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 Cats are territorial creatures and may not always see eye to eye. If you are thinking of getting another cat and are worried about them not getting along, here are some ways to introduce a new cat into your household to minimise the fur flying!
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What problems can arise with the introduction of a new cat?
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Since cats are territorial, aggression may be shown towards a new cat in the household. This territorial aggression can also be exhibited as cats that have lived together all their lives reach social maturity at 1 to 2 years of age. It also occurs when one cat has been away, such as boarding or hospitalisation, and is returned. The other cat may be exhibiting territorial aggression, or fear aggression if the returning cat looks or smells different.
The aggression can be dominant behaviour, such as growling or preventing the new cat accessing the food bowl or certain areas of the house. Sometimes the aggressive behaviour results in injury. The new cat can become overly fearful or timid.
The aggression may diminish with time as the cats work out their social hierarchy, and there is no reason to reinforce it, but sometimes it can persist.
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How do I introduce a new cat into the household?
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Cats that have been socialised well as kittens adjust well to new animals and situations, and after an initial settling-in period, will coexist without problems. You always need to supervise the first few encounters, keeping the new cat in a separate room with water and a litter tray. This provides the new cat with its own territory, and the resident cat doesn’t feel its territory is threatened.
Letting the cats see each other through a glass door, window, or screen door allows them to accustom themselves to each other without the threat of fights. If they show no fear, anxiety, or threat toward each other, they can be introduced under supervision. Start with the cats at a distance from each other, or restrained with harnesses or in cages. Rewards such as food treats are used during these sessions to distract each other and so that they associate these initial introductions with rewards.
As the cats show no aggression or fear, bring them closer together. If using cages, swap them between cages so they can get used to the other’s odour. Then let one cat out with the other kept in the cage. Reverse this at the next session. Increasing the exposure to each other depends on them not reacting negatively, and accepting food treats in each other’s presence. Stop the session if there is any fear or aggression, and start with the cages further apart the next time.
If a cat is not interested in food rewards, a favourite toy or game can be used until they can play with the toy together. Otherwise, don’t feed the cat until the next exposure session.
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Editor: Dr Julia Adams BVSc
Contributor: Dr Rebecca Bragg BVSc
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