3 Tips For Helping your Cats Get Along
Most people would agree that a house feels like a home when you have cats. Sometimes, however, it’s not all head butts and purrs when cats are under the same roof. We love our cats yet we know how fast they can turn your home from a happy one into a total cat fight in minutes. So, try these 3 tips for helping your cats get along from modern cat furniture designer, The Refined Feline.
- Cats Need To Have A Proper Introduction
Most cats need a proper introduction to get along with their new furiend. Whether you are adopting a new cat or fostering a cat, it’s best to set up a separate room for the new cat. It should be set up with their own water and food, toys, cat litter box, and cat furniture. In a couple of days, you can let the cats become familiar with each other’s smell by scent swapping. Use a clean towel to wipe one cat and then use that same towel to rub your other cat. Next, do it again but in reverse starting with the other cat and with another clean towel.
Soon enough, the cats should be meowing and seem interested in the cat on the other side of the door. You can also slowly inch their food bowls towards the door to help familiarize them if they need it. When they are comfortable, you can try to open the door a bit. As long as there is no negative reaction, you can leave the door open & let them explore each other. Let them be cats and only separate them if they seem like they are going to hurt each other. Also, make sure the new cat has seen a vet before letting it interact with your resident cats.
- Avoid Aggression By Providing Each Cat With Space And Food
Most cats are territorial by nature. Any time your cat’s food bowl is getting low, you may notice your cats getting aggressive. So, even after slowly introducing cats, each cat still needs it’s own space for food and a litter box. Even providing this just early on should reduce negative behavior resulting from hungry cats sharing a bowl.
Cats also like to have multiple places to hide as well as cat furniture to play on. Cats like to hunt and enjoy high places where they can scope out their surroundings from above. It will engage their natural instincts while offering them a space of their own. Cat wall furniture is the purrrfect way to create space just for your cats.
- Use Pheromones or Medications To Reduce Aggressive Behavior If Needed
Pheromone products, available in most pet stores, mimic the feline pheromones. Have you ever noticed that cats rub their face on things or people when they are happy? Doing this releases pheromones and marks the spot so they remember that it’s a safe place in the future. Pheromones also tend to calm down cats and come in collars, sprays, and more.
If these strategies don’t help your cats get along you should take your cat to a vet. Cats are great at hiding pain and aggression is one sign of possible pain or illness. Definitely call your vet about other options to help your cats get along if the aggression doesn’t subside.
Follow These 3 Tips For Helping Your Cats Get Along
It’s extremely exciting when you bring home a new cat yet you never know how cats will get along. Aggressive behavior can turn any quiet home into an anxious and unhappy one. This can even affect relationships that already exist between other pets. Meeting your cat’s needs and trying out these 3 tips should reduce aggression and help keep your home happy.