How to make friends between a cat and a cat? Often people who love cats very much prefer to keep not one, but several animals at home, but before getting a second pet, it is important to remember that it is necessary to create all the conditions so that an animal that has been in the house for a long time, without any - obstacles were able to accept a new guest.
It is much more difficult to bring same-sex animals together than opposite-sex animals.
It should be taken into account that it is much more difficult to bring same-sex animals together than opposite-sex ones. It follows from this that you shouldn’t worry or worry too much about how to make friends between a cat and a cat, but you should still follow some recommendations to make the bonding process as easy as possible.
Important! When a new member of the household appears, you cannot stop loving your old pet and show him your love at every opportunity.
Cats need to be separated for some time into different rooms with closing doors.
Preparing for a second pet
Before you bring a new friend or girlfriend into your home for an existing pet, you need to divide the cat’s habitat into several sectors for a while: a rest area, food area. This must be done, because at first cats may begin to show aggression when confronting each other, and this will happen until the animals become completely accustomed to each other.
Arrangement of a recreation area
Arrangement of space for animals must meet certain rules:
- The new pet, regardless of whether it is a female cat, should be kept separate from the old one for the first time.
- In no case should you, at first, accustom a new member of the household to the place where a pet that has been in the house for a long time is used to resting. For a new cat, you need to lay a small mattress some distance from the place where the second pet is located.
- If possible, the cats should be separated for some time into different rooms with closing doors. Gradually, when the cat and cat begin to get used to each other, you can move one of the pets to the other’s room, and then they can sleep on the same mattress, but only if they themselves wish to do so.
- It is important to remember that the resting area of an old pet should under no circumstances be changed or moved to another place - for an animal that has been living in the house for a long time, absolutely everything should remain the same, since a change in the usual environment can lead to stress.
You only need to feed your cat and female cat the same food.
How to feed your pets
Advice! At first, the cat and cat should be fed separately, preferably in different rooms.
Otherwise, the cat will try to dominate the cat, as a result of which the cat will always remain hungry, and the cat will always be full and fat. Gradually, as the cat and cat get used to each other, you can place both bowls next to each other. It is important that both the cat and the cat eat at the same time, this will distract them for some time from showing attention to each other. You only need to feed your cat and cat the same food, and the portions should be equal for both pets. During the period when the cat and cat have separate meals, the bowl of a pet that has been in the house for a long time must be in its place, otherwise the animal may begin to get nervous, stop eating or show aggression towards the new household member.
Litter tray
Before bringing a new pet into your home, you need to make sure that it has its own litter box, preferably a new one, since in no case should cats be allowed to have one toilet for two at first. At the same time, you need to ensure that the tray is clean before the new cat arrives, otherwise the new household member will not relieve himself in this tray, but will mark and dirty the corners of the house. With all this, it should be borne in mind that you cannot change the location of the “old” pet’s toilet. For a cat that has been living in the house for a long time, it is necessary that everything remains the same; they should never be infringed upon in any way.
You need to remember and prepare for the fact that a new pet may mark its territory for some time, but not in the litter tray, but in corners and other places that are invisible at first glance. Therefore, it is important to try to accustom your cat to the litter box on the very first day.
It is advisable for each cat to have its own litter box.
How to Prepare for a New Kitten
Preparation is key to successful kitten training. If you prepare your cat for the new arrival and make the changes less drastic, she will be more likely to adjust to her new roommate. Give yourself (and your older cat) plenty of time to prepare for this adjustment by following these steps.
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Calm your big cat
There are pheromones that can be used to create a peaceful environment for any cat. A few weeks before the new kitten arrives is a good time to use them. Diffusers, sprays and wipes are available to help your cat relax without medication. Try using pheromones for at least a few weeks before bringing your kitten home.
If you suspect your cat will be stressed and anxious about a new kitten, consider supplements that are designed to calm your cat. This will not poison your pet with the medicine, but will help him calm down and relax. They usually work best if administered several weeks before the expected stressful event and can be continued after the new kitten arrives. Ingredients typically include L-theanine, phellodendron, magnolia, whey or milk proteins, and other natural ingredients that have been shown to be safe and effective for pets.
Prepare your home
Before your kitten comes home, you will need to introduce new items such as food bowls, beds, another litter box, and toys in and around the house. Start putting these items in new places a week before you need to kitten train your cat so that your cat can get a feel for them and get used to all the new things. If you can, try including items that already have kitty scent on them. Make sure you are prepared for your kitten. If you are stressed and unprepared, your older cat may notice this and be negatively affected by it.
Designate a small room, such as a bathroom, for the kitten to have privacy in for the first week or so. Your older cat should be able to walk up to the door of this room to hear and smell the kitten, but without interacting with it in any way. Place your kitten's things (litter box, food bowls, etc.) in this room along with a toy that belongs to your older cat.
