Key Takeaways
- Go slow, very slow
- Assess your current cats’ personalities before bringing in a new cat
- Give each cat their own litter box, food station, toys, and bed
- Prioritize safety and be patient
- Use pet insurance to reduce the costs of caring for multiple cats
Cats can be stubborn and territorial, which means harmonious coexistence with a new cat can be tricky. A new cat can clash with your current feline residents in personality, resulting in territorial disputes and a disgruntled air.
The good news is that as long as there are no fundamental incompatibilities, the use of proper introduction techniques can smooth over tension between cats. In this guide, we will go over useful tips for introducing a new cat to cats in your home, what to avoid, and other essentials you should know.
Preparing for the Introduction
Assessing Your Current Pets
Take a look at your current pets to evaluate their personality, temperament, preferences, and behavior. Ideally, this should be done before you adopt a new cat to bring home. If you have an energetic cat who zooms all over the place, you might want to avoid adopting very frail or laid-back cats who might not be able to handle those high energy levels.
Breed: Some cat breeds are better equipped to handle new social situations, whereas others may feel overwhelmed.
Size difference: If one cat is extra big or small in comparison to the other cats, this difference in size increases the chances of injury and discord.
Age: An old cat may find a kitten endearing, but can also find the kitten’s rambunctious behavior intolerable.
History of interactions: Do your cats have a good track record of making friends with other pets and cats? Cats are wary of change. If this is your first time bringing a new cat home, expect your cat to be afraid or hostile to the new living scenario.
Setting Up Safe Spaces
It’s a good idea to create separate areas for the new cat and existing pets to independently retreat to. Having these safe spaces can help each pet feel more secure as the cat acclimates to the new home.
Gathering Necessary Supplies
Every cat in your home should have access to the essentials. For your new cat, it’s a good idea to get a new set of supplies so there will be less confusion and fewer territorial disputes.
Litter box: One litter box per cat is a good rule of thumb. Making sure that every cat in your home has their own privacy and area to eliminate safely is a good way to ensure healthy elimination habits. It would be even better if you got an extra litter box. For example, if you have three cats, you should keep four litter boxes around the house.
Food and water bowls: Set up separate feeding and drinking stations for cats can help prevent competition between cats. This also promotes healthy eating habits so that your cats feel more secure in receiving adequate sustenance.
Scratching posts: Ideally, a new cat should have their own scratching post. Also consider scratching toys and mats for improved variety.
Toys: The new cat should have their own new toys so that the other cats don’t feel like you’re taking their toys away from them.
Bedding: Ensure that each of your cats has a cozy and comfortable resting area, featuring their favorite blanket and bed.
Gradual Introduction Techniques
Rushing into the introduction and forcing a friendly relationship is highly unlikely to work. Your cats will need time to get accustomed to each other.
Keep them separated at first
Right after you have brought your new cat home, it’s a good idea to keep them separated from the other cats who already live here. Give your new cat their own space, with essentials such as a litter box, food and water bowls, a bed, a scratching post, and toys.
Scent Exchange
If you can trade your cats’ scents without causing distress, this can be a good first step toward introducing your cats. Scent exchange serves to help cats get accustomed to each others’ scents before the official introduction.
Here are common ways to perform scent-swapping between cats.
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- Show each cat the other’s bedding
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- Pet one cat then the other
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- Let cats explore each other’s areas when supervised. Don’t have both cats in the same area
Visual Introduction
After scent has been exchanged for a while, a visual introduction through a barrier or gate can be a good way for you to gauge how your cats will react to a new member of the family. Let your cats take a peek at each other to get accustomed to the idea of a new cat.
Supervised Interactions
It’s important to supervise your new cat interacting with other cats. Watch over short interaction sessions, making the initial meetings briefer to avoid overwhelming any of your feline companions. If you don’t supervise their meetings or playtime, injuries or unpleasant interactions can occur. Once a negative interaction has taken place, it can delay the establishment of trust and affection between your cats.
Monitoring and Managing Interactions
Sometimes cats make friends with each other with ease, but it’s better to prepare for an initially chaotic coexistence. Keep in mind these key methods when introducing a new cat.
Identifying Signs of Stress or Aggression
If you already have a cat or multiple cats in your household, you likely know how to recognize the different signs of stress and aggression in cats. Before bringing a new cat home, brush up on your knowledge of feline aggression. Here are some common signs to beware of:
- Hissing
- Growling
- Swatting
- Hiding
Should there be signs of aggression, make sure to address the tension and interrupt it immediately to prevent the situation from escalating.
Interrupting Negative Interactions
Distraction techniques can be helpful when it comes to redirecting any negative behaviors exhibited by your cats or your new cat. Here are some redirection strategies that can be effective.
