How to get a second cat used to your home.
It is hard to tell if a cat will welcome a new person into its home. Domestication has made cats as a species more socially adaptable in some ways, but individual cats still vary a lot in how well they get along with other cats. Also, it gets harder for people to change how social they are as they get older.
There are definitely a lot more things to consider when figuring out how a cat will act around other cats. Scientists already know about some of these factors.
How to Bring a Second Cat into Your Home: Steps for a Smooth Change
Details about the current cat or cats
Give different answers to each of these questions for the cats you already have and the potential new cat.
After thinking about all of these things, there are a few things you should really think about before deciding whether or not to get another cat. Because these things are more likely to work together than on their own, the more people who say they want another cat, the more likely it is that the new cat will be accepted.
Has the cat already been fixed?
Most stray cat colonies are made up of female cats and the kittens they have had. But there isn't enough information yet to say for sure if a cat's gender affects how well it gets along with other cats after it's been neutered.
Is the cat related to the other cats in the house or to the new cat or cats?
Studies of both pet cats and wild cats show that related cats are more likely to get along than cats that are not related. If you want to get two new cats at once, sibling cats are a good choice because it can be hard to get two cats who are related if you get them at different times.
Do you have a cat that's been fixed?
Find out how to bring in a second cat. All cats should be neutered so they don't have litters of kittens that no one wants. Because they don't have any sexual hormones in their bodies, neutered cats are also much more likely to get along with each other. Male cats can compete for mates and protect their territory with the help of these hormones.
How's the cat's mental and physical health?
If your current cat is sick, it's usually not a good idea to get another one. Cats who are sick, hurt, or having stress-related problems are more likely to be defensive and find a new cat scary rather than interesting.
What is the cat's age?
How to get a second cat used to living with you. Most of the time, a kitten is more likely to be welcomed into a cat's home. But if the young cat plays too much with the older cat, which will want to play less, introducing a young cat to an older cat could be a problem. Many times, it would be better to have two playful kittens than just one. But besides the first kitten, the home must be able to care for two more kittens and have the time and money to do so.
How do you feel about the cat's personality?
Many studies have been done on cats' personalities, or temperaments, and they vary a lot, just like people do. Some people are sure of themselves and don't fear anything, while others are careful and shy. Two scared cats might try to avoid each other or look to each other for comfort. Two brave cats, on the other hand, might fight over resources. Even so, it's still important to think about how your current cat(s) and the possible new cat(s) react to new and different things and how social they are in general. Even though there is no hard and fast rule about which personalities go well together, it is still important to think about this.
What do I know about the cat's birth parents and the first 12 weeks of its life?
The way a kitten acts depends on both its environment and its genes. Because of this, kittens whose parents are friendly and like other cats are more likely to have the same traits. But the environment also has a lot to do with it. During the first two to eight weeks of their lives, cats are most open to learning about other people and other cats.
How to get a second cat used to living with you. During this time, kittens are more likely to get along with other cats if they treat them well. So, if a cat was well-acquainted with other cats when it was young, it is more likely to be okay with them when it grows up. This is more likely to happen if the cat has regular, friendly interactions with other cats from the time it is a kitten through adulthood.
Has the cat ever met another cat that was older than it?
It's true that a cat can become afraid of other cats after just one bad experience. Negative events have a big impact on our ability to remember and learn. It's important to know if any of the cats in question have ever gotten into a fight with another cat because this could have changed how they act with other cats now.
How many other cats has my cat met in the last few weeks?
How to get a second cat used to living with you. How do the cats get along now that they are living together? If the cat can go outside, how does it act around other cats when it's there? If a cat is already anxious, scared, or aggressive, having other cats around may make these traits worse.
Do my lifestyle and home make sense for a new cat?
The type, amount, and location of a cat's resources, such as places to sleep and rest, toilets, food and water bowls, toys, and scratching posts, can have a big effect on its mood. Cats who don't see themselves as part of the same social group will find it hard to share food.
How to get a second cat used to living with you. Even though cats live together, that doesn't mean they think of themselves as part of the same social group. So, any new cats that are brought in must have their own food and water. If you say "No" to any of the following questions, it will be harder for your cat to get used to a new cat. The more "No"s you get, the less likely it is that your current cat(s) will learn that the new cat(s) are not a threat.
Do I:
Have the time and resources to properly adjust them. For example, can I give the new cat its own room for the first few days? (Find out how to introduce a new kitten or adult cat to your existing cat.)
Can I:
As many of each resource as there are family members who own cats should be made available.
Make sure each resource is kept separate from the others and spread out evenly in the house.
Set up resources so that cats can't get in the way or get out of them for other people.
Do you play with, pet, and groom each cat in a way that they like?
Source https://blogcatmoments.blogspot.com/2023/09/how-to-introduce-second-cat-to-your.html
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