18 Jun Second Chance: Cat-to-Cat Introductions in the Home!
Since 1994, the Animal Resource Center and the Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been dedicated to serving animals in Southwestern Colorado. Adoption hours are every day from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The facility is located at 177 County Rd 10, Ridgway, CO. View shelter pets and services online at secondchancehumane.org.
View shelter pets and services online at www.secondchancehumane.org.
View shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.
Donate here or mail to: PO Box 2096, Ridgway, CO, 81432.
Second Chance is actively looking for fosters. Interested parties should email foster@secondchancehumane.org
Go here for more about Second Chance.
The following pet column is from the Feline Behavior Library at Second Chance, where we share tips for common training challenges.
Taking the right steps to properly introduce a new cat to existing cat(s) in your home will let the cats get comfortable slowly, while hopefully avoiding litter-box issues, stress, or fights.
When the new cat comes home, start with a sanctuary room. This is a quiet, enclosed room (bedroom, office, large bathroom) where your new cat will stay with a litter box, food and water (placed away from the litterbox), hiding places, cozy bedding, scratching post, and toys. The space will offer predictability and security while they acclimate. Cats are sensitive creatures and need time to decompress on their terms: some cats adjust quickly (within a few days); others can take longer (weeks or months). The sanctuary keeps your new cat separate from your cat(s) until your new cat feels confident and secure. It also helps to prevent your new cat from becoming overwhelmed while they are decompressing.
Spend time with your new cat in their sanctuary space! (Just have no other pets in this space during acclimation.) Do not force interactions; let the cat do things on their terms. Gently talking to them or slowly blinking at them may help if they seem stressed. Some cats do better being left alone if they are in a high-stress state.
Start introducing your cats by scent swapping. Exchange bedding or use a soft cloth to rub one cat, then the other. Place the new bedding or cloth in the other cat’s area so they can investigate and start to get familiar. Repeat daily for a few days.
Next, move on to site swapping. Just put each pet into the other’s area to explore each other’s scents/territories. Do that an hour or two at a time, once a day. This is easier if you can switch the pets without them seeing each other.
Slow visual introductions can be started by using baby gates, screen doors, or cracked doors to allow the cats to see each other without direct contact. Watch for signs of curiosity vs. fear/aggression. Ensure visual introductions are closely monitored.
Make sure to create positive associations by feeding both cats on opposite sides of the barrier and letting them near each other (still separated). If that goes well begin short, supervised sessions with both cats in the same room. Keep sessions calm and end on a positive note. Increase duration gradually.
Finally, you can start full integration by allowing the cats to interact freely under observation, while monitoring for signs of conflict or stress.
It can take days to weeks for proper cat-to-cat introductions. Be patient! Hissing, growling, and puffing up are very normal. That is how cats communicate and should not be discouraged. However, escalation of these behaviors can happen quickly! Avoiding a cat fight is very important to ensure their safety and happiness. If these reactions start to escalate, slow things down and go back a step or two in the introduction process mentioned above.
Emmy
Emmy came to us after raising a litter of kittens. She’s a beautiful tabby-and-white cat who is about two years old.
Emmy has an adorable round face, is playful, and would love a home of her own
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