My husband and I have two cats,
approximately two years old. Our son is being deployed to
Iraq and he has a cat that we need to keep for him, for about
a year. How do we introduce his cat to our cats without problems?
First of all, it is important to
understand cat behavior, cats hate change. They are very territorial
and to
remove two cats from their home to another home for six months is a
big change. To add two strange cats to a household of four older
cats is also a big change. Therefore, any introductions have got to
be done in a slow, gradual way, to avoid any cat fights or excess
anxiety.
If possible, a spare room that is quiet and not used
often is perfect for your son's two cats at first. Have their litter
box and food and water set up in there, and place them in there upon
arrival. They need to explore their new surroundings. Make sure the
door is closed at all times, so the other cats cannot get in. You
may go in occasionally to sit with them, pet them and let them know
that everything is ok. Keep children out as it may be too much
excitement for the cats. The more quiet the environment the better.
The cats you already have will smell the new arrivals
and be on the other side of the door most of the time. Therefore it
is important to make sure the door is shut, and when you are
entering or exiting, be aware that your cats may want to run in to
see these new "invaders". Do not let this happen.
After your son's cats have had several days to adjust
to the new surroundings, you can sit inside with them, and open the
door about two inches only. Your cats will be on the other side
trying to put their nose in to see what's up. They will probably
hiss and growl...this is normal and to be expected.
After several days of opening the door only a few
inches, you may try it at about six inches, making sure that you are
always there by the door so that your cats do not rush in to defend
their territory. Eventually the cats will smell each other, touching
noses on either side of the door. There will still be some growling
and carrying on, but eventually your cats and your son's cats will
realize that they are sharing the same space and nothing bad is
happening.
When you see that aggressive behavior is at a minimum
and no cat appears ready to fight the other, you can sit in the
doorway with the door open, and see how the cats interact with each
other. This could take up to a week. There is no need to rush this.
If at any time there is aggressive posturing, loud
growing and hissing, or one cat attacks the other, immediately go
back to keeping the door mostly closed.
It is a time-consuming task but one that must be done
carefully to ensure that no cat is excessively stressed-out or no
cat fights occur. Cats can jump on and bite each other quite quickly
and you wouldn't really notice an injury until the bite festers and
then there's a big veterinary bill and a very sick kitty! Patience
and kindness, along with an understanding of cat psychology, can go
a long way towards their harmonious coexistence for those 6 months.
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