INTRODUCING YOUR RESCUE CAT TO YOUR NEW HOME
Cats in the wild are solitary and aren’t used to living in social groups like dogs. The cats you are homing didn’t arrive at Cats Protection together so they need some time to get used to each other. The tips below will help you ensure that initial introductions start off long and happy relationships.
1) Give each cat a separate room where they can get used to their new home in peace. Make sure they have their own food and water bowls and a litter tray.
2) For cats, the sense of smell is very important in distinguishing friend from foe. Whilst the cats are separate you can introduce their scents to each other by moving between and stroking each cat in turn and swapping sleeping blankets and beds around. Do this for several days, certainly until neither cat reacts fearfully or aggressively to the smell of the other cat. When the cats meet they will smell familiar and so are less likely to react aggressively to each other.
3) Install a Feliway Diffuser. This will make the general atmosphere more relaxing. Relaxed cats are less aggressive.
4) When it is time to introduce the cats ensure that this happens in a room where there are easy escape routes for both cats. After a few minutes in the same room the cats should be put back into their separate rooms. Supervised time spent together can be extended and if this process is done gradually over several days then there should be very little hissing and spitting. Have a blanket ready in case of fighting, so you can intervene without getting injured.
5) Tasty tit bits can encourage the cats to accept the other's presence. The aim is for the cats to associate each other with pleasant happenings, not shouting or chasing.
6) Once the cats begin to accept each other, try feeding them a meal in the same room. Choose somewhere where either cat can escape behind furniture or jump up high if it wants to. It may help to place an object such as a bin or chair between the feeding bowls so they don’t feel threatened. You can then move the bowls closer together gradually as they become more comfortable with one another.
7) Be prepared to be patient. Should there be any violent reaction, separate them immediately and go back a step. Don’t give up if there is some hissing and spitting initially. Bear in mind it is often a slow process which will take weeks rather than days but the time taken will be worth it if you are repaid with two happy cats.
The above is only a brief guide. If you have problems please seek help sooner rather than later as they can usually be resolved. Contact CP on 03000 121212 or helpline@cats.org.uk or your local branch for further advice. There is a great deal of help available on www.catchat.org website under the Heath and Behavior Section.
Top tips
Cats may choose to live in different parts of the house. If this is an acceptable relationship to them, and neither cat seems to be suffering, then it should be acceptable to you.
From a cat’s point of view, another cat pose’s a threat to their food and other resources. To reduce this feeling of competition, make sure there are plenty of places to sleep, eat, drink and toilet.
Hidey holes mean cats can retreat if ambushed - cardboard boxes with holes are ideal. It can be a good idea to put retreats on the routes to food or litter trays.
No matter how well they get on eventually, most cats will still squabble. The odd fight is only to be expected. As long as neither cat is physically injured or mentally traumatised then these are nothing to be concerned about.
Despite careful introductions, some cats never learn to be friends. Personality differences play a great part in all social interactions, and cats are certainly no exception to this rule.
Canterbury CP Welfare Team