Meeting neighbors

How to introduce your kitten to another cat

If you already have one cat living in your house, she will most likely start guarding her territory when a kitten appears. You naturally want your pets to become friends. But it is also natural that you will have to make some effort to achieve this – your first cat may perceive the kitten as a rival, because until now she was in charge of the house and disposed of everything at her own discretion.

You will need time

It will be easier for your pets to accept each other if you follow some simple rules. First, introduce the animals gradually. Secondly, make sure that the kitten does not claim the food and place of your cat. Then chances are your pets will get along. But it is possible that they will never be able to make friends.

When you decide that the time has come for dating, properly organize and control this process. Don’t leave them alone with each other. Choose a moment when the house is calm and quiet. Since your kitten has not yet reached puberty, your cat will not perceive him as a threat or compete with him. The risk of rivalry is also reduced if you have a cat and a cat. But do not rush to bring them face to face. Keep them apart for the time being, but let them explore each other’s habitats so they each get used to having someone else in the house.

A little about scents

Smell is the most important sense for cats. You can use this: mix the smell of your kitten’s fur with the smell of your house before introducing a new housemate to your cat. You can also mix the smells of a cat and a new kitten by stroking one of them, then the other, without washing your hands. This will make it easier for your pets to get used to each other.

The kitten must have its own place

You can set up a pen or cage for your kitten in which to place his bed, litter box, and water bowl. This way he will feel safe. When a fearsome cat enters the introduction room, your kitten will feel protected in the enclosure and still be able to see her. The dating process can take several days. When you decide it’s time, open the cage and let the kitten walk out on its own.

There is no guarantee that your cats will become best friends; in this case, let their relationship develop on its own. Eventually most cats learn to tolerate each other.