How Do You Bring A Second Cat Into Your Home?
It is difficult to predict whether or not a cat will accept a new resident into its home. Cats as a species have become more socially adaptable as a result of domestication, though individual cats still vary greatly in their level of cat acceptance. Furthermore, as people get older, it becomes more difficult for them to change their sociability.
There are undoubtedly many more factors to consider when determining how a cat will interact with other cats. Scientists have already identified some of these factors.
Steps for a Smooth Transition When Adding a Second Cat to Your Home
Details on the current cat (s)
Answer each of these questions separately for the cats you already have at home and the potential new cat.
After considering all of these factors, there are a few things that should be thoroughly considered before deciding whether or not to get another cat. Because these elements are more likely to work together than separately, the more people who respond in favor of another cat, the more likely it is that a new cat will be accepted.
Is the cat spayed or neutered?
Stray cat colonies are usually made up of connected females and their offspring. However, there is currently insufficient data to conclusively state whether a cat's gender influences how well it gets along with other cats after neutering.
Is the cat related to the other cats or to the new cat(s)?
According to studies on both domesticated and feral cats, related cats are more likely to get along with one another than unrelated cats. Sibling cats are a good option if you want to get two new cats at the same time because getting two linked cats at different times can be difficult.
Do you have a cat that has been neutered?
Learn how to bring a second cat into your home. Unless your cat is kept for breeding, all cats should be neutered to avoid unwanted kitten litters. Because they don't have any circulating sexual hormones, neutered cats are much more likely to get along with one another. These hormones can aid male cats in competing for and defending their territories.
How is the cat's mental and physical health?
Getting another cat is generally not a good idea if your current one is sick. Cats who are ill, injured, or suffering from stress-related problems are more likely to find a new cat unsettling than enriching.
What is the cat's age?
How do you bring a second cat into your home? A kitten has a better chance of being accepted into a cat's home in general. However, introducing a young cat to an older cat may be problematic if the young cat plays excessively with the older cat, who will have less of an appetite for play. In many cases, having two playful kittens is preferable to having only one. However, in addition to the first kitten, the family must have the time and resources to care for two more kittens.
What do you think of the cat's personality?
Numerous studies on the temperaments (personalities) of cats have been conducted, and they vary just like people. Some people are fearless and confident, while others are cautious and timid. Two fearful cats may purposefully avoid one another or seek comfort from one another, whereas two brave cats may fight by competing for resources. Even so, it's critical to consider both your current cat(s) and the new possible cat(s), especially in terms of how they react to novelty and change, as well as how sociable they are in general. Although there is no hard and fast rule regarding which temperaments are most compatible with one another, it is still important to consider this.
What do I know about the cat's parents and its first 12 weeks?
The temperament of a kitten is influenced by both environment and inheritance. As a result, kittens whose parents are sociable and have friendly attitudes toward other cats are more likely to exhibit those traits. However, the environment also plays a significant role. During the socialization phase, which lasts between two and eight weeks of life (including other cats), cats are most receptive to social learning.
How do you bring a second cat into your home? Kittens are more likely to view other cats positively during this time if they interact with them nicely. As a result, if a cat was properly socialized to other cats during this sensitive period, it is more likely that it will grow up to accept them. The likelihood of such acceptance is expected to increase if the cat interacts with other cats on a regular basis throughout kittenhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Has the cat ever met an adult cat before?
True, even a single negative experience can cause a cat to be afraid of other cats. Negative experiences have a large impact on recall and learning. It is critical to determine whether any of the cats in question have ever been involved in an unpleasant catfight, as this may have influenced how they now interact with other cats.
How many other cats has my current cat met recently?
How do you bring a second cat into your home? How do the cats get along now that they're living together? How does the cat act around other cats if it has access to the outside? If a cat is already anxious, fearful, or aggressive, the presence of other cats may exacerbate these characteristics.
Is my lifestyle and home suitable for a new cat?
The type, quantity, and distribution of a cat's resources, such as its resting and sleeping quarters, toilet facilities, food and water bowls, toys, and scratching posts, can have a significant impact on its mood. Sharing sources will be difficult for cats who do not consider themselves to be part of the same social group.
How do you bring a second cat into your home? It's critical to understand that just because cats cohabitate doesn't mean they consider themselves to be members of the same social group. As a result, any new cats introduced must have access to their own resources. If you answer "No" to any of the following questions, your cat's chances of adapting to a new cat are diminished. The more "No's" you get, the less likely 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, am I permitted to give the new cat its own room during the first few days of acclimatization? (Learn how to introduce a kitten or new adult cat to your cat here.)
Can I:
There should be as many of each resource as there are cat-owning family members.
Make certain that each resource is kept separate from the others and that it is distributed evenly throughout the house.
Place resources in a way that prevents any cats from obstructing or escaping from them.
Do you interact with, stroke, or groom each cat in a way that they enjoy?