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How to make two cats get along?

How to make two cats get along?

The coexistence between cats not always It is positive, since there are many cases of cats that fight, snort or are not accepted in any way.For this reason, before introducing a second cat at home, it will be essential to prepare the home, inform us about feline behavior and perform a good presentation.

In this new article of Animals and Pets Online we will show you the keys so that you know how to make two cats get along , however, in the most serious cases it will be necessary the intervention of a specialist.

Understanding the behavior of cats

Cats are not a gregarious species, contrary to what many people believe, but rather they are lonely animals that maintain social behavior only during the mating season.This does not mean that cannot positively socialize with other members of the same species, however, their way of feeding or hunting reveals obvious characteristics about their independent behavior.

In addition to very territorial animals , they maintain a defensive behavior when new individuals arrive in their area, which is why the introduction of a new cat can be somewhat complicated.

In order to determine whether or not our cat will accept the new member, it will be essential to ensure that he has experienced a good period of socialization with other cats (between the second and the seventh week of life), because if not, it is likely that no understand the language co rporal of cats and that they carry out aggressive behavior , caused mainly by fear.

Likewise, some cats that have been correctly socialized are not receptive to the time of accepting a new cat at home.It can occur in cats that have not socialized with other cats for years, in elderly cats that receive a puppy cat or in cats that suffer from health problems.

As owners we must be aware that the introduction of a new cat in the home will cause a lack of stability, which can cause coexistence problems .In such a case it may be necessary to visit a ethologist or feline behavior specialist.

How to make two cats get along?

Preparing home for the arrival of the second cat

While cats tend to show less competitiveness against resources than dogs, it will be essential to ensure that each individual has their own accessories so that there is no conflict over this cause.

Ideally, each cat has its own utensils and, in addition, can access an extra one .This applies to practically anything: feeder, drinking fountain, scraper, bed, nest, sandpit toys...Also, we offer some extra tips for you to know how to distribute them :

  • The sandboxes : They should be located in an isolated and quiet area, so that cats can do their needs without frights.They tend to prefer open trays, although that causes them to get dirtier.However, the really important thing is that it is a minimally large sanitary tray./li>
  • Drinkers and feeders : to encourage displacement behavior Typical cats will be positive to place them in different parts of the home, always well away from the sandboxes.For greater acceptance we can bet on large drinking fountains or water fountains.
  • Resting places : While it is important to place a bed or a nest in a busy area of ​​the home, so that the cat can rest next to us, it will also be essential to place others in quieter areas, thus ensuring a good rest.
  • Synthetic pheromones : to promote well-being and avoid stress, we recommend the use of synthetic pheromones for cats, specifically those that have scientific studies that support them.It would be very positive to have a diffuser before the arrival of the new cat.
  • Catwalks and towers : it is important that cats have a place to flee and take refuge when they do not feel comfortable, that is why it is so important to place walkways, shelves and different structures.
  • Scrapers : marking with some is an innate behavior in cats, which also helps them sharpen their claws properly.We must have several scrapers so they can mark with ease.
  • Toys and accessories : to finish it will be very important that cats have toys and accessories at their fingertips, which not only enrich their environment, but also help them stay fit and avoid stress levels.Ideally, rotate regularly.

If you want to know more about the distribution of the home and the essential accessories, do not hesitate to visit our article on how to prepare the arrival of a cat at home.

How to correctly introduce two cats?

Once we have clear everything we need for proper living with cats, it is time for the presentations.It is important to note that, before presenting them, we will place the newcomer in a separate room for a few days so that a sudden encounter does not occur.

The goal is that, during this time, the cat that already lives in the home is aware that there is a new individual and begins to recognize its smell through the cracks of the door.In the temporary room the new cat should have everything necessary: ​​sandpit, drinking fountain, trough...It is likely that the first days you hear as your cats snort , however, it is important that you do not repress it, it is completely normal.

How to bring two cats together without fighting?

It is impossible to guarantee success of the first meeting, however, there are some tricks that can make the presentation between two g atos be as positive as possible:

Make sure both cats have shelters : shelves, surfaces, cat structures...Remember that it is important that they can flee if they feel threatened.However, in the first meeting we should not place nests, carriers or enclosed areas, since a fight inside this type of rooms could be very dangerous.It is located at the meeting point cat treats , pate wet or any other tasty food, in this way they could associate the presence of a new cat with large doses of food, something very positive. Do not force the situation .If you do not want to approach each other, We will allow, as it is essential that they feel free to interact at all times, everything must be natural and progressive. Reinforce your cats in a soft and sharp voice when the first encounter occurs, calling them by name and using reinforcements h abituales, like a " very good ", so that they are more calm.Make sure to reinforce them in a loving way if they get to sniff each other or rub against each other.Do not overstimulate the environment with screams, music, toys...Apart from the food and the voice, which act as a positive reinforcement, there should be no other elements that distract the cat or cause generalized stress.

