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I actually have 2 cats. 1 cat I got from the shelter, and the other simply just found his way on my door step seeking food... So I Have a little experience here...
First, Are your cats male and female, or both males? Because this makes a huge difference. Is either one of them fixed?
I will just assume you have 2 males and not fixed, because that would be the most challenging situation.
Cats are territorial and prideful, especially male cats, so the introduction faze would be the most crucial point. The cat that has been in the home the longest will be the more dominant aggressor if any altercation takes place between the two. So make sure the cat that has established itself understands that his territory is not at jeopardy.
The way to do this, is to have both cats interact outside of the home that they would be living in, so that they become familiar with each others scent, and not so much focused on territorial disputes, which could get ugly.
1.Put both cats on harnesses. You will need two people.
2.Introduce the two outside the home.
3.Pet both cats one after the other to symbolize that there is no conflict.
4.Use food from one pan, and offer the food to both in separate piles.
5.Do this over and over, until both cats except each other.
Both cats should be monitored until you're confidant that they will get along by themselves.
The biggest thing to understand, is that the cat that has been in the home the longest, may feel that his home, food, and comfort is as stake, and may be willing to fight to keep it. That is just a cats mentality.
They see other cats as threats. It is in their bloodlines to fight for territory and food.
Source(s):
Personal experience.
Big time cat lover...
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It's pretty normal if they don't mingle right away. Just give both time. And oh, jealousy is at high risk that's why make sure you'll spend equal time with both. ^^
I have lots of cats at home too. The latest we've adopted at home took just a day with the friendliest cat I have and 2 days with the rest before she could play with my other cats. Now, they're inseparable! ^^
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If you dont have any dogs to perform this task for you (LOL), just take a towel or cloth and rub the new cat with it, then place it where the currently residing cat sleeps, or relaxes. This introduces the scent of the new cat and, Im guessing, oldie cat will take to the newcomer pretty quickly.
Or you can just let them get on with it like in this video, it usually doesnt end in tears, cats can normally sort themselves out!
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Source(s):
http://www.petwave.com/Cats/Cat-Basic-Care-and-Nutrition-Center/Basic-Care/...
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1. Before they ever see each other, put a door in between them. Each one's territory should have a litter box, food, and a place to hide. The cat who is new to the house should have some quiet time, and lots of attention from their owner. Let them sniff each other through the door, but not see each other.
2. After a few days, let them swap territory for a little while. They will smell each other's stuff and explore each other's space. Continue lots of love for each cat.
3. Put up some baby gates (stacked, not just one, since kitties can easily jump a baby gate) so they can see each other, but not touch each other. Put the cats back into their original turf for this step, and make sure they can hide from each other if they want to.
4. Once they show little or no aggression for each other, remove the baby gates and supervise their interaction. Don't be freaked out if they hiss or even take a couple swipes at each other. Keep a squirt bottle of water handy, but only use if it they are going to hurt each other, or one is really going after the other. If they're just in a tense stand off, leave them alone.
5. Keep them separate when you're not home until they can be near each other without being violent. Maintain TWO litter boxes and two places to get food and water, that are apart from each other. It is common for one cat to guard the litter box and/or food from the other, which will result in the less dominant cat peeing or defecating outside the box, or fights starting.
6. Keep showing both cats lots of love!
Separation is also a good idea in the beginning, even if they get along well, because if one cat is sick, you can make sure they don't contaminate the other cat until they are well. If one cat has been indoor/outdoor and the other indoor only, make sure the indoor cat gets caught up on outdoor shots before being exposed to the other cat.
Be patient, because it can be hard, but most cats eventually establish some sort of understanding. Our cats have been mixed for about a year now, and while they will still occasionally get into scuffles, they don't hurt each other, and they have a pecking order established. Remember that cats aren't like kids: if they establish a pecking order, respect it. You'll actually keep them less stressed if you respect that the dominant cat is the dominant cat.
Good luck!! Kitties are worth it :)
Source(s):
experience
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Source(s):
I successfully merged three cats into a 300 square foot dwelling.
