8 Expert Tips to Help You Introduce a New Kitten to Your Cat
1. Consider your cats’ personalities.
Before adding a raw kitten to your home consider your stream guy ‘s personality, long time, and attitude. If your cat is in the prime of her life and has a bold, outgoing personality, she may enjoy having a absorbing fresh roommate to watch and play with. On the early hand, if your vomit is getting up in years or has a cloistered attitude, adding a new kitten may barely make the poor thing anxious and stressed. Most cats will accept a newly kitten over time, but if you know your guy will be hapless, you might want to hold off on adopting a new kitten.
2. Introduce by scent first.
Start the presentation by giving your guy something that smells like the kitten, advises Zazie Todd, PhD, social psychologist, laminitis of the popular web log Companion Animal Psychology and generator of “ Wag : The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. ” “ Show the big cat something from the kitten ‘s bed, ” she says. “ then make certain to treat your cat. ” Todd says that food as a positive association can help build the bond.
Illustration of big white cat meeting a small brown cat
credit : Emma Darvick
3. Provide the cats separate space at first.
Keep your new kitten in a offprint room from your resident vomit. That way, they can begin getting used to each other ‘s scent without having to confront each early face-to-face. then after a few days, put the kitten in a carrier or a room with a screen door so they can see and smell each other from a safe distance. Do n’t worry if your older cat hisses and howl and runs off ( some cats can be play queens ). Eventually curiosity will win out and your cat will slowly approach the kitten again.
4. Infuse calming influences.
During the introduction phase, you can smooth the waters by using a pheromone spray to calm both cats. “ There is evidence that pheromones do work to help cats get along, ” Todd says. She recommends the Feliway Multicat diffuser, which calms cats.
5. Be patient.
never rush an introduction of your kitten to your computerized tomography. Cats are creatures of substance abuse and may resent the trespass of a young feline, but over prison term things will broadly work out. It ‘s up to you to stay sedate and incontrovertible and never try to force the animals in concert before they ‘re cook.
6. Feed your kitten at the same time.
Try feeding your felines at the lapp time from each side of the screen or kitten carrier. This way, your older cat-o’-nine-tails will begin to associate the new kitten with a pleasant have.
7. Give your kitten her own litter box.
Always provide your new kitten his own litter box and food and water bowls away from where your stream big cat dines and does her clientele. Todd says that kittens and cats should have their own everything. If each animal has their own dine and bathroom facilities, there ‘s less chance of disputes.
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8. Know when to play referee.
once you feel your cat-o’-nine-tails has become used to the kitten ‘s presence, you can introduce them in the same room. fair be ready to referee any likely disputes. But most of the time, the resident guy will either hiss and stalk off or greet the kitten with a quick sniff and then fair ignore its universe. Remember, though, that kittens can be pretty clueless and may keep trying to play with and even jump onto the older kat. If this happens, redirect the kitten with a treat or play and positive boost .