You’ve been pondering this for a while – what if you got a new kitty friend? Or you weren’t even looking for one, but the new cat has arrived, perhaps taken away by unhappy circumstances. The people around you are divided: there are those who tell you that at first they’ll blow each other off a bit but then they’ll get along, those who tell you that since the second cat arrived, their kitty has started marking, peeing and pooping everywhere and life is no longer peaceful.
You are plunged into a real dilemma: what to do? The truth is that no two cats are the same. This is why, when considering whether and how to bring in a new cat, or which cat to choose, several factors must be taken into account: for example, the type of house, its size, its layout, our habits and lifestyle, but above all the character of the individual cats, their experience, their history… This is to avoid conflicts arising, especially when one or more cats reach social maturity, and not to be forced to give up the new cat just when we have become attached to it. Or to avoid forcing our resident cat to develop more or less obvious forms of stress.
With my help you will be followed through all the stages of the integration of the new kitten with one or more resident cats, from the decision-making phase to the final meeting, with the security that every step will be taken with the well-being of all concerned in mind.
Write a message to info@aliceguardaigatti.it or fill in the form.
I will get back to you as soon as possible!
I WOULD LIKE TO GET A NEW CAT, BUT I ALREADY HAVE ONE (OR TWO... OR THREE...): IS THIS A GOOD IDEA?
In this case, it would be good to ask ourselves first: why would we want to adopt another cat? Is it our desire – how can we not understand it! – or is it a need that we attribute to our cat? If we think it is for the sake of our feline friend, another question arises: are we really sure that he needs it? While it is absolutely true that a cat left home alone several hours a day needs extra stimulation, the concept of ‘keeping company’ is actually anthropocentrism, i.e. a projection of human needs, values, characteristics onto a species that is not human. In this case we attribute obligatory social characteristics to the cat, when in fact the cat is an ‘optional social’ animal.
This means that the cat is indeed able to create and maintain bonds, even very deep and long-lasting ones, with individuals of its own and other species. However, in order to survive, felines rely primarily on themselves: there is no concept of a pack or of collaboration, except in very specific cases. Instead, there is a very strong concept of preservation and defence of a territory considered exclusive: this is perceived as a guarantee of survival by a cat.
When thinking of having several cats living together, these ethological characteristics must not be overlooked. In the feline ancestral memory, the intrusion of an extraneous cat is traced back to a potential theft of resources and is therefore prevented and hindered in various ways, from the most subtle to the most blatant.
However, cats are also champions of adaptation and perfect calibrators of energy, as well as surprising creatures: sometimes a random ‘combination’ of cats can result in a lasting friendship, or simply some of them, to avoid conflict, will choose to ignore each other. When forcing cats to live together, however, it must be borne in mind that anything can happen and that it is not always possible to predict the success of an introduction: while it is true that kittens, even better if they are from the same litter, have a high probability of getting on well with each other, cats that have always been sociable with their own kind may not like ‘that’ new cat, cats that are very docile with their humans may not tolerate living together with members of their own species, a group of cats living in perfect harmony may be affected by the arrival of a new element…
The first meeting between stranger cats is almost always critical and characterised by blowing and moaning, after which various scenarios may open up: cats that will develop an affiliative relationship over time, sleep together and lick each other, others that will decide to divide up their territory and ignore each other, others that will manifest more or less marked discomfort, with fights, mobbing and altered behaviour.
This is why adopting a new cat, with other cats present in the home, is a choice that must be meditated on and possibly pursued with various expedients, preferably with the professional support of a feline behaviour and relationship counsellor.
THE CAT IS COMING OR HAS JUST ARRIVED: HOW TO BRING A NEW CAT INTO THE HOME
Whether you have made all the necessary considerations or acted on impulse, whether the new cat was wanted or simply happened to be there, or whether life has put you in the position of having to share several cats (but also cats and dogs, cats and rabbits)… the first thing you must NOT do is to leave the meeting to chance, hoping that one way or another the animals will find their balance.
Remember that in the wild a cat would never be forced to share a small space with a fellow cat without having chosen it… so the naturalness of this encounter is already lacking in the assumptions.
The other recommendation is not to panic at our cat’s first breath towards the new one: mistrust is very normal, but by taking the correct steps you increase the chances of creating the conditions for the most serene feline cohabitation possible.
The best way to deal with the introduction of a kitten into the home is to be patient, not to rush the meeting and to rely on an expert in feline behaviour and the feline psyche to work out together the best plan of action for a successful introduction.
FIND OUT HOW TO INTRODUCE MORE CATS
If you would like more information about my pre- and post-adoption counselling and about placing a new kitten with other cats in the home, contact me now.
1 - FIRST CONTACT
Write me an e-mail using the contact form or at info@aliceguardaigatti.it and tell me why you need my help: I will get back to you for a brief chat. If the case falls within my competence, we will make an appointment for a home visit.
Do you live outside Lombardy or is it not possible to meet? No problem, a video consultation can be arranged.
2 - HOME VISIT
The time has come to get to know each other! I will come to your home and here the case study will begin, which will last between 1 and 2 hours. The visit comprises 3 moments:
- Listening: you will tell me everything you know about your kitten or kittens, their history and your cohabitation.
- Observation: I will ask you to show me the house to collect clues and study it through the eyes of a cat…
- Discussion: I will give you my initial thoughts on the case and the first steps to be taken, weighing up the pros and cons and feasibility together.
3 - A TAILOR-MADE PLAN
Thanks to the impressions and information gathered through observation of the animal, the family and the environment, and after analysis of materials that you will send me (diaries, videos, photos and materials about your cat), I will share with you all the advice and recommendations to follow for a new life with kitty.
Here I will need maximum co-operation and commitment from the whole family to be able to achieve good results together!
4 - HOW IS IT GOING?
It has been a few weeks, how is the situation with your feline companion evolving? Some time after the visit, 14 to 30 days depending on the case, we will get in touch for a new discussion.
We will take stock of the situation, understand what is working and discuss any changes or adjustments to the initial plan.
If you are ready to improve your relationship with kitty or take on a new challenge together, write to me!