Do you have cats who don't seem to like each other or fight each other every time they are in the same room together? Cats are territorial and solitary animals by nature, so there's a chance they won't kindly welcome a new companion into their living space. However, after making some changes in the environment they live in and with some advice on how to properly handle any quarrels or fights, as your felines grow they should become friends, or at least more tolerant of each other. more over time.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Getting to Know Cats the Proper Way
Step 1. Allow cats to smell each other before joining them
Put the newcomer in another room so that the other can smell him through the door. You can use the bathroom if you don't have a free room.
- Have the cat already living in the house sleep on something impregnated with the scent of the new companion. The ideal would be a shirt that you used, on which to seat the newcomer. Your scent will act as a "vehicle" as it will give the already present cat a chance to gradually familiarize itself.
- It will probably take a few days for him to calm down and agree to crouch on the fabric impregnated with the odor of the intruder. However, over time it should begin to get used to it.
- Generally speaking, it is best to introduce the newcomer when the one who already lives with you is still small. This will allow both of you to gain confidence over a longer period of time and, hopefully, bond as they grow.
Step 2. Have them observe each other before physically making them meet
If you're planning on getting a second cat or increasing your feline colony, you should make sure everyone gets along by introducing them in the correct way. In practice, you will need to enable them to see each other before they can have physical contact or interact.
- Consider placing the new cat in a carrier, leaving it on the floor so that the other cat can freely sniff and investigate, without feeling the threat of being chased by the intruder.
- Alternatively, you can use a children's fence, which is usually around 90cm high. Place her at the entrance to the room where the new companion is, so she can stay inside without interacting closely with each other.
- Make them look at each other. Then praise them and reward them with a few treats if they don't attack or give signs of aggression - for example, by blowing.
- Make sure they can look at each other five to ten times in a row, two or three times a day.
Step 3. Pay attention to how they communicate with the body
Before letting them physically interact with each other, you will need to make sure they have become familiar with sniffing and looking at each other. They must seem calm and relaxed when they look at each other and placid when they spend a lot of time together.
If either of them starts hissing and growling or looks uncomfortable, move them away so they can't see each other. Keep the fence door closed so they can't interact with each other. Forget it while you have time and don't force them to get along. The key is to be patient, as it may be a long time before they accept each other
Step 4. Play with them
Once they seem comfortable looking and smelling each other, you can encourage them to interact. Invite them to play together with a toy in the shape of a fishing rod. You should also get each of your own toys. By doing so, you will help them associate their presence with fun.
- If a cat begins to behave aggressively, use the fishing rod to distract him and direct his attention elsewhere. However, if both seem aggressive or tense, separate them and bring them back to their respective spaces. You should never let them play alone until you feel like they are quiet and accepting each other.
- If they have a good time together without any problems, reward them both with praise and treats. It is important to always reward both of them so that they understand that there are no differences and that no one enjoys privileged treatment.
Part 2 of 3: Making Changes in the Environment They Live In
Step 1. Take care to separate the litter boxes, bowls and beds
By giving each cat its own litter box, bowl and bed, you can limit any kind of competition and tension between them.
Make sure that the litter boxes, bowls, and beds are identical so that it doesn't seem like one is favored over the other. Place the bowls at a safe distance from each other so they can eat in the same room, but in separate places
Step 2. Arrange vertical spaces for each one
Trees, cat shelves and perches to apply to furniture can help cats feel comfortable as they roam around the house or inside a room, without the constraint of being together on a single shelf. They often feel safer when they can observe the situation from above and seclude away from other cats or people.
You can also place two scratching posts at the entrance to your home or at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, so that they can learn to play in the same area, but in separate places
Step 3. Make a cardboard playground
Cats love to run and explore by climbing to the highest points, perhaps inside a playground made of cardboard. You can make one for each cat using handleless paper bags and cardboard tubes. Often alternate the choice and arrangement of games so your furry friends don't get tired.
Make sure the playground has multiple exits so they won't feel trapped or closed when they play together
Step 4. Feed them in separate rooms or on opposite sides of a room
Feeding time can create strong tensions and increase competition between cats. Reduce any kind of stress or anxiety by placing the bowls in two different places in the room.
Part 3 of 3: Dealing with Conflicts
Step 1. Stop them from fighting by clapping or splashing water from a bottle
Do not let them solve their problems on their own: they will not be able to cope by attacking and often physical fights worsen the hostility. Stop or stop any quarrel by clapping your hands hard or splashing some water from a bottle as a warning.
- Avoid yelling at them to stop a fight or being aggressive by throwing an object at them. Doing so would increase the tension and perhaps even their animosity over time. Instead, stop the fight calmly. Try to distract them with a few toys to prevent them from starting to fight again.
- You should also avoid calming them down after a fight. Instead, leave them alone once they separate and stop fighting. Since they are solitary animals, it is best for them to be on their own so they can recover after a fight.
Step 2. Use a spray containing calming pheromones
Some believe that calming feline pheromone sprays, such as those made by Feliway, help reduce stress levels in the spaces where cats live. You can also buy this product in the form of a diffuser and plug it into the power outlet to release pheromones throughout the house.
The spray is likely not to have a calming effect on all cats or prevent fights from breaking out. However, it can help maintain a calm, tension-free climate in the home
Step 3. Take care of their hygiene and interact with each of them
Often, when cats do not get along, they look for the owner to metabolize the stress and anxiety of having to live together. Observe their behavior towards you, and if you notice any stress-related symptoms, such as tense posture, twitched tail or dilated pupils, respond by giving them some attention. Therefore, play with both of them at the same time using two different sets of toys. You can also convey affection and attention by taking care of their toilet. Massage your belly and head, but avoid lifting them, carrying them, or squeezing them to your chest. Most of the time they get stressed when they are picked up, preferring to get the care they need on the floor.
Some argue that by rubbing the tuna water on the body and head, it is possible to help cats get distracted while they are fighting. If you use this method, your cats will be so busy licking her that they won't pay as much attention to each other. In fact, they may even start licking each other in order to continue enjoying the flavor of the tuna, interacting more amicably
Step 4. See your vet if they continue to argue
Sometimes cats do not get along due to a state of stress and anxiety caused by illness or health problems. Take them to the vet for a check-up, so you can see if their difficulty in living together could be for other reasons.
- You can also contact an animal behaviorist or behaviorist veterinarian for advice and guidance on how to encourage your cats to get along well in the home. To find one, try entering the name of this profession in your favorite search engine, followed by the name of your city.
- Keep in mind that some cats aren't meant to coexist peacefully. Stress and tension, if they persist, do not create a healthy living environment, on the contrary they risk making them unhappy. If you have exhausted all your resources, you can consider dividing them permanently by finding a new family for one of the two or setting up a separate area for it from the rest of the house.
