How To Introduce A New Cat To Your Current Cat...Is It Really That Hard?

So you've got a new cat...congratulations!  So how do you introduce him/her to your current cat?  Will they just work it out?  Sometimes they will and sometimes they won't.  It is important that a slow introduction be done and to work on their time frame and not yours. 

A slow introduction means they are separated for a while and the new cat has a space of their own to get used to the new sights, sounds, smells, etc. as well as the new friend on the other side of the door.  It's important that the new cat have a space of their own because more than likely he/she will be nervous and may hide for a little while.  That is okay for them to do because they are just doing what makes them feel safe.  It's important to establish a routine and to spend time with them in the room regardless of whether they come out to see you or not.  Eventually they will come out, I promise.

At some point the current cat will be interested in the new cat and there will be sniffing, pawing and probably some hissing under the door.  This is very normal behavior.  They are starting to establish the heirarchy in the household.  Cats are territorial animals so they have to figure out who is in charge, but this can be done slowly.  Here are some links to some great information from not only the Humane Society but Jackson Galaxy as well.

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/introducing_new_cat.html

So what do you need in order to set up the initial safe place for the new cat?  You'll need a litter box, food and water dishes, a scratching post, and what I call a 'hidey hole' which is simply a small space for them to hide such as a box with a hole cut in it or a cubbie from a pet store.  If you want to get them a bed in case they want to sleep in it that is fine but depending on the cat it may be a while before that happens. 

The most important thing to do during this process is listen to the cats and what they want.  For instance, if you crack the door so they can see each other and there is swatting and hissing then they are not ready.  You can also use food as a way to teach them when they see the other cat they get food which is good so the other cat must be good.  Whatever is of high value to the cats is what you will use to teach them the other cat is good.

This is what you want to see when they meet instead of hissing and swatting

A good meeting may involve a hiss or two and then ignoring the other cat.  It may involve what you see in the picture above or they may rub up against each other.  It just depends on the cats.  The timeframe also depends on the cats.

I have friends who have 6 cats and every single one of them walked into the house and within 24 hours they were integrated.  This is highly unusual and does not normally happen with new cats. 

In my experience, it takes about a week to a month for the cats to start accepting each other.  Depending on the background of the cat it can take longer, however.  I have fostered cats that never integrated and went to homes with no other cats and they are extremely happy.

All of this being said, segregation is a good thing at first and let them slowly get used to each other.  It will happen, it just takes time.  If you are patient with them they will reward you with a lifetime of love and companionship.

As always, we  welcome comments and questions and any topics you'd like to see discussed here.  Please do not forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.  Tell your family and friends about us!  Thanks for reading.

Introducing A Pet To Children...The Safe Way

Having a baby is a very exciting and busy time for a couple.  If it's the first child and you have a pet then the stress can be heightened even more because what if the pet doesn't like the baby?  What if the baby is allergic to the pet?  Lots of questions with seemingly nowhere to find the answers.  Well here's some answers to some all to frequently asked questions.

First, you don't have to give up your cat because you are having a baby.  It won't smother your baby.  That is an old wives tale that is not true.  Your cat can get a long with your baby just fine with some ground rules just like anything else.  As your child grows then he/she will need to learn how to interact with the cat as well.  This goes for dogs too because kids do not automatically know how to treat animals.  They have to be taught and they will learn by watching their parents as well.

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/DogCareArticle.aspx?title=Introducing_Your_Pet_to_a_Baby

http://familypaws.com/

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/pets_babies.html

Another cool fact is you may not even know you are pregnant but your pet will.  You may wonder why they are all of a sudden more clingy or more protective or having elimination issues or want more attention than normal.  If it's possible you may be pregnant then you might want to test because dogs and cats have an extraordinary sense for this type of thing and can sense hormonal changes.

Ok.  So the test is positive.  Congratulations!  Now what?  Just enjoy being pregnant and involve your pet.  Once you decide on a name then you can say the name a lot so your pet hears it and gets used to it because you'll be saying it all the time anyway.  Let your pet sniff the baby's clothing.  Make this a positive experience for them as well.  Making the nursery off limits is fine but the pet must know his/her limits in a positive, non-disciplinary manner so as not to let the pet feel the baby is bad.  Baby gates to the nursery as a barrier are a good way to keep the pet out while still allowing him/her to view what's going on and feel a part of the family.

 All of this being said, not all animals will love your children as much as you do so if your cat or dog is attacking you and you are pregnant it's important to look into whether or not he/she doesn't like children or if it is a medical condition.  Do not assume you must give up your furry family member because you have a non-furry family member being added to the picture.  We can learn a great deal from our pets.

I hope this has helped some of you and maybe sparked some thought in others.  I've included some links to some of the experts that can give some more feedback and support as well.

As always, if you have questions, comments or concerns please let us know and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Also, click the follow button on this page as well.

Pet Sitting Thor and Megan the Newfoundlands

This is Megan at 17 weeks old.

I was pet sitting for friends this weekend and they have two Newfoundlands.   One is Thor who is 4 years old and the other is Megan who is 17 weeks old.  Thor is a big teddy bear who loves people and all animals.  He has had a few surgeries and has a hard time walking now.  Megan, on the other hand, is 100% puppy.  She loves to play with people and Thor and he shows her how to play nice while on the floor so they don't hurt each other.

Thor at 4 years old.

These dogs are wonderful and are truly gentle giants.  My friends also have cats.  These dogs have managed to be trained by the cats on what kitty manners are and they definitely abide by this rule of the house.  The cats that are their personal cats are all black except for one tabby and one torbie.  They all have their own personalities just like humans.  Every time a new cat comes in there is dissension among the ranks until everyone gets used to the new kid.  That is very normal for cats, though.  Slow introductions are best when introducing a new cat to help everyone get used to everything slowly.

My friends are volunteers in rescue with me.  They help with cats that need special attention for anything from abuse to just needing to fatten up.  It is truly amazing the affect a lot of love and some food can do for a life that has been basically thrown away because its former owners didn't want he/she anymore.

I love pet sitting for my friends and love their furry family members.  They are like my own family and when one of them is sick they always text and call me to give me updates no matter what is wrong.