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I had heard that some else should bring the new cat into the house, so my cousin brought Roxanne in and sat in a chair. Like a flash, my sweet little Rocky jumped up onto the chair and started hitting and hissing at Roxanne. It almost scared my cousin to death. She left immediately, leaving me with two disgruntled felines.
I had to keep them separated for some time. At night, I alternated letting one stay in my bedroom, with the other one having the run of the house. At some point, they worked out an arrangement where Roxanne was fully in charge. They both slept on my bed, Rocky on one side and Roxanne on the other side. Although they never seemed to be that fond of each other, Rocky stopped his strange behavior and became his old self. When Rocky died several years later, Roxanne did not appear to notice.
My advice: hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. They may take to each other right away. If not, be patient, and most likely they will eventually make peace with each other. From what I hear from friends, it is better if the new cat is a kitten.
Source(s):
Personal experience.
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Source(s):
http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm
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Answered Question
Best Answer Decided by Votes
| October 20, 2009 05:38 PM | view on twitter |
First, Are your cats male and female, or both males? Because this makes a huge difference. Is either one of them fixed?
I will just assume you have 2 males and not fixed, because that would be the most challenging situation.
Cats are territorial and prideful, especially male cats, so the introduction faze would be the most crucial point. The cat that has been in the home the longest will be the more dominant aggressor if any altercation takes place between the two. So make sure the cat that has established itself understands that his territory is not at jeopardy.
The way to do this, is to have both cats interact outside of the home that they would be living in, so that they become familiar with each others scent, and not so much focused on territorial disputes, which could get ugly.
1.Put both cats on harnesses. You will need two people.
2.Introduce the two outside the home.
3.Pet both cats one after the other to symbolize that there is no conflict.
4.Use food from one pan, and offer the food to both in separate piles.
5.Do this over and over, until both cats except each other.
Both cats should be monitored until you're confidant that they will get along by themselves.
The biggest thing to understand, is that the cat that has been in the home the longest, may feel that his home, food, and comfort is as stake, and may be willing to fight to keep it. That is just a cats mentality.
They see other cats as threats. It is in their bloodlines to fight for territory and food.
Source(s):
Personal experience.
Big time cat lover...
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Other Answers (7)
October 19, 2009 04:17 PM
| view on twitter
You have to merge cat slowly. It would take a little time before two cats could be comfortable with each other. Maybe put one of them in a room first but allow the other cat to see each other at times. Then after a day, try to see if they're okay with each other. If it's not yet okay, then you just have to wait a little longer. It's pretty normal if they don't mingle right away. Just give both time. And oh, jealousy is at high risk that's why make sure you'll spend equal time with both. ^^
I have lots of cats at home too. The latest we've adopted at home took just a day with the friendliest cat I have and 2 days with the rest before she could play with my other cats. Now, they're inseparable! ^^
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October 19, 2009 04:39 PM
| view on twitter
I recently managed to merge a street kitten into my home with a semi feral cat. Placing the kitten in a room seperate from the other cat and allowing my dogs in to meet it, they brought the kitten smell into the area where the other cat was allowed. It took only a day for me to allow the kitten free reign of the house. If you dont have any dogs to perform this task for you (LOL), just take a towel or cloth and rub the new cat with it, then place it where the currently residing cat sleeps, or relaxes. This introduces the scent of the new cat and, Im guessing, oldie cat will take to the newcomer pretty quickly.
Or you can just let them get on with it like in this video, it usually doesnt end in tears, cats can normally sort themselves out!
Permalink | Report
October 19, 2009 05:03 PM
| view on twitter
If one cat is already established, then when at all possible, have the new cat come into the house for a little while at a time, some people also suggest having the new cat locked into one room where the old cat still has the whole house to roam. That way they each still have space but are around each other.
Source(s):
http://www.petwave.com/Cats/Cat-Basic-Care-and-Nutrition-Center/Basic-Care/...
