Welcoming a New Pet
When considering a second pet, you must ask yourself a couple of questions: Are we ready for a second pet? Is it the right time?
My husband and I had been talking about getting a second cat, mainly as a playmate and companion for our resident cat, for probably a good year now. The timing never seemed right.
We went to the humane society, after being unable to find a cat we thought would fit in with our family elsewhere. After gazing through many different windows, we saw a sleeping kitty. His information card said he was about 4 months old, which is a little bananas since he’s already a hefty 6 pounds. We visited with him and my husband liked him, so we decided we would take him home.
After an interesting car ride, we put him in our bedroom with some food and a litter box.
The first day he hid under the bed and would come out only to smell surroundings. He was unsure about being touched or even picked up. With a little bit of patience and a few more days, he finally started to emerge from under the bed and wanted to be pet and snuggled. He still isn’t too keen about being picked up yet, but I think he will get used to it sooner or later.
The big challenge so far is our resident cat, Madison, and him getting used to each other. When introducing a second cat, it’s really important to know how to read body language. Cats have a different system of communicating with one another, and it isn’t the best idea to stick them in a room together right away. I’m still trying to gauge how they feel about each other. There hasn’t been much hissing and growling, although it’s not completely non-existent yet. That also isn’t necessarily the only way to figure out if they are having a negative reaction to one another, which is why it is insanely important to read up on body language.
Right now, they are mostly trying to find out who that other guy is. They smell each other a lot and get close to one another’s faces much to my chagrin. Talk about anxiety inducing! Despite this, I am not allowing our little guy to run around the house freely yet. He still stays in my bedroom when I can’t supervise their interactions together. It is a slow process, but will be worth it when I have two cats who love to be together.
Are you thinking about introducing a second cat, or maybe a third to your home?
Here are a few tips:
- Set up a safe space for your new cat. This is important to build trust and allow your new cat to get more comfortable with his new environment.
- Take introductions slowly. It’s never a good idea to lock your new cat in a room with your resident cat. It will not end well. Cats are territorial. This is the reason unaltered males spray. Territorial. This is also the reason most cats rub their faces and paws against things. They have scent glands in these parts of their bodies to put their smell on something or someone.
- Try site swapping. If you’re having a hard time introducing them to each other, put the resident cat in your new cat’s space, and allow the new cat to explore the rest of your resident cat’s space. It will allow them to put their smells onto things and make being around one another a little less intense.
- Make interactions as positive as you can. Try giving them treats or playing, depending on if they are food or play driven. However, be aware that they may be more interested in the other cat than the distraction you’re trying to provide.
I hope to have an update on the progress between the cats by the time this is published. The process so far has been slow, but with some love and attention we will get there!
What are your experiences introducing a new pet to your home? Do you have any other tips to share? Sound off in the comments below!
