Socializing Animals: How to Introduce Your Cat to a New Animal
Living in a multi-pet household can be a rewarding experience. Unfortunately, getting all of the animals to get along can be a tough hurdle to overcome. Although the newcomer is often excited to make a new friend, your current cat may be uncomfortable having a new animal in the house. Try out the following tips and tricks for socializing animals to make this introductory process easier.
Separate the Animals.
If you are adopting a new animal, make sure that you have a room reserved for him or her. You will want to give the new arrival about a week to adjust to these new surroundings and feel comfortable in your home.
Introduce via Scent.
The first time you introduce your animals you will want to allow them to smell each other from separate areas. The best way to do this is under a door. Recruit a helper to comfort one of the animals by staying on one side of the door with one animal while you will stay on the other side with the other animal. Smell is such a strong sensation that the animals will notice each other quickly. Allowing them to get used to the scent of each other early on will make the rest of the introduction process go smoothly.
Introduce via Sight.
The next step is to introduce your cat and the newcomer through something such as a baby gate or a screen door. You will allow the animals to look at each other, but not to touch each other. This step is very important because the animals are now face to face with each other, and their reaction to each other will set the tone for the rest of the introduction process. You will want to repeat this step a few times, and when you notice that they react positively to seeing each other you can move on to the final step in the introduction.
Put the Animals in the Same Room.
This final step will let you know if the animals are ready to live together harmoniously. Allow the animals to be in the same room together (under your supervision), and allow them to mingle and play with one another. Monitor them closely to see if you will have to intervene due to any noticeable tension between the two animals. Again, you may have to repeat this step a few times until the animals are used to the presence of one another.
Remember to give each animal the same amount of attention during these introductions because a lack of attention to either the newcomer or your cat can result in tension between the two animals. For this reason, it's best to have at least two people present during the introduction so that each animal receives the attention he or she deserves.
Socializing animals is a hard job. Many things can go awry during the introduction, and sometimes things just don't go as you planned. Take it slow during the introduction, and don't be disappointed if you have to repeat some steps during the process. Be patient with your animals, and always give them praise and treats when they act positively toward one another. The patience will rub off on your cat and the newcomer, and soon enough the animals will be great friends.
Separate the Animals.
If you are adopting a new animal, make sure that you have a room reserved for him or her. You will want to give the new arrival about a week to adjust to these new surroundings and feel comfortable in your home.
Introduce via Scent.
The first time you introduce your animals you will want to allow them to smell each other from separate areas. The best way to do this is under a door. Recruit a helper to comfort one of the animals by staying on one side of the door with one animal while you will stay on the other side with the other animal. Smell is such a strong sensation that the animals will notice each other quickly. Allowing them to get used to the scent of each other early on will make the rest of the introduction process go smoothly.
Introduce via Sight.
The next step is to introduce your cat and the newcomer through something such as a baby gate or a screen door. You will allow the animals to look at each other, but not to touch each other. This step is very important because the animals are now face to face with each other, and their reaction to each other will set the tone for the rest of the introduction process. You will want to repeat this step a few times, and when you notice that they react positively to seeing each other you can move on to the final step in the introduction.
Put the Animals in the Same Room.
This final step will let you know if the animals are ready to live together harmoniously. Allow the animals to be in the same room together (under your supervision), and allow them to mingle and play with one another. Monitor them closely to see if you will have to intervene due to any noticeable tension between the two animals. Again, you may have to repeat this step a few times until the animals are used to the presence of one another.
Remember to give each animal the same amount of attention during these introductions because a lack of attention to either the newcomer or your cat can result in tension between the two animals. For this reason, it's best to have at least two people present during the introduction so that each animal receives the attention he or she deserves.
Socializing animals is a hard job. Many things can go awry during the introduction, and sometimes things just don't go as you planned. Take it slow during the introduction, and don't be disappointed if you have to repeat some steps during the process. Be patient with your animals, and always give them praise and treats when they act positively toward one another. The patience will rub off on your cat and the newcomer, and soon enough the animals will be great friends.
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