featuring Tails from the Alley
Allison Couture Otero
Introducing a New Cat to Other Pets in Your Home
The holiday season is a popular time for people to welcome new furry friends into their family . Let ’ s face it , waking up to a purring , fuzzy ball of love during the most wonderful time of the year is pretty amazing , right ? But remember , choosing an animal is a big decision and part of the fun is actually choosing the perfect pal and making a connection during the process . One idea is to wrap up an “ adoption kit ” or a certificate good for “ one kitty or dog ”! Pair that with a leash , food bowls , toys , etc ... how much fun is that ! Also , wrapping a kitten is not easy , believe me ! And dogs ... forget it , the wagging tail breaks through the paper EVERY time ! Remember , there are millions of homeless dogs , cats , rabbits , and other critters waiting for a home right now in local shelters and rescue groups – give the gift of life this year and choose to adopt !
If you are planning on adopting your first pet ( meaning you don ’ t have other pets to worry about your noob getting along with ), move along ... nothing to see here . I ’ m confident that there is another riveting article on the next page of this fabulous magazine . However , if you already have a cat and you need advice on how to introduce a kitty to it , continue reading for some helpful tips and ideas .
How nice would it be if all it took was a quick paw shake over a tuna cocktail and a catnip cigar for cats to be new besties ? While it does happen , it ’ s definitely not the norm . I have seven cats ( crazy cat ladies unite !!), and most of the introductions went smoothly due to how I introduced them to one another ... slowly and with a lot of patience , treats ... and wine !
Right off the bat , choose another kitty with a similar personality , age , and activity level as your current cat . If your 19-year-old Mr . GlitterPoo enjoys spending his time napping and being lazy , don ’ t get a young kitten with enough energy to power a 747 and expect them to be compatible . It can take weeks for kitties to tolerate – let alone get along – with one another , so don ’ t rush it . Don ’ t throw your felines together and “ see what happens ” ... that is a recipe for the claws to come out !
Set your new kitty up in a room all it ’ s own equipped with a litter box , food and water bowls , a blanket , toys , and a scratching post . Also , if there is a little crack under the door , that ’ s a great boundary and a controllable space for your furry family members to safely check each other out . Expect some hissing and growling - this is totally normal and should not make you second-guess your decision to add another cat to your household .
During meal time , feed your current cat just outside the new kitty ’ s room . Conversely , on the other side of the door , feed your new kitty . Feed something extra special so that the two kitties associate yummy food and full bellies with one another . I mean , I ’ d eat lobster and caviar with Jason Vorhees ... maybe he ’ s just misunderstood .
Did you know that playing is one of the best ways for pets to interact with and gain trust for one another ? Tie a toy to each end of a string , then place it so there ’ s a toy on either side of the door - a little catnip wouldn ’ t hurt here either . Soon , you will see them batting
38 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017