Finally add that it can be interesting to use kitchen gloves during the first meeting in case we had to act in case of a fight, although it is unlikely to happen, it would be best to be prepared.

How to make two cats get along?

How to know if two cats get along?

It is completely normal that during the first days of living together snorts and running around occur throughout the home and, in the best case, cats will be tolerant towards each other.Once again we must respect their communication and not intervene, because they themselves must learn to communicate and fix their role inside the home.Also, punish or scare the animals when they are intolerant It can make the situation worse, generating a negative association between both cats.

With the passing of days the tolerance increases and then we can know that two cats get along when they start showing certain intimate behaviors, such as sleeping together or licking each other .Both behaviors are very positive and reveal not only tolerance, but also affection for the other animal.

Problems of living with cats

It may happen that, despite making a good presentation, cats do not get along and begin to show negative behavior towards each other, such as snorts and scratches .In these cases it will be essential to pay attention to the sounds emitted by cats and the body postures of felines to better understand their attitude and discover the cause of the problem .

Here are some behavioral problems and some signs that identify them:

  • Aggression due to fear : may be caused by deficiencies in the socialization of the cat, bad experiences, genetics or a trauma.Generally we observe the cat with the ears back, hunched body and hook, low tail, bristly hair and acute vocalizations.
  • Aggressiveness for pain : it is caused by pathologies present passes that have caused pain in the feline.It usually shows speci Highly vulnerable when we approach certain areas of his body and maintain an offensive attitude, including snorts and swipes when other individuals approach.
  • Territorial aggression : manifests during first days or weeks and usually manifests itself when the new cat accesses certain areas of the home.It is temporary and behaviors related to marking are often observed, either in the form of urine, scratches to household furniture and rubbing.
  • Aggressiveness for resource protection : in this case one of the cats is aggressive when the other cat tries to use some resource (sandboxes, water, food...) is rare and we usually observe an offensive position, in which the cat shows the firm body, taut tail and making meandering movements, etc.In this case we need to add more utensils in the environment to avoid disputes.

The genetics, learning, Traumas and many other factors influence the feline's behavior and cause the appearance of aggressive fears and behaviors.It is not always possible to discover what has been the cause of certain behaviors, especially when we talk about adopted adult cats.

How to make two cats get along?

How to improve the relationship between two cats?

The guidelines for working a possible behavioral problem among cats vary completely depending on the diagnosis, available resources and the prognosis of the case.In addition, it may be necessary to adapt the guidelines depending on the evolution, which is why it is impossible (and inadvisable) to offer a complete treatment of generic behavior modification and adaptable to all cases.

Even so, we offer 5 basic tips that you can apply to try to improve the relationship between two cats:

1.Use of positive reinforcement

To educate our cat and encourage certain behaviors we can use positive reinforcement, which consists of rewarding those desirable behaviors (for example, we caress the cat when it is calm next to the other cat) and the negative punishment , which supposes the completion of something positive when an evil occurs behavior (for example, we leave to pet the cat when he huffs the other cat.) Both are part of the positive education and minimize the risk of stress and anxiety.We should apply these techniques whenever possible to foster a good relationship between both cats.

2.Physical and mental stimulation

Stimulation through entertainment games helps keep our cats' mind and body active, which favors learning , the well-being and enrichment of your day to day.It is very important that these exercises are customized according to the cat so that does not overstimulate him .

3.Supplementary help

Previously we have already told you that there are products that can generate well-being and relaxation in the cat, such as the use of synthetic pheromones , but there are also others products on the market, such as balanced foods that include the label "calm" or the use of pharmacology prescribed by the veterinarian.

Also remember that your own behavior influences felines, so you should not hesitate to maintain a state of calm and relaxation at all times, acting calmly and thus favoring the environment to be relaxed and conducive for both cats to become friends.

4.Errors to avoid

Unfortunately, the Internet is full of articles based on outdated methods or written by people without training or experience in behavior modification in cats.It is very important to avoid certain types of errors, such as we show you:

  • Shout at cats
  • Chase cats
  • Use water spray
  • Punish with newspapers
  • Lock the cats
  • Scare the cats

5.Visit the specialist

If they find you After a complex case or a behavior that is difficult to identify, the most advisable thing is that you go to a specialist, such as a veterinarian/biologist specialized in ethology or a feline behavior professional.With the diagnosis, the professional will be able to conduct behavior modification sessions with you and will offer you concrete and personalized guidelines for your case.

How to make two cats get along?

If you want to read more articles similar to How to make two cats get along? , We recommend that you enter our Behavioral Problems section.

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