Prepare your cat
Make sure your older cat is healthy. The added stress of an unhealthy cat will only make things worse, and you want your cat to not only be mentally prepared for a new kitten, but also physically ready to handle it. Take your cat to the vet to make sure she is healthy and up to date on her vaccinations. Respiratory illnesses are common in kittens, and you want your older cat's immune system to be ready to handle whatever comes her way. If your cat or kitten is itching or biting, you will also need to update your rabies vaccine to avoid any problems.
First meeting
Familiarity is a very important factor in a situation when the question arises of how to make friends between a cat and a cat. Often people, due to their inexperience in matters of this kind, make mistakes, as a result of which it may take much more time for a cat and a cat to become friends. You cannot immediately bring a cat and a cat face to face, it is even more undesirable to allow both of them to be alone in a closed room, but at the same time, it is not recommended to immediately separate the animals into different rooms. It is necessary to introduce them in a calm environment, without leaving them alone with each other for a long time, and even more so they should not be allowed to fight.
If you separate the cat and cat into different rooms, then it is desirable that there is a door between these rooms. In the case where there is no door, it is necessary to stretch the mesh in the doorway between the rooms - this in some cases helps the cat and the cat get closer together much faster. When convergence has occurred, the net should be removed.
Attention! Before you try to make friends between an adult cat and a cat, you need to know that very often such friendship develops into a love relationship.
At first, the cat will show his leadership in everything, prove that he is a “real man,” and this applies not only to nutrition. Typically, this behavior of a cat consists of the fact that he often hisses at the cat, hits and scratches, does not allow her passage and does not even allow her to simply lie down and rest.
You need to introduce the cat and the cat in a calm environment
If the cats are ordinary and not purebred, then it is advisable to castrate or sterilize one of the pets. It is known that cats are very fertile animals, and cats are capable of going to any lengths in order to get to the female during the hunting period. Separating pets during the mating season will not lead to anything good, since the owner may simply not keep track of the cat, which will persistently get its way. Among other things, cats are aggressive during the hunting season and scream very loudly, and even a very patient cat lover may not be able to withstand this. The same applies to neighbors, who are likely to begin to show their dissatisfaction. Sterilization or castration is necessary so that the cat does not have the ability to give birth, since after this there is a problem with the fact that the kittens need to be placed somewhere, and in addition, frequent childbirth can adversely affect the physical and mental state of the cat itself.
How to train a cat to be a kitten
Although an older cat will sometimes accept a new kitten right away, it usually takes some time to adjust to the changes. Sometimes cats never fully accept a new kitten; they simply coexist, staying away from the other cat in the house. It's important to make sure that no matter how your cat feels with the new kitten, things remain calm and that you have a better chance of forming a friendship from the start.
First week
When you bring your kitten home, let your cat smell him while he's in the crate or in your arms. Go straight to the previously assigned room, groom your new kitten and let him explore. His litter box, food bowls, bed and some toys should be easily accessible. Do not allow the older cat to have unsupervised access to the kitten.
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At night, when you are not at home and cannot supervise the kitten and the older cat, keep the kitten in a specially designated room with the door closed. When your cat gets curious, she can stick her foot under the door, sniff under the door, and listen to the kitten. Do this for about a week, depending on how your cat deals with the changes. Remember to pay close attention to your older cat after playing with him. They will need your attention and support, and the smell of the kitten on your clothes will help them get used to the newcomer.
Encourage time together
After a week, allow the kitten to explore the house under your close attention. Allow your older cat to observe this exploration and leave if she wishes. Do not force interaction between cat and kitten. If your cat has a favorite interactive toy, such as a feather wand or laser pointer, try playing with both cats at the same time. This will stimulate mutual activity. You can also feed them treats at the same time and feed them from different bowls at the same time. Make sure there is enough space between feeders so your older cat doesn't feel threatened.
Reward any positive interactions your older cat has with your kitten with praise, treats, and physical affection. You want your cat to associate the kitten with joy and positivity.
Let your cat establish a hierarchy
Cats need order, and the new member of your family needs to know where he stands. Your older cat may have a period of time where she tries to establish a hierarchy with the new kitten, this is one of the steps in how to train a cat to be a kitten. They may hiss and hit your kitten when they do something your older cat doesn't want. This is completely normal, and while they are just whistling and knocking, try not to disturb them. Your older cat begins to take on the role of the dominant cat in the house, and the kitten is taught its limitations as the new cat.
Useful tips
Before purchasing a new pet, you should think about whether he can get along with the pet already living in the house, and also about how, if possible, to make friends between a cat and a cat in the shortest possible time. Since cats of different sexes get used to each other much faster than cats of the same sex, you should not forget that the character of each animal is individual. It is important to always monitor the mood and emotional state of the cat and cat, and also remember that both pets need love in all its manifestations: both the old and the new.
Separating pets during mating season will not lead to anything good
Do not forget that both cats and cats are very sensitive creatures who always understand the attitude of their owners towards themselves, be it love or lack thereof. Having felt and sensed everything that the owner experiences in relation to them, pets begin to behave accordingly.
