Cats are capricious animals, and the proximity of two pets in the same apartment can cause discord. It is easier for animals to settle down together if you have them at a young age and at the same time. It is much more difficult when you get a second animal later.
The main reasons for conflicts are reluctance to share the territory and attention of the owner, differences in gender and age, and ordinary fear. Provoking factors can be various physiological or psycho-emotional characteristics of cats. And before you decide to get two cats at once, you need to soberly assess their chances of peaceful coexistence.
Much depends on the breed of cats - the most aggressive breeds are those with wild roots, as well as hybrid ones (Bengal, Chausie, Savannah, Toyger, etc.). Persians, British, Siamese and other natural breeds have difficulty accepting rivals. It is advisable to introduce them in infancy; in this case they can become friends. Breeds bred through selective breeding are much easier to make friends with another cat - these include Sphinxes, Rexes, Bambinos. Nibelungs and Russian Blues are very calm and accept a second cat well.
We’ll look at how to introduce and make friends between two cats in this article.
How to introduce a cat to a kitten. Let's organize the first acquaintance of cats
Here are the basic recommendations for the first meeting:
- On the eve of meeting, it is advisable to cut and file the cats’ claws so that they do not injure each other.
- Open all doors so cats can leave the room freely.
- If the first cat already lives in the apartment, put the second animal in a carrier and leave it in the hallway so that the “owner” of the room can sniff it. Only then open the door. Do not remove the animal by force.
- Observe the reaction and do not intervene unless necessary.
- Do not bring cats face to face or lock them in the same room. However, you shouldn’t immediately lock them in different rooms either.
Where to get?
There is a choice: here you have cats you know, nurseries with and without names, shelters, foster care, the Bird Market and His Majesty Chance.
Let’s agree right away that we are rejecting the Poultry Market for reasons of safety of an existing pet: the risk of buying not a healthy animal from the owner, but a “boxed version of a kitten” from a reseller (read: an emaciated animal suffering from almost all possible infections) is too great.
His Majesty the Case. Everything is simple here: dear Universe, responding to your request for a second animal, sends you a “messenger”. This could be a domestic kitten abandoned to the mercy of fate, a “boxer” on the move, or an accidental addition to the family of a yard or completely domestic cat. You just saw a certain cat essence and realized that this was your destiny.
Shelters and foster care. Carefully! In this case, the risk of taking a sick animal is also very high. Want to play it safe? Go to the chosen place yourself and conduct a “reconnaissance”. Dirty cages, smell, neglected animals are a reason to turn around and leave.
If the owner of the foster home takes the animal to the stairwell, to the elevator, to the corridor, but resolutely does not allow you into the apartment, the situation is even worse. For the safety of your pet, we advise you to look elsewhere for your new pet. Of course, except for those cases when you understand that life is not sweet for you without this beast.
Nurseries. It is better to choose a well-known nursery that has a website and good recommendations. Ask cat owners you know, go to specialized forums and, armed with a critical attitude, study the available information: your meticulousness will help save two cats’ lives (don’t forget about your existing pet)!
Cats of acquaintances/device through forums. Feel free to ask your “feline relatives” about everything that interests you: the date of birth of the kittens, living conditions, why they give away an adult animal? Is there an opportunity to visit your future household member? Don’t neglect it: it’s better to see it once and ask 10 questions than to ask a thousand questions during correspondence.
When looking for a candidate, be sure to pay attention to his health, availability of vaccinations, “sense of litter tray and scratching post” and communicability: about some animals they immediately write that they are the only pet in the family.
How to make friends with cats of different ages
It is easier for animals to make friends at the same age, and the sooner this happens, the better. In a situation where a younger animal is brought into the apartment of an older friend, most likely the second one will growl and show that he is in charge here. It’s good if the second cat avoids the conflict, but worse if it also growls in response. Here a lot depends on the gender of both animals.
Cat and kitten
An adult male almost never accepts a new kitten in a friendly manner. But if we are talking about a very small animal, he usually does not start a serious fight: at most he will hit him with his paw. The exception is if the baby himself shows aggression.
When a kitten reaches 3 months of age, it is possible that the older cat may strangle it. Therefore, you should not leave them alone until you are sure that the animals have become friends.
In this case, it is better if the older animal is neutered.
Cat and kitten
Typically, an adult cat will show displeasure (arching its back and hissing), but rarely show overt aggression. Over time, her maternal instinct will turn on, and this will help the animals get along. Neutered cats hiss especially often and do not allow the kitten to approach them - don’t be alarmed, this is normal. Over time, the animals will get used to it and start playing together.
