| As cats are inherently territorial, introducing a second | | | | the resident cat is. Place the cat box down and leave |
| cat to the household can be an awe-inspiring task. | | | | the two cats in the room together. They will not be |
| Here are are some tips and tricks to make life a little | | | | a threat to each other because they clearly can not |
| easier. A cats home really is his castle. One of the | | | | get to each other. But it will allow them to get used |
| first things your cat will do when introduced to a new | | | | to the sight, smells and presence of each other in a |
| environment is mark his territory. She does this by | | | | safe environment. |
| leaving smells at the point of each object. When a | | | | See our piece on Cat senses |
| new cat comes along the smell of another cat will | | | | The next step is to place the box in different places |
| send the message "Back off! You're trespassing!" | | | | in the room and then the house. After this stage |
| The approach of another cat onto her territory will | | | | swap where the two cats are. In other words place |
| immediately cause heckles to rise, however sweet | | | | the resident cat into the box and let the newcomer |
| and harmless the cat newcomer maybe. So how can | | | | roam free in the room. The more this is done and |
| you introduce a cat to the household when there is | | | | interchanged over a long time as possible, the more |
| already a dominant cat? | | | | they will get used to each other without feeling the |
| The accepted method is to do it by degrees. This is | | | | other is a threat. The last step is to open the box in |
| the method we used when we were introducing | | | | a room where you can supervise what is happening |
| three month old Ellie, our blue Burmese girl to Louie, | | | | and allow the newcomer to retreat to his own room |
| our red Somali boy. Lou was 7 months old and had | | | | if necessary. Often by this time , the cats will have |
| been in the house for one month. | | | | accepted each other and tolerance may even turn to |
| Both cats need to get used to the sight, smells and | | | | friendship! A good sign is when the cats are eating |
| presence of the other. A safe way to do this is to | | | | together. As all cat lovers know there will always be |
| create a small territory for the newcomer. This could | | | | "spats", but they can usually work things out |
| be a spare room perhaps that you can stop the | | | | themselves without any harm. |
| resident cat going into. Spray it with household smells | | | | There is always a possibility that the resident cat is |
| and allow the newcomer to mark his territory. This | | | | far too dominant and territorial to allow the |
| gives him a place to retreat to if things get a little | | | | newcomer in. This indeed may lead to quite |
| rough – a safe harbour. | | | | aggressive behaviour. In which case the owner should |
| The next step is to put the newcomer back into the | | | | seek professional help or consider not introducing a |
| cat box and take him down to another room where | | | | second cat at all. |