HOW TO INTRODUCE A NEW CAT IN THE FAMILY
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Crucial to introducing a new furry friend into your home is how you introduce them to your family members. This phase is very delicate and it will be necessary to act correctly and not make mistakes.
It is necessary to dedicate time and patience to make the newcomer feel welcome at home and to avoid disturbing and stressing the animals already present. Let's see step by step how to undertake this beautiful experience in the best way.
1) Prepare for the cat's arrival
Cats learn about the environment with their sense of smell. It is very useful to let the future member of our family smell our smell before taking it home to make the arrival less traumatic and the environment more familiar. At the same time, we could take a used blanket of the new cat and take it home with us and give it to our house cat so that he will begin to know the smell of the new companion before his actual arrival.
2) Prepare a room for the cat.
We provide the new little feline with a room or a bathroom where he can find shelter and rest. The animal will be hit by many new stimuli: smells, sounds, new environment. This way he will have time to get used to the new environment.
3) What to put in his room.
Make plenty of food and water available. A litter box (away from the bowls / food and water should not be near the litter box), toys (stuffed mice, dangling toys, balls to keep the little one lively, cheerful and active), an old blanket, a cot or an old toy from the shelter or house from which you got the cat and a scratching post.
Cats mark the territory by leaving their scent by scratching their nails. The scratching post is perfect for this purpose and to make the new environment feel like him. and will reduce the chances of it scratching other furniture. An old blanket, cot, or old toy from the shelter or house you got the cat from. Provide the cat with hiding places where it can hide when it needs it and leave it free to feel ready for exploration.
4) Bring the Cat Home
When you bring the cat home, place it directly in the room dedicated to him before allowing him to move freely throughout the house.
Spend a lot of time with him, to reassure him and not make him feel abandoned. Crouch down to stay up to him and wait for him to approach curiously and sniff you and climb into your arms. Do not caress him excessively as he may become intimidated. You can bring him treats and give them out of his hands. Play with him. When you see him safe and peaceful in his environment you can try to give him the opportunity to explore other rooms. He always leaves his room open so that if he has any fears and fears he can reach his safe and serene lair. When you realize that the newcomer will move without fear and without hiding in the new environments, you can think of introducing him to the other furry inhabitants of the house.
5) Introduce the Family to the Cat
Make sure the children realize the newcomer's needs, that they need time and space to get used to the new life. Get them to know the kitten under your supervision and for short periods. Have them bring food to offer or a full bowl to reduce the distance with the new cat. Ask not to make noise and not to speak loudly and move slowly around the room and to squat down and wait for the animal to approach. Prohibit children from misbehavior such as pulling the cat's tail, ears, paws or whiskers and treating it as if it were a toy.
Teach them to recognize the language of the cat in order to better respect his needs and not risk being scratched. Tell the children that when they see the cat blowing, arching its back, or showing fear, they should walk away and give the cat an escape route to its hiding place.
Get the cat accustomed to the rest of the family by introducing objects found in other parts of the house into his shelter to get him used to the news. Have him sniff a sofa cushion or blanket.
When it is quiet, open the door and wait for the cat to come out of its own accord to explore the rest of the house. You should always keep an eye on it at this stage by not intruding. For the first few times, open the door at night, when the house is quieter and the cat can explore without fear.
If he leaves his room at his will, he will also be able to find his way back into hiding if he feels threatened. When you are not at home, return the cat to its room. Wait until he is completely comfortable before allowing him to move freely when you are not around.
6) Introduce the New Cat to an Already Present
Before letting our friends meet, it is necessary to keep them separate for the first 10 days of living together. You could keep the new arrival in his room or bathroom and the other, or the others pagina Facebook di catadvisor