Mary Allen
A new cat is moving in and you’re afraid your cats won’t get along? You must follow these 10 tips so that the new cat feels comfortable with you and so that a friendship can develop between the cats.
One cat makes our life more beautiful – two make it twice as beautiful. In order to maintain harmony in the home even after the new cat has moved in, these mistakes must not happen:
Give the Cats Time
Give your cats time to get to know one another and only intervene if the ranking games are too aggressive. Keep an eye on what’s happening, because no cat may be seriously injured! Both cats should always be able to retreat. Don’t force the acquaintance. The behavior of the cats sets the pace.
A Playmate Does not Replace a Cat Mom
Even if your cat now has a friend to play with: In order to maintain a close bond with your animals, you must continue to deal with them on a daily basis. Keep playing with both cats, giving them your full attention and pampering them. Your first cat in particular is already used to this attention.
Everyone Needs Some Rest!
Every cat should have their own sanctuary. Because that gives the animals security and ensures that every cat knows a place where it can be alone and have its peace. Ensure that there are enough scratching, playing, and sleeping areas so that each cat can express its needs independently of the other.
Don’t Neglect the First Cat
A new cat naturally attracts everyone’s attention. But your first cat shouldn’t notice that. Because she must remain number one and must not feel neglected under any circumstances. Jealousy in multi-cat households is often a reason for aggression between the cats. Separate feeding areas and give both cats equal attention.
Too Much Freedom is Not the Right Thing Either
Remember: indoors or out, your new cat needs to get to know everything first. Therefore, do not immediately let them go outside alone. Only when the new cat has completely settled in, has been neutered, microchipped and registered, can it be used to being outside. A walk on the leash is exciting, especially for new cats.
No One Achieves Their Goal with Pressure!
Calmness and patience pay off! Give yourself and your cats time and you will see that everything has its place. With too much pressure you only create a negative mood unnecessarily. How long it takes for the two cats to get used to each other varies from case to case. Some accept each other after two days, others take weeks.
The Right Choice of the Second Cat
Cats that have a big age difference can’t do justice to each other. Because, like us, children, adults, and seniors have different interests. When choosing a second cat, make sure that the conditions are optimal for a friendship to develop. Young cats with old cats or anxious cats with self-confident cats are usually not the right combination.
Own Feeding Place and Litter Box
Each cat must have at least one food bowl and several water bowls. It is best to feed the cats separately. So every cat can eat in peace without being harassed. You also have a better overview of which cat eats how much. The same applies to the litter box. The rule of thumb for the amount needed is a number of cats + 1.
Enough Time and Space for Games and Fun
Your own apartment should offer enough space and be cat-friendly! Because a happy cat life needs a lot of activity and enough exercise – especially when two cats are romping through the apartment.
Is a Second Cat Really Good?
Before you decide on a second cat, you should think carefully about the following
- Do I have enough time to carefully acclimate a second cat?
- Is there enough space for more litter boxes, a scratching post, and another feeding station?
- Is a second cat really good for my first cat?
- Which character would best suit the first cat?