Hobbies And Interests
Preparation
Before you introduce your cats to a newcomer, make sure your cats are ready to welcome a newbie. Preparation for your cats may entail a visit to the vet to eliminate any detrimental, communicable factors such as fleas or illnesses. Additionally, make sure both newcomer and resident cats are spayed or neutered.
Initial Confinement
When you bring a new cat into your home, try to give both old and new cats a bit of space. Keep the new cat confined to its own room to limit interactions. Subtly swap each cat̵7;s possessions, such as towels or blankets that have the cats' scent embedded in them. In this manner, the cats get to know one another indirectly by exploring each other̵7;s distinguishing smells without the other standing in the way. This isolation should last about a week before you bring the cats face to face. Toward the end of the week, you can move each cat̵7;s food bowl on each side of the door of adjacent rooms.
The Scent Problem
Cats possess an uncanny sense of smell that has served them well in their evolutionary history. A keen sense of smell becomes fundamental to the existence of predator species such as cats and dogs because any odor, no matter how light, can compromise their stealth. Wild cats and domestic cats both conceal their wastes to hide any odor that would give them away to enemies and prey alike. Cats can also be very territorial and will mark their territories with urine and pheromones. When cats sense an unfamiliar cat from its urine or other scents, they prickle in defense. To minimize aggression originating from unfamiliar smells, spritz a little perfume on both cats so neither can detect any different smell on the other. Also, you can dampen a washcloth and rub over each animal and then rub that towel on the other cat to expose it to the other̵7;s smell.
Segregating Supplies
While your cats are getting to know one another, make sure they have their own supplies. Separate their food and water bowls. If possible, give each cat its own litter box in separate corners of the room. Keep a close watch on both cats in the first few weeks, especially while each is eliminating wastes. Cats tend to ambush each other in the litter boxes. By curtailing this threat, you provide a more comfortable environment free of unnecessary stress so they can better adapt to the presence of other members of their species.
Intervention
Even if you take extreme caution in bringing in new cats to your home, you may observe aggression among your feline family. For your safety, do not attempt to intervene directly if you see a fight break out. Instead, grab blankets and wrap each cat tightly in a blanket. You can also prevent the cats from getting close to one another by extending a broom between the two felines. Placing a newspaper between the cats obstructs their views of one another, confusing the cats and preventing them from lashing out. Another technique that discourages fighting is spritzing cats in the face with a spray bottle of water. A sudden, loud noise such as a heavy book dropping or clanging pots and pans will distract cats in the midst of a fight. Never offer treats or affection to dueling cats; this will encourage and escalate hostility between the cats.