Content
- Why do cats fight?
- How to bring 2 cats together: preparing the house
- How to make two cats get along
- How to get two cats used without fighting
- How to get two cats used
- Problems of coexistence between cats
- My cats are getting weird: what to do?
- 2. Physical and mental stimulation
- 5. Consult an expert
THE coexistence between cats doesn't always work, does it? Many cats end up fighting or shivering for each other and they don't accept each other at all. For this reason, before introducing the second kitten into the house, it is essential to prepare the home and know well the feline behavior to make a good presentation.
In this new PeritoAnimal article, we indicate the keys so that you know how to make two cats get along, although it is necessary to consult a specialist for more severe cases.
Why do cats fight?
Cats are not a gregarious species, contrary to what many people think. Rather, they are solitary animals that exhibit social behaviors only during the season of heat. That doesn't mean they can't positively socialize with other members of the same species. However, the way they feed or hunt reveals clear characteristics of their behavior independent.
Also, they are animals very territorial, since they have a defensive behavior towards the arrival of new individuals in their space, which is why introducing a new cat can be a complicated task.
In order to determine whether our cat accepts the new member or not, it is essential to ensure that he has experienced a good period of socialization with other felines (between the second and seventh week of life). If this doesn't happen, it's likely that he doesn't recognize the body language of cats and ends up manifesting a aggressive behavior, motivated mainly by fear.
Still, some cats that have been properly socialized are not receptive to welcoming a new cat into the home. The same can happen to a cat that has not socialized with other cats for many years, to elderly cats that receive a kitten, or even to cats that suffer from health problems.
As guardians, we should be aware that introducing a new cat into the home can cause a lack of stability, which results in coexistence problems. In that case, it may be necessary to consult a ethologist or specialist in feline behavior.
How to bring 2 cats together: preparing the house
Although cats always show a competitiveness in relation to inferior resources to puppies, it is essential to ensure that each individual has their own accessories so that a conflict does not arise for this cause.
The ideal is that each feline has its own private utensils and that, in addition, it has access to an extra. This applies to almost everything: food bowl, drinking fountain, scratching table, bed, nest, litter box, toys... We offer some advice to let you know how distribute these items:
- The sandboxes: they should be located in a secluded and quiet area so that the cats can do their chores smoothly. They tend to prefer open trays, although this makes them more messy. However, what is truly important is that it be a minimally large sandbox.
- Drinking and feeding troughs: to encourage the typical moving behavior of cats, it is good to place them in different places in the house, always well away from the litter box. For greater acceptance, we can bet on large drinking fountains or water sources.
- Resting places: although it is important to place a bed or cot in a busy area of the house so that the cat can rest with the guardians, it is also important to place it in other quieter areas so that they can have a good rest somewhere.
- synthetic pheromones: To promote well-being and avoid stress, we advise the use of synthetic pheromones for cats (specifically those that have been proven to be effective in studies). It is very positive to have a diffuser before the arrival of the new cat.
- Platforms and towers: It is important that cats have a place to escape and retreat when they are not comfortable. For this reason, it is important to place platforms, shelves and different structures in your home.
- Scratchers: nail tagging is an innate behavior in cats that helps sharpen claws properly. You should have several scrapers so that the cats can score with peace of mind.
- Toys and Accessories: Finally, it is very important that cats have toys and accessories at their disposal. They not only promote environmental enrichment, they also help cats stay in shape and avoid stress levels. Ideally, there is regular rotation.
How to make two cats get along
After ensuring that cats have everything they need to get along properly, it's time to introduce them. It is important to note that, before introducing them, the newcomer must be placed in a room separated for a few days to avoid a sudden encounter.
The goal is that, during this time, the cat that already lives in the house will realize that there is a new individual and that it starts to recognize the smell of him through the cracks in the door. In the temporary room, the new cat must have everything that is needed: litter box, water cooler, food bowl... It is likely that, in the first few days, you will hear the cats shivering by for each other. However, it is essential not to scold this behavior as it is totally normal.
How to get two cats used without fighting
It is impossible to guarantee the success of the first meeting. However, there are a few tricks that can make the presentation between two cats as positive as possible:
- Make sure both cats have refuges: shelves and shelves, surfaces, structures for cats... Remember that it is essential that they can escape without feeling threatened. However, in the first encounter you should not make boxes, carriers or closed zones available, as a fight within this type of space can be very dangerous.
- place snacks or cat treats, moist pate or any other tasty food at the meeting point, so they can associate the presence of a new cat with large doses of food, something very positive.
- don't force the situation. If they don't want to get close to each other, let them decide. It is essential that they feel free to interact at any time, everything should be natural and gradual.
