Cats
How To:
How to Choose a Second Cat?
Cats are very territorial and often introducing another cat into the
household can cause problems.It is always a lot easier, if you prefer
to have two cats, to get them both at the same time as they're likely
to get on a lot better if they are introduced to the house at the same
time rather than one having the run of the house first and then having
to share it with another later.
After the initial few fights that the young cats might have, they
should tend to get along well with each other and enjoy each other's
company in play and relaxation.
When a kitten is introduced to the house of an older cat you need to
make a determined effort not to neglect the older cat.
This is very easy to forget when you've got a new kitten as people tend
to fuss over kitten a lot more than older cats and it is not uncommon
for the older cat to become jealous and start fighting with the new
member of the family.
This can lead to other cat behavior problems where a house trained cat
might decide to start urinating in the house where it wouldn't have
done so in the past, or it might go off its food and stop eating and
get sick.
By considering the feelings of the older cat, not neglecting it, giving
it sufficient time and letting it know that it is still special, there
is more chance that the new kitten will be accepted better by the
established cat.
It is made more difficult when the cats are in confined living
conditions, and where possible, if there is conflict try to keep the
cats apart for a while until they become used to one another.
You can put their litter boxes in different areas of the house, and also keep the food dishes apart.
Any time that one shows aggression to the other, calmly step in between and stop it going any further.
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