Moving to a new home is a stress for all cats. As animal owners, we can reduce stress by providing a stress-free environment and using soothing pheromones and dietary supplements. It is wonderful that our little family members have different personalities. Sometimes our cats are shy or scared for a variety of reasons. Some animals that have had a tough start in life can be a little unsafe when they come into a new family, so you have to be patient! It takes a long time to get those who have been treated badly to trust people again. In the beginning you can enjoy the small progress.
Introducing cats in homes with other cats - what to think about?
Introducing a new cat in a household that already has other cats is a very high stressor and as a cat owner you should think carefully before procuring more cats. Your household must be large enough so that all cats can feel safe and "take their seat". This is especially true for indoor cats that do not have access to the outdoor environment, where they have the opportunity of a slightly larger breed than what is possible indoors.
There are some cats that could be a little easier to introduce to a household with several other cats:
- younger cats
- neutered cats
- very socialized cats
- cats that are related
- cats that have a friendly and confident temperament
- Different cats have different stress thresholds and different needs. A cat that moves into a new household with several cats is often initially low. Cats can show stress and insecurity by urinating, itching, hiding, reduced appetite and playfulness.
Keep in mind that the more cats you have, the greater the adjustments the cats must make to become an integrated and well-functioning group!
Create a positive atmosphere around the new cat
For the first few days, the new cat should be in its own calm and safe, where all the cat's basic needs are present as well as toys, cat beds, claws that the cat also needs. Feel free to bring things from the cat's previous home so that it recognizes and is safe. Place extra food bowls on both sides of the door into the cat's room. Add extra good food. This way, the new cat and the other cats in the household can feel the smell and presence of each other while doing something nice like eating good food.
Let the cats smell each other before they see each other
Cats like to have control and are a little suspicious of things that are new. If you make the introduction of the new cat incrementally, there is a greater chance that it will occur without stress. Allow the cats to exchange each other's scents. You can put soft (eg fleece) "snout blankets" in the cats' beds which you then replace and place on the other side of the door. Then you can place the cat-scented blankets near places where the cats are often staying but make sure you do not place it in a cat bed / hiding place so that any cat suddenly becomes "crippled". Feel free to place some candy or a fun toy as the cats associate the new scent with something positive.
A few days after the cat has arrived in its new home and it is completely safe and quiet, you can let the old cats enter the new cat's room to discover and take in the scents of the new cat. In the meantime, the new cat may be with one of the family members and get food or play in, for example, the kitchen (if it can be closed) for a short while. The first time the new cat is allowed to invent the other house, it can also do this without the other cats being present. Sometimes this does not happen but if none of the cats get too stressed they can spend the night or an hour in the mat / house bedroom or similar.
First see but not touch
Since the cats do not show any concern or aggression towards the other cat on the other side of the door, you can start to see each other at a distance. Since you do not know how the cats will react, it is best to have some sort of partition between them. You can name compost grates in the door for them to see but not touch each other. You can also start by just opening a little door in the door so they can see but not go in / out of the room. Again, get the cats to link the new cat (s) with something positive. These can be toys, that you play with the cats on either side or with sweets.
Getting to meet each other for the first time
When the cats are confident of seeing the other cat (s), they can meet for the first time. Just let the new cat meet one of the cats living in the household at a time for a start and preferably take a social and calm cat. Let them meet each other for a while while in a positive atmosphere. You can place 2 food bowls a piece in from each other as they receive food at the same time in the room. Another alternative we mentioned before is play as distraction or positive reinforcement. The first times the cats get to meet each other you should always be involved and the visits can be extended gradually.
Risky Business
The cats can spend short moments (a few minutes) with each other without you being present, as long as none of the cats exhibit aggressive behavior. If the cats function freely in hop and they show social behavior you can socialize with each other without being present for short periods throughout the day. The new cat may return to its own safe room between visits.
Enrich your cat's environment
When introducing the cats to each other, environmental enrichment and stimulation are extra important. You need to enrich both the cats' physical environment but also their social / mental environment. Play is liberating for cats and many of their natural behavior such as sneaking, hunting can be exercised in play. Make sure to play with all the cats. Play is also a basic need and a rangy cat may not want to play when a dominant cat is "watching". You may then need to play with a shy cat separately. A shy, rangy cat may need various calm, safe exercises daily. Pat, brush with massage brush. A more dominant and safe cat may need to discharge more energy than a calmer cat.
Meet the cat's basic needs
To minimize stress, always ensure that your cat's basic needs are met;
Access to food and water
Food and water bowls should be placed so that the cat, if shy, can drink and eat in several places in the household. The dining area should be a safe and quiet place in the home (do not place the food bowl and a humming, scary washing machine) The same applies if you have more cats then you should place bowls so that all cats can eat in peace even the rank cats. It is not enough to give all cats their own food bowl but to place them next to each other or close to the kitchen. Some cats prefer to drink from running water. Then a water fountain such as Drinkwell can trigger the cats to drink more.
Access to hiding places
Cats like to sit a little taller and look down at the surroundings. Climbing trees with several ledges are a good solution. But well-secured shelves on the wall are also perfect places where the cat can lie and scoop up possibly hiding. Flooring hiding places can also be good. A used cardboard box that you cut out a door in can serve as a hiding place. Hiding places should be found both in the indoor environment and outdoors. If you have several cats make sure that there are hiding places for cats who want to lie alone but also hiding places / shelves where cats who want to "cuddle" together can fit. KONG Triangle play food is a hiding place and playground in one. It is perfect to have the cat breeder with him so that he can accompany him to the cat's new household. This creates a sense of security.
Access to kiss box
All cats should have a box is the rule. Some shy cats like to see their cat mates and even people when they do their needs. If you do not know what your cat needs, make sure you have a cat box with a roof and one without a roof where the cat can see the surroundings and any threats. The location of the box is also important. You can have one in the toilet but if you have a shy cat or low-lying cat then the cat can be unsure of going to the box that becomes difficult to access in a room. It is better then to place it in a corner where the cat has a free view in front of him but does not need to keep track of his back. Cats also have different preferences on what cat litter they want. Some want lump formation and others want wood pellets etc. Keep in mind that some clay-based / lump-forming cat sander can cause the cat to develop the disease hyperthyroidism as an older cat.
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