kittens often get along with each other. Other tips include adding drops of Bach Flower Essences (Rescue Remedy) to the water … 3. Get your cats active near the closed door so they are aware of each other. Be sure that both of your cats have individual places to retreat. Keep the dog on a leash and allow the cat to roam around and … You should buy new toys for your new cat. Did anything fail? This is the best time to... Canidae Blog: Six Reasons Two Cats Are Better Than One. After about a week of exchanging smells and sharing positive experiences, we can try to introduce them with direct contact.