Adding a brand new kitten to your loved ones is usually a enjoyable time, however what if you have already got an grownup cat at home? When introducing a brand new kitten to your established feline buddy, you wish to make their well being and security the precedence. Cats are social creatures and infrequently get pleasure from having a buddy or two to share their life inside your home.
Introductions of recent kittens to your older cat will be tough. It will be tempting to introduce the cats to 1 one other rapidly, however ready for the proper time will prevent a lot of grief. Older cats don’t like change, and having a brand new kitten within the home is certainly a big change. Your older cat might hiss, change into reclusive, and act unfriendly in direction of the brand new kitten.
The change within the family is inflicting stress for the older cat. If you are taking correct steps to organize, you possibly can assist ease this irritating time to your older cat and make it a extra nice expertise. Patience is crucial when introducing a brand new kitten to your older cat.
So, what do you have to do to assist introduce your new kitten to your grownup cat?
How to Get an Older Cat to Accept a Kitten in 6 Steps
1. Quarantine Your Kitten
If you may have rescued a kitten from outdoor or from somebody unaffiliated with a shelter or acknowledged animal rescue, it’s best to quarantine the kitten for at least 2 weeks. Kittens can carry infectious illnesses that may be contagious. Taking 2 weeks to quarantine will can help you monitor for potential indicators and preserve your older cat protected whereas doing so.
Just as a result of your kitten seems wholesome, it doesn’t imply they don’t seem to be carrying a illness that might infect your older cat. You ought to monitor them intently, observe if they will the toilet usually, and that their stools are strong and never watery. Look to see if their pores and skin is wholesome and guarantee they don’t have ringworm or flea infestation. A good suggestion is to take the kitten to a vet for an entire well being check-up.
If you may have adopted or purchased your kitten from a shelter or breeder it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to quarantine to permit them time to get used to their new house. Throwing the 2 collectively instantly will likely be irritating for each and can often not present a very good end result. This can even enable the cats to scent one another’s scents via the doorways of the totally different rooms they’re stored in. They can slowly acclimate to the opposite’s scents this manner.
Speaking of scents…
2. Mingle Your Cats’ Scents & Provide Pheromones
Before introducing the cats nose to nose, it’s best to enable them to change into acquainted with one another’s scent. You can do that by swapping out blankets or toys from cat to cat. You also can do it by switching the places of the cats. For instance, in case your older cat has had free vary of the home, and your new kitten has been confined to your bed room, enable the kitten free vary of the home and place your older cat in your bed room briefly.
This will enable them to get used to one another’s scent in a stress-free setting. To assist make the setting much more stress-free, think about using pheromones. You can purchase wipes, sprays, and diffusers that present pheromones to assist each cats really feel much less careworn. These merchandise mimic a cat’s pure pheromones and assist create a chilled setting.
3. Make Your Home Cat-Friendly
Make your home cat-friendly with toys, cat bushes, cabinets, and different cat-related objects. If your cat can access your home vertically with cat bushes or cabinets, they will take away themselves from the scenario in the event that they discover it irritating. This may help your older cat alter to the brand new kitten by being in their very own separate house.
Another smart way to assist your new cat and your older cat get alongside is by having separate litter packing containers for every cat and separate consuming areas. This will assist cease territorial habits and enhance the 2 cats’ relationship.
4. Feed Your Cats on Opposite Sides of a Door
To assist your older cat affiliate the brand new kitten’s scent with a constructive space of their life, feed your cats on reverse sides of a closed door. The older cat will affiliate the kitten with meals, which is one thing they get pleasure from.
First, begin a number of ft away from the door and transfer every cat’s meals bowl a little bit nearer to the door day-to-day. Eventually, the cats’ bowls needs to be a couple of foot from both aspect of the door. The older cat ought to now positively affiliate the brand new kitten’s scent with the scent of their meals.
5. Give Visual Access Through a Baby Gate or Screen Door
Your cats ought to now be prepared to put eyes on one another! For this crucial step within the introduction course of, use a child gate, pet gate, or display screen door to permit your cats to see each other whereas they’re consuming.
If your older cat is just too careworn by the introduction, they will walk away from the gate. If this occurs, don’t fear! Keep making an attempt and simply take it sluggish.
6. Distract Your Cats with Play Time & Food
Finally, it’s time to permit your new kitten and older cat to be in the identical room! Don’t simply let the cat and kitten collectively and step again, nonetheless. Make certain their meals is out and distract every cat by taking part in with them with their favourite toy or cat treats. If the 2 cats begin to have a stare-down with one another, go forward and take away the kitten from the scenario and check out the identical factor tomorrow.
Conclusion
Eventually, your cats will acclimate to 1 one other and tolerate one another. Don’t be discouraged in case your cats don’t change into prompt associates. Over time, the cats can change into nearer and can enhance their relationship. They would possibly by no means change into greatest associates, however they will dwell in a peaceable and harmonious family.
Featured Image Credit: Irina Kozorog, Shutterstock
