Healthy and Green Living

Many people buy pets for the holidays, but it takes some real savvy to introduce a new cat into a house where there are cats already in residence without the fur flying.

Following these simple steps will ensure that your cats become fast friends for life:

1. Bribe your cat. A few days ahead of the new pet’s arrival, buy your cat a new scratching post. You cat will associate this prize with an impending positive change.

2. Be patient. Solid friendships sometimes take time. Some cats take weeks, even months to become paw pals. Expect to hear a few hisses.

3. Plan ahead. Select a large bathroom or spare room to house the new arrival. Place cat necessities in that room: food an water bowls, bedding, litter box, and toys, and shut the door so your house cat won’t snoop around.

4. Be stealthy. Bring the new pet in quietly and incognito. Try not to let your cat see you entering the door with this animal to avoid any resentment. Don’t pussyfoot around. Walk straight to the new cat room and place him inside and shut the door.

5. Encourage the sniff test. By now, your house cat will suspect something is different and will be drawn to the door. Let both meet each other by sniffing one another from under the doorframe. This helps them to get to know one another on their own terms.

6. Share scents. After a day or so, take a slightly damp towel and rub it on your new kitten’s back. Then rub this towel on your adult cat’s back. Take a second damp towel and rub it first on your adult cat’s back and then on the new arrival’s back. Intermingling scents encourages familiarity.

7. Don’t play favorites. Spend quality one-on-one time with each cat. Pamper them with plenty of praise, hugs, and treats. Make each one feel special.

8. Switch rooms. After two or three days, switch places. Put your house cat in the spare room for a few hours and let the new arrival check out the rest of the house. This helps prevent any possible turf tussles.

9. Make the introductions. You’re finally ready for the face-to-face introduction. Let your house cat be free to approach the new arrival that you place inside a carrier or on a leash. Let them have plenty of time to approach and sniff. Expect a few hisses–it’s your adult cat’s way of declaring, “Hey, I’m the boss around here.”

10. Encourage interaction. Gradually increase the exposure time of the animals to each other. Give them both food treats, always offering a treat to your adult cat first.

Once you feel confident that the two felines can get along, leave them alone unsupervised.