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So, you read somewhere that
introducing a new kitten into your home could be great for
your existing cat, for companionship. And you remember how
much fun your cat was when she was a new kitten, and you
would love to re-live those days.
It is generally thought
that cats thrive better with the company of another
feline, especially cats confined indoors. But before you
rush off to your local cat shelter or breeder, here are a
few tips to make bringing home a new kitten as stress free
as possible.
Choose a time when your
home is not too busy and you will have time to devote to
your new kitty and your existing cat, avoid holidays, for
example, or other times when friends and family are likely
to visit.
Before bringing home the
new kitten, take her to your veterinarian to get her
checked and vaccinated, kittens have weak immune systems
and are likely to pick up something at the shelter or
cattery. Consider adopting a cat of the opposite sex to
your existing cat, this will avoid same sex rivalry and
associated problems. For a number of reasons all your cats
must be spayed/neutered.
If possible arrange to bath
your new kitten at a friends house before you take it
home, this will neutralize kitty's odor, and go some way
to prevent unsettling your cat.
A short isolation period is
necessary when introducing a new kitten. It would be ideal
to have a separate room for the new kitten, your new
little pet will need her own litter box, and food and
water bowl. Some kittens will hide out under furniture for
some days, more adventurous ones will be eager to explore
their new home almost straight away. Do not try and force
kitty to leave the room, you will know when she is ready.
Allow your new kitten to
explore around your home while your older cat is in
another room. Make the introduction, slowly, bit by bit,
it is a good idea to let your existing cat sniff your new
kitten's blanket a few times before they actually meet.
Make the initial periods of contact short. Gradually
increase the time that they spend together as they get
used to one another. It is not unusual for there to be a
few spats in these first meetings, so do not leave them
alone together until they get on. If a fight does break
out, distract the combatants and get them into separate
rooms as soon as possible, never punish either cat.
The process of introducing
a new kitten to an older cat, can often be relatively
stress free and need not be full of problems. The key is
in making the introduction slowly, and perhaps the best
tip of all is to give your older cat just as much
attention and affection as you give the newcomer.
Before you know it you will
have two cats that thrive on each others company.
Copyright 2004 best-cat-art.com
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