- praise your cats with a soft, high-pitched tone at the time of the first date, calling them by name, and using habitual positive reinforcement such as "very good" to reassure them. Praise pets affectionately if they sniff or rub against each other.
- Do not over-stimulate the environment with shouting, music, toys, etc. In addition to food and voice, which act as positive reinforcement, there should be no other elements that distract the cat or cause generalized stress.
It can also be interesting to use kitchen gloves during the first performance if it is necessary to act to stop a fight. Although it is unlikely to happen, it is best if you are prepared.
How to get two cats used
It's totally normal that, during the first days of living together, you hear cats snort, shiver and run around the house. In the best case, cats can have a tolerant attitude in relation to the other. Once again, we need to respect their communication and not intervene, since they are the ones who must learn to communicate with each other and define their role in the house. In addition, punishing or scaring animals when they are intolerant can make the situation worse, causing a negative association between both pets.
As the days go by, tolerance increases and we can know that the two cats have gotten used to each other when they start to show some intimate behaviors like lick or sleep together. Both behaviors are very positive and reveal not only tolerance but also affection towards the other animal.
Problems of coexistence between cats
Even after a good performance, it is possible that cats do not get along well and start to manifest negative behaviors towards each other such as fighting. In these cases, it is essential to be aware of the sounds that cats make and the feline body postures to better understand their attitude and find the cause of the problem.
Below, we show some behavior problems and some signs that identify them:
- aggressiveness per monthIt's from: can be caused by deficiencies in the cat's socialization, bad previous experiences, genetics or trauma. Generally, the cat puts its ears back, bends its body, lowers its tail, ruffles its fur, and emits high-pitched vocalizations.
- aggressiveness for pain: It is caused by present or past conditions that caused pain in the feline. He is usually especially vulnerable when we approach certain areas of his body and maintains an offensive attitude that includes snorting and kicking when other individuals approach.
- territorial aggressiveness: manifests itself during the first days or weeks and usually appears when the new cat accesses certain areas of the house. It is temporary and may be accompanied by behaviors related to marking territory such as the feline urinating, scratching furniture, and rubbing against walls.
- Aggressiveness for resource protection: in this case, one of the cats is aggressive when another one tries to use some resource (water, food, litter box...). Although infrequent, it usually involves an offensive position in which the cat has a firm body with a taut tail and performs serpentine movements, etc. In this case, it is necessary to add more utensils in the environment to avoid disputes.
Genetics, learning, trauma and many other factors influence behavior feline and provoke the appearance of fears and aggressive behavior. It is not always possible to find out what was the cause of certain behaviors, especially when we are talking about adult adopted cats.
My cats are getting weird: what to do?
At work guidelines a possible behavioral problem among cats will vary completely depending on the diagnosis, the resources available and the prognosis of the case. It may be necessary to adapt measures as a result of evolution, which is why it is impossible (and inadvisable) to offer a complete general behavior modification treatment that works for all cases.
Even so, we offer 5 basic tips that you can apply to make two cats get along:
1. Use of positive reinforcement
To educate our feline and encourage certain behaviors, we can use positive reinforcement, which consists of rewarding good behaviors (for example, petting the cat when he is calm with the other cat) and using the negative punishment which implies the end of something positive when there is bad behavior (for example, we stop petting the cat when it shivers for the other feline). Both are part of positive education and minimize the risk of stress and anxiety. We should apply these techniques whenever possible to foster a good relationship between the two cats.
2. Physical and mental stimulation
The stimulation through entertaining games helps to keep our cats' minds and bodies active, which favors learning, well-being and enrichment of their day-to-day. It is very important that these exercises are customized according to the cat so that there is no overstimulation.
3. Additional help
Previously, we have already mentioned that some products promote well-being and relaxation in the cat such as the use of synthetic pheromones. However, there are also other products on the market such as balanced foods that include the "calm" label or the use of medication recommended by the veterinarian.
However, remember that your own behavior also influences the cats, so do 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 to creating a good bond between the two cats.
4. Mistakes we must avoid
Unfortunately, the Internet is full of articles based on outdated methods or created by people without training or experience in behavior modification in cats. It is very important to avoid certain types of errors such as:
- scream at the cats
- chase the cats
- Use water spray
- punish with newspaper
- close the cats
- scare the cats
5. Consult an expert
If you are faced with a complex case or behavior that is difficult to identify, we recommend that you consult a specialist such as a veterinarian/biologist. specialized in ethology or a feline behavior professional. In addition to helping with the diagnosis, the provider can conduct behavior modification sessions with you and offer personalized tips and recommendations for your case.