So you're getting a new kitten. And your current cat doesn't know it yet.
This should go well.
Introducing a new pet into an older pet's established domain requires patience, forethought, and a good supply of sterile bandages. In truth, there's no telling how it will go until the day arrives. But a few careful precautions and an old trick or two can help make the transition as smooth as possible.
First, decide on a few preliminary boundaries. If a certain area of your home "belongs" to your cat (i.e., is covered in a permanent inch of fur), make an effort to keep that area off limits to new arrivals. A closed door is most effective, a baby-gate less so. Your own supervision will be wholly useless, as we will discuss later.
Prepare a separate area for the kitten. This will be his temporary home as he becomes accustomed to the house. For those with houseplants, fragile decorations, china, or a general desire to limit overall property damage, this will be the kitten's home while the owner is away.
When the kitten arrives, attempt to sneak him into the house and into his room without alerting your cat. Let the kitten and the cat get to know each other through the safety of a closed door. The two can exchange sounds and smells before exchanging blows.
After a day or so, switch the kitten with the cat. The kitten will now be free to roam the wide expanses of his new house. The cat, meanwhile, will examine the separate room carefully to determine which part of it magically produces kittens.
Keep a close eye on your kitten as he explores, but don't think for a moment that your supervision is as effective as a closed door. Likewise, never assume that anything is out of the kitten's reach. A kitten from four months on is a Tomahawk missile of fur and whiskers that will evade even the most nimble adult.
Once the kitten and the cat have come to recognize each other's scent, release the older cat from his confinement. The kitten will almost certainly seek out his new housemate. The older cat will almost certainly seek out the basement.
If, after several days, the older cat will not leave his sanctuary behind the furnace, some intervention may be necessary. If you feel confident in your cat-handling abilities, and if you have a more common blood type, a forced introduction may be feasible.
Before physically placing both cats together, some cat owners will attempt to match the two animals' scents. This can be done by rubbing each cat with a fabric softener sheet. Without "separate scents" as identification, the cats are more likely to be amenable. They are also more likely to sneak up on one another, which is extremely entertaining.
Do not, however, attempt to rub both cats together. This can only result in either hospitalization or dangerous static cling.
In time, after such careful introductions, your cats will come to understand, if not enjoy, each other's company. Your home will once again return to its natural state of domestic bliss.
You will then likely decide to get a dog.
(Ben Grabow writes for the young, the urban and the easily amused. Contact him at thinlyread(at)gmail.com.)
Post new comment