How to Bring Another Cat into Your Home?
It's hard to tell if a cat will welcome a new person into its home. Domestication has made cats as a species more socially adaptable in some ways, but each cat is still very different in how well they get along with other cats. Also, it gets harder for people to change how friendly they are as they get older.
There are definitely a lot more things to think about when figuring out how a cat will act around other cats. Scientists have already found out about some of these things.
How to Bring a Second Cat Home: Steps for a Smooth Introduction
Find out about the current cat or cats.
Give different answers to each of these questions about the cats you already have and the cat you might get.
After thinking about all of these things, there are a few things you should really think about before you decide whether or not to get another cat. Because these factors are more likely to work together than on their own, the more positive responses there are, the more likely it is that a new cat will be accepted.
Have you fixed the cat?
Stray cat colonies are usually made up of females who are connected to each other and their kittens. But there isn't enough information right now to say for sure if a cat's gender affects how well it gets along with other cats after it's been neutered.
Is the cat related to the other cats in the house or the new cat(s)?
Studies of both pet cats and wild cats show that related cats are more likely to get along with each other than cats that are not related. If you want to get two new cats at once, siblings are a good choice because it can be hard to get two cats who are related if you get them at different times.
Do you have a cat that has been fixed?
Learn how to bring another cat into your home. All cats should be neutered to stop them from having litters of kittens that no one wants. Because they don't have any sexual hormones, neutered cats are also much more likely to get along with each other. Male cats can compete for mates and protect their territories with the help of these hormones.
How is the cat's physical and mental health?
In general, if your cat is sick, it is not a good idea to get another one. Cats who are sick, hurt, or having stress-related problems are more likely to be on guard and find a new cat unsettling rather than interesting.
What's the cat's age?
How to bring another cat into your home. In general, a kitten is more likely to be taken in by a cat's family. But if the young cat plays too much with the older cat, which won't want to play as much, putting a young cat with an older cat could be hard. Most of the time, it would be better to have two playful kittens than just one. But in addition to the first kitten, the home must be able to care for two more kittens and have the time and money to do so.
How do you feel about the cat as a person?
Many studies have been done on cats' personalities, and they vary a lot, just like people do. Some people are sure of themselves and don't have any fear, while others are careful and shy. Two scared cats may try to avoid each other or look to each other for comfort. Two brave cats, on the other hand, may fight over resources. Even so, it's still important to think about how your current cat(s) and the possible new cat(s) react to new things and changes, as well as how friendly they are in general. Even though there is no hard and fast rule about what personalities go well together, it is still important to think about this.
What do I know about the cat's parents and its first 12 weeks?
The way a kitten acts is affected by both its environment and its genes. Because of this, kittens whose parents are friendly and like other cats are more likely to have the same qualities. But the environment is also a very important factor. During the first two to eight weeks of their lives, cats are most open to learning how to get along with other people and other cats.
How to bring another cat into your home. During this time, kittens are more likely to like other cats if they act nice toward them. So, if a cat was well-acquainted with other cats when it was young, it is more likely to be able to get along with them as an adult. This is more likely to happen if the cat has regular, friendly interactions with other cats from the time it is a kitten through the time it is an adult.
Has the cat ever met another grown-up cat?
It is true that a cat can become afraid of other cats after just one bad experience. Negative events have a big effect on our ability to remember and learn. It is important to know if any of the cats in question have ever gotten into a fight with another cat because this could have changed how they act with other cats now.
How many other cats has my cat met in the past few weeks?
How to bring another cat into your home. How do the cats get along now that they live together? If the cat can go outside, how does it act when it sees other cats? If a cat is already anxious, scared, or aggressive, having more cats around may make these traits worse.
Is my home and way of life good for a new cat?
The type, amount, and location of a cat's resources, such as its place to sleep and rest, bathroom, food and water bowls, toys, and scratching posts, can have a big effect on its mood. Cats who don't think of themselves as part of the same social group will find it hard to share food.
How to bring another cat into your home. It's important to remember that just because cats live together doesn't mean they think of themselves as part of the same social group. So, any new cats that are brought in must have access to their own food and water. If you answer "No" to any of the questions below, it will be harder for your cat to get used to a new cat. The more "No's" you get, the less likely it is that your current cat(s) will learn that the new cat(s) are not a threat.
Do I:
Have the time and resources to properly acclimate them. For example, can I give the new cat its own room for the first few days while it gets used to the new environment? (Find out more about how to get your cat to accept a new kitten or adult cat.)
Can I:
There should be as many of each resource as there are family members who own cats.
Make sure that each resource is kept separate from the others and that it is spread out evenly in the house.
Place resources in a way that keeps cats from getting in the way or getting away from them.
Do you play with, pet, or groom each cat in a way that he or she likes?
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