the toys around and maybe even
touching paws.
Once you have had some good
“door action” it may be time for the
old switcheroo! For cats, smells are
way more important than looks so
you want to get your pets used to
one another’s scents before they
meet face-to-face. Swap blankets
or beds, rub a paper towel or rag
on one cat’s face and let the other
sniff it. The idea here is for them to
become familiar with the others’
scent.
Once new kitty is eating and using
the litter box regularly in his or her
room, let them roam free in the
other parts of the home while your
other pets are confined. Again, the
new kitty is getting familiar with
the other scents in their new home
and this will only foster their new
relationships with other pets and
humans. This step should always be
supervised.
When you feel confident, try
propping the dividing door open
just enough to allow the cats to see
each other. Repeat this process for
several days and see how things
unfold, remembering that slow and
steady wins the race!
Be sure to spend plenty of time
with your new kitty in their
room, but also don’t ignore your
resident cat. The last thing you
want is for your current kitty to
feel replaced or unwanted.
Cats are rather particular
creatures...next month,
we’ll take a look at how to
introduce other animals
into your family and
home!
NOVEMBER 2017
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
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39