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October 19, 2009 05:18 PM
| view on twitter
If one of the cats is a kitten, it'll be an easier road. If the cats are different genders, it is also a little easier (often). Two adult cats of the same gender are the hardest. Either way, here's what's worked for us (we had two cats who did NOT want to mix): 1. Before they ever see each other, put a door in between them. Each one's territory should have a litter box, food, and a place to hide. The cat who is new to the house should have some quiet time, and lots of attention from their owner. Let them sniff each other through the door, but not see each other.
2. After a few days, let them swap territory for a little while. They will smell each other's stuff and explore each other's space. Continue lots of love for each cat.
3. Put up some baby gates (stacked, not just one, since kitties can easily jump a baby gate) so they can see each other, but not touch each other. Put the cats back into their original turf for this step, and make sure they can hide from each other if they want to.
4. Once they show little or no aggression for each other, remove the baby gates and supervise their interaction. Don't be freaked out if they hiss or even take a couple swipes at each other. Keep a squirt bottle of water handy, but only use if it they are going to hurt each other, or one is really going after the other. If they're just in a tense stand off, leave them alone.
5. Keep them separate when you're not home until they can be near each other without being violent. Maintain TWO litter boxes and two places to get food and water, that are apart from each other. It is common for one cat to guard the litter box and/or food from the other, which will result in the less dominant cat peeing or defecating outside the box, or fights starting.
6. Keep showing both cats lots of love!
Separation is also a good idea in the beginning, even if they get along well, because if one cat is sick, you can make sure they don't contaminate the other cat until they are well. If one cat has been indoor/outdoor and the other indoor only, make sure the indoor cat gets caught up on outdoor shots before being exposed to the other cat.
Be patient, because it can be hard, but most cats eventually establish some sort of understanding. Our cats have been mixed for about a year now, and while they will still occasionally get into scuffles, they don't hurt each other, and they have a pecking order established. Remember that cats aren't like kids: if they establish a pecking order, respect it. You'll actually keep them less stressed if you respect that the dominant cat is the dominant cat.
Good luck!! Kitties are worth it :)
Source(s):
experience
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October 19, 2009 05:49 PM
| view on twitter
Make sure each cat has their own "territory" within the house. You may have to maintain two feeding stations and two litter boxes to accomplish this. This will cut down significantly on fighting at first. They will begin running into each other here and there and, after a few months, may even begin playing together. It won't be long the boundaries of the two territories will be blurred significantly until they are no more and the two cats will live in the same space. It just takes time.
Source(s):
I successfully merged three cats into a 300 square foot dwelling.
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October 19, 2009 06:30 PM
| view on twitter
After his brother died, Rocky, my 8-year-old male Abyssinian, started acting strangely. He was grieving and lonely when I was not home. When my elderly aunt died soon after, it seemed to be a perfect solution to take in her 9-year-old calico Roxanne. I had heard that some else should bring the new cat into the house, so my cousin brought Roxanne in and sat in a chair. Like a flash, my sweet little Rocky jumped up onto the chair and started hitting and hissing at Roxanne. It almost scared my cousin to death. She left immediately, leaving me with two disgruntled felines.
I had to keep them separated for some time. At night, I alternated letting one stay in my bedroom, with the other one having the run of the house. At some point, they worked out an arrangement where Roxanne was fully in charge. They both slept on my bed, Rocky on one side and Roxanne on the other side. Although they never seemed to be that fond of each other, Rocky stopped his strange behavior and became his old self. When Rocky died several years later, Roxanne did not appear to notice.
My advice: hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. They may take to each other right away. If not, be patient, and most likely they will eventually make peace with each other. From what I hear from friends, it is better if the new cat is a kitten.
Source(s):
Personal experience.
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October 19, 2009 08:10 PM
| view on twitter
It needs to be done slowly, but right away. My cat we got him at 6 months old...he still doesn't leave my bedroom...we take him out and my 3 other girl cats, and the dogs attack him...there's no hope...we have tried for 8 years with him and it just isn't happening....if we had started at day one, it would of been fine...Here's an interesting little artcle on introducing a new cat into the home. :)
Source(s):
http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm
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