Cats really prefer things to stay the same, and they are usually very unsubtle about indicating
their displeasure. Introducing a new anything–from another pet, to another human to even new
furniture–is a source of anxiety for the cat and the owner, so these are some strategies to help
reduce the disruptions.
Introducing yourself–the easiest one.
This is achieved when your cat selects you, and you can
be pretty sure it will be love at first sight. Your new feline
friend will quickly train you to their unique requirements,
and most owners do not present any obstacles. (In fact,
it amazes me what owners will put up with from their
cats–their feline dictator’s training methods are obviously
very effective!) Remember, no cat ever changes–all
you can do is change the environment so the
cat no longer shows the undesirable
behaviour (this goes for spraying,
scratching–posts and people,
roaming, food fetishists, etc.)
Make your rules at the start,
and be consistent. Cats
are smart (smart enough
to need antidepressants!),
but they have no way of
associating something
they did more than HALF
A SECOND AGO with any
kind of punishment. In
fact, PUNISHMENT NEVER
WORKS WITH CATS, all the
Feline Stars of T.V. perform
of their own free will, and it is
the cameramen who make it look
easy and directed!
Introducing another person
The main concept here is to let the cat make
the first approach. This is important when bringing a cat
into a new home or bringing a new person into the cat’s
home. They have to get the measure of the person, and
they do that by smell, watching and listening. Remember
that when a cat walks into a room, it knows (by smell
especially) who is already there, who was there half an
hour ago, and who is coming down the hall now. It is
a lot of information to process, and if you rush it, you
can unnerve the cat. Give the cat a chance to ‘take it or
leave it’ and never look straight into a cat’s eyes–it is a
very confrontational thing to do in cat language. Wait,
with your head to the side and and look past the cat with
half closed eyes. They will come just out of curiosity
then!
Introducing a baby (or toddler)
Cats view babies and toddlers as different species to adult
humans.Remarkable perception really, though a bit confusing
now that cats are living longer and can see them
grow up! Cats will usually tolerate significantly
more in the way of sticky fingers and
uncoordinated proddings from a young
human, and as long as they have an
escape route they will use that in
preference!
The key to managing the return
of a new baby to the household,
is to understand that the biggest
concern for your cat is the
changes in routine and smells. It
is essential to manage the cat’s
natural curiosity, while protecting
the baby and the cat from each other’s
unexpected actions. Cats don’t
smother babies (that was the traditional
explanation for SIDS deaths), and they
get into the cots because it is SOFT, WARM
AND HIGH UP!
You have to decide BEFORE the baby comes home
whether or not your feline friend will be allowed into the baby’s
bedroom. If not, then the time to install the screen door and start
preventing access is NOW. Cats will learn not to go into rooms
if they are NEVER allowed in there – they do not understand
‘sometimes you can and sometimes you can’t’. If you are going
to allow access to the nursery, then if you can provide a shelf
with a view of what is going on nearby, your cat will probably be
happier to sit there, as they are not big on the way babies move
around in bed anyway, and they can take on a supervisory role!
Making feline friendships as painless as possible
It is a good idea to install the shelf and get your cat used to it before
the baby arrives and everyone is pushed for time and energy.
Many cats will keep their distance from babies and toddlers, but
some cats really blossom with the arrival of the new baby, especially
as it means someone is at home with them more! However, try
to establish a routine that the cat can count on with feeding and
playtimes for them as well, and always ensure they have an escape
route to lessen their anxiety should the small human become too
boisterous.
Introducing another cat
Cats really don’t like other cats most of the time, so THIS
CAN BE HARD! A great deal
depends on whether the
resident cat/s have ever had
a friendship with another cat,
and depends on the age of
both the resident and the new
arrival. If the newcomer is a
KITTEN, then isolating it in one
room with its food, litter tray
and toys for a few days (till the
resident cat becomes Curious
rather than Furious) works well.
‘Toweling’ the resident, then
the newcomer, then the resident
again mingles the smells
and makes the new cat less
‘strange’. Once you open the
door between them, DO NOT
INTERRUPT THE HISSING AND
SPITTING THAT IS BOUND TO
HAPPEN. You can cause confusion,
and cats can’t apologise, so it will then take much
longer for them to figure out an amicable arrangement.
Young cats (less than 6 months) will usually bond quickly
and permanently, older cats take longer and may take up
to six months to sort out their ‘timeshare’ arrangements
around the cozy spots of the house. It is rare for these
confrontations to become lethal, or even lead to a severe
enough fight to cause damage. You can use the Feliway
Diffuser here to make the room where they meet more
‘emotionally cozy’ and reduce anxiety, but the cats will have
to have a ‘discussion’ and speak their mind as well.
Introducing a dog
Dogs are really no challenge to a cat – as long as they can
escape if they have to. The cat will always just ‘go high’
and then view the dog with disdain if it prefers not to
be in canine company. The trick about the introduction
is to prevent the DOG’s hunting instinct from creating a
CATastrophy by chasing the cat
– sometimes out onto the road
or other dangerous places. So,
put the dog on a lead and let
the cat investigate. You are in
control then and can disrupt
any problems. Once the cat is
aware of the fact that the dog
is allowed to live in the same
house or yard, then in general,
it will control the meetings.
The dog may get a few biffs on
the nose, but rarely any major
damage unless it manages to
bail the cat into a corner. Then
it will have to learn the cat rules
painfully. Many cats learn to
adore dogs (they are, after all,
mobile warm cushions!), especially
they are introduced when
the kitten is young enough to
accept it as a friend!
Some cats, like some people, love everybody they meet,
and will tolerate all kinds of change. However, as it is for
most of us, First Impressions Do Count, and done thoughtfully
and respectfully, can reduce conflict. How closely
feline lives reflect our own!
