Introducing a New Cat Into Your Home
General
Care
If
you are going to introduce a new cat or kitten into a household
with other pets, you need to do this slowly. The new
cat should be confined to a room so that he can get used to
his new surroundings - moving is never easy on a cat. Blankets
or toys with the scent of the other pets in the household should
be given to the new cat and vice versa so that they can get
used to each other's scent. Allow them to sniff at each
other through a closed door. When you decide that they
can meet face-to-face, do this in small amounts of time until
they tolerate each other. A great way to get them to
interact is by playing with them - I especially suggest a feather
wand, fishing rod toy, or string. Throw the toy in
between them, get one cat interested and move him toward the
other. This will take work and daily playing, but soon
they will be playing together.
Never
leave new cats alone in a house with the older residents. Put
them in their own room with the door securely closed to eliminate
problems while you are gone. Make sure to give equal attention
to both old and new cats to avoid them competing for your attention.
Feeding
After
they are getting along, your cats should be able to share bowls. If
you prefer not to do this, set up two separate feeding areas
for each of your cats to avoid one eating the other's food.
Litterbox
If
you adopted your new cat from a litter or a shelter, he will
already know how to use the litter box. When he's in seclusion
get him his own; when you bring him out into the house, place
him in the litter box and let him get out himself. He will
remember where it is and you should not have any problems.
Health
Your
new kitten/cat should have a visit to the veterinarian before
being brought home to check for any diseases and to get him up-to-date
with his shots. There are some diseases that
can be passed between cats so please be sure to take care of
this right away so you don't have health problems down the road. |