- Use treats to reinforce calm behavior
- Call one cat away to interrupt any stare-offs
- Place a visual or physical barrier between cats as needed
- Do not punish cats since this can worsen any negative associations between cats
- Consult your veterinarian for individualized guidance
Providing Escape Routes
If a cat is aware it has access to a hiding spot where they can retreat to as needed, they are more likely to feel comfortable with the situation. This also reduces the likelihood of a direct confrontation.
Establishing a Routine and Territory
Structure and routine can help a household with multiple cats feel more harmonious. Here are some strategies and elements to focus on.
Feeding and Playtime Schedule
One of the best ways to create a routine with cats is to establish regular meal times and playtimes. This is even more important for households with multiple cats. Sticking to clear schedules helps cats settle into their new norm more easily and can also decrease overall stress levels.
Designating Territory
Cats, like other animals, are territorial. If they sense another cat is encroaching upon their territory, they may react with hostility. When introducing a new cat to your home, designating territory is crucial. Allocate different areas of your home for each cat. Every cat should receive their own litter box, scratching post, feeding area, and resting area.
Encouraging Positive Associations
When introducing a new cat, consistently promote positive associations from the start. Creating positive associations involves linking positive feelings, treats, and experiences with the presence of the other cat. Offer treats to encourage calm and friendly behavior before and when your cats interact with each other. Here are some ways to create positive associations between your cats.
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- Give cats a certain treat they love only when in the presence of the new cat (and vice versa)
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- Don’t force interactions with each other
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- Implement playtime or grooming when the cats see each other
Patience and Persistence
Understanding Time Frames
The timeline for successfully integrating a new cat varies greatly depending on the cats involved. The process may take days, weeks, months, or even longer. Before adopting a new cat, recognize the possibility that it can take a long time before your cats get used to your new cat.
Maintaining Consistency
Even if good results don’t immediately show up, it’s important to remain consistent when following an introduction plan for cats. Don’t deviate from your plan just because the first meeting or two don’t work out seamlessly. Slowly make adjustments as needed and watch your cats’ behaviors to see what changes can be helpful.
Seeking Professional Advice
In some cases, professional advice might be the best way to go. Consult with a veterinarian and/or cat behaviorist if integrating your new cat continues to be challenging or impossible. This is even more critical if you or a pet gets injured due to any hostile or destructive behavior that occurs due to the new cat’s introduction to your home.
If your cat abruptly has issues with a new cat despite a flawless track record of socialization, this could be a concerning sign of a medical issue. A veterinarian can help rule out health problems that cause changes in behavior and increased aggression in cats.
Pet Insurance for Peace of Mind
Understanding Pet Insurance
Pet insurance provides coverage for various veterinary expenses due to pet injuries, illnesses, and accidents. Depending on your chosen policy, your pet insurer will reimburse a portion of the cost of your cat’s treatments, surgeries, lab work, medications, and other veterinary services.
The three main types of cat insurance coverage are:
- Accident-only pet insurance: This only covers vet expenses related to accidents, such as emergency surgery.
- Comprehensive coverage: On top of basic accident coverage, comprehensive pet insurance also covers costs related to illnesses and health conditions.
- Wellness plan: Typically sold as an add-on to standard pet insurance, a wellness plan covers routine and preventive care.
Why Pet Insurance Matters
Cat insurance provides valuable financial protection against unexpected veterinary bills. This includes health issues and accidents, giving pet owners peace of mind. On average, it costs around $1,600 a year to take care of a cat. If you have two cats, your bills will essentially double.
Cat insurance averages around $32 a month, but depending on your policy, it can potentially save you thousands of dollars every year on veterinary expenses and cat care services. In addition, cat insurance often comes with various benefits for policyholders, such as a pet health hotline. These benefits can improve your overall ability to take care of your cat.
If you have multiple cats, pet insurance can become even more advantageous. For example, if an illness spreads amongst your cats, veterinary expenses can skyrocket. Pet insurance ensures you can meet the needs of each and every one of your cats without placing a serious financial burden on your shoulders.
Where to Find Pet Insurance
Cat owners can shop for pet insurance online for maximum convenience. Online pet insurance providers offer customizable plans and add-ons that can be tailored to your cat’s specific needs. This can be particularly helpful for those with multiple cats since many of the best online pet insurance companies offer loyalty programs and multi-pet discounts.
Other than online, you can find insurance options at veterinary clinics or animal hospitals. Reading expert reviews and guides is another excellent way to find the best pet insurance for cats. Here are some of our top recommendations.
Summary
When introducing a new cat to your home of cats, make sure to be patient, act consistently, and use positive reinforcements throughout the integration process.
In addition, consider buying pet insurance to protect your cats’ health by offsetting the high veterinary costs of caring for numerous cats at once. It’s even better to choose a pet insurance provider that lets you add multiple pets to a single policy or offers rewards programs.
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