The quieter you go, the further you'll get
This may require considerable time and patience, and you will also need to reward your dog for good behavior. If your dog has a calm character or has experience interacting with cats, you can use a sturdy cat carrier when introducing animals. Keep your dog on a leash, place the carrier on a surface above floor level and let your pets get to know each other. Contacts should be frequent and short-lived. Most dogs soon calm down when they realize that the cat is not particularly interesting. In the next step, move on to direct animal contact, still keeping the dog on a leash for safety. If your dog is easily excitable, walk him at a brisk pace first - he will use up some of his energy and become calmer. Dogs of breeds such as terriers or greyhounds (who like to give chase) are best supervised strictly until they learn that a cat is not a toy. Small puppies get excited at the sight of a cat and may try to "play" with it, which will not delight the cat at all. You may have to work hard to keep the situation under control, and be prepared that a sudden jump from your cat may provoke I'll give chase. Praise your dog for calm behavior, make him sit still, and use treats as a reward. Again, try to make your dog associate the cat's presence with a reward for calm behavior. When you finally decide to take your dog's leash off, make sure your cat has somewhere to hide (high shelves or furniture) to feel safe. Never leave a cat or dog alone without attention until you are sure that each other's company does not pose a danger to them. Cat food will be extremely attractive to your dog, so keep it away from your dog. Likewise, the litter box may be of interest to your dog, so if he encroaches on its contents, keep it away.
How to make friends between two cats of the same age
A lot depends on age here. The easiest way is to make two kittens friends. They are on an equal footing, they have no clear leader and no territorial claims, so there is no reason for conflict. While playing, the kittens will explore the space and soon become friends. If suddenly this does not happen, try to distract them from each other with food or toys. Be sure to prepare a separate place for everyone to sleep and their own bowl.
Cat and cat
Animals of different sexes do not tend to compete with each other, so in this case there should be no conflicts. But it is best to sterilize the cat and at the same time castrate the male.
To make cats get along faster
Recommendations for selecting a partner if the animal was not picked up on the street, but there is an intention to adopt it from a shelter, nursery, or from friends:
- It is better for an old animal not to take a kitten. Kids are too active and intrusive and will irritate an older cat.
- A low-active neighbor will suit a timid pet.
- It's better to choose the same age.
- Two cats in the house will get along faster than two cats whose instincts may interfere.
- A cat that has kitted adapts to a kitten faster than one that has not given birth.
- There is little chance that friendships will develop between non-sterile animals.
- It is better not to house one sterile animal and a second non-sterile animal together.
How to break up a fight
Conflict between cats can manifest itself in different ways and does not always require the intervention of the owner. When cats run after each other, hiss, and sometimes give a short blow with their paw, there is no reason to intervene. Just watching your pets is enough. The grinding process is inevitable - and the sooner it begins, the sooner it will come to an end. It makes sense to intervene when there is a real fight involved.
Never try to separate fighting cats with your bare hands. These are predators with sharp claws and teeth. Even despite their small size, they can seriously injure a person.
The easiest option is to throw a blanket or large towel over the cats. Other options are to splash water on them or try to separate them with a mop/any long stick. When you stop the fight, take the new cat into another room. Leave them in isolation for 1-2 days, then try again to introduce the animals.
Useful tips and nuances
Here are some tips to help make friends with animals:
- At first, do not let the new cat use the “old” cat’s things. For each animal you need to allocate its own area and its own personal items (toilet, bowl, toys, bed). Ideally, each cat should have its own room.
- When the animals get used to each other, you can gradually put things of the other animal on each one, swap their bedding, or comb them with the same brush.
- Set up a sleeping area for the new animal as far as possible from the sleeping area for the old-timer cat. at the greatest possible distance from the old-timer’s resting place. The same goes for food space and litter tray space. At first, you shouldn’t put them next to each other. Feed the animals at the same time, but in different places.
- Involve both cats in playing together.
- Treat both cats equally, do not give reasons for jealousy, pet them as often as possible. It is acceptable to pay a little more attention to the older cat at first, since he usually experiences more stress.
Despite the fact that cats are very capricious and do not like competition, in most cases two animals can be friends or at least peacefully coexist in the same territory. Much depends on the breed, sex and age of the animals. The easiest way is to make friends between two individuals of different sexes at a young age. In any case, the owner needs to be vigilant, monitor the behavior of the animals in the first days after meeting them and provide them with the most comfortable conditions.
What needs to be done before the kitten arrives?
Even before a new pet arrives in the house, there is a little work that needs to be done. It consists of preparing the house for the arrival of a new tenant and providing him with shelter.
Prepare the house
First of all, try to block all places where pets can hide. Spaces under the bed, under the sectional, under the TV stand and similar spaces. If something goes wrong and the cats start fighting, you will have a hard time separating them under the bed.
Cats use all space, including vertical space. Some people prefer to sit below, while others prefer to watch everything from above. It's hard to predict in advance what your new kitten will like best. So try to make sure he has a choice. Place a tall cat tree to provide a vantage point from above. You can attach special shelves to provide access to the upper space.
Assess whether there are places in the house where one pet can drive another. These cute creatures don't like to feel trapped. This is why many people don’t like closed trays. If pets suddenly start chasing each other, everyone should have an escape route.
Try to block off all the places in the house where one cat can chase another and where it will be difficult for you to get them out.
Prepare a shelter for the kitten
Moving is stressful for him. He will need time to get used to his new home. It is important to provide a safe shelter during adaptation.
Choose the room where the kitten will live for the first time. This room needs to be arranged properly, placing in it everything the kitten needs:
- bowls,
- tray,
- toys,
- bed,
- scratching post
It is important that the kitten has a scratching post - it will not only protect the furniture from the claws of your pet. By scratching the scratching post, he leaves his scent and his marks on it - this is how the kitten marks the object. This is an important element of cat communication that will be useful in future stages.
