HOW TO INTRODUCE A NEW CAT AT HOME ?

 You plan to adopt a third cat. In this article, we will explain how to introduce it correctly to your two other cats. 

Introduction of a third cat. 

The introductions must be done little by little and with all the necessary precautions, because the goal is to minimize stress and confrontations in order to obtain a harmonious coexistence between the three cats. It is better that you take your time rather than putting them together to see what happens because believe us, it usually ends very badly. Generally speaking, it is always best if the cat is neutered and is of the opposite sex to the cats you already have. Once you've made sure all the cats are healthy, the atmosphere is relaxed, and you won't be disturbed, you can begin the introduction process. This process will take place in three phases:

Start by putting the new cat in a separate room. 

The first thing to do is to isolate the new cat for the first few days so that it does not have direct contact with the cats in the household and so that it can gain confidence in its environment. This isolation will allow the cats of the house and the new cat to smell and hear each other in order to get used to their mutual presence. The newcomer will gradually adapt to his new home. To start, he will have a room that is exclusively reserved for him, with his litter box, his bowls, his basket, and his toys so that your cats get used to the presence of the new cat and vice versa. We advise you to familiarize them by bringing them a blanket bearing the smell of the newcomer. Do you like our video? Don't hesitate to give us a like. Presentation in the transport cage every day and for a few moments, it is a good idea to put the new cat in its transport cage and place it a little high and close to your cat. This way, in addition to seeing and hearing each other, they can maintain eye contact, which prevents the new cat from being intimidated and your cats from attacking. If your cats are aggressive, calm them down by diverting their attention and positively reinforcing them, giving them treats when they are all calm.

A good way to get them to approach in a positive way is to place some treats near the carrier your new cat is in. Once they get used to each other, you can try feeding all three cats at the same time. The two current cats and the new one are in their transport cage. At first, they may growl, meow, and be wary. But don't worry because little by little their relationship will improve. Find out how to get two cats to live together. Direct approach. As soon as you see that encounters via the transport cave are less stressful and the three cats tolerate each other. The time has come to move on to a slightly more direct encounter. At first and just if your cat is calm, you can take him in your arms and go sit near your two other cats. In this way, you will encourage cats to approach the new one and you can quickly dismiss the new cat if the first meeting does not go well. We recommend that you talk to them in a pleasant and affectionate way and give them hugs so that the atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed.

Of course, also don't forget to give them rewards if everything goes well. Once these meetings are over, and until they go well, the new cat must return to its isolated room. The growl will eventually turn into playtime and affection if all goes well, and you will have successfully introduced a third cat into your household. Finally, it's important to know that your two cats won't always accept the new cat because it's possible that you may have done something wrong in the introduction process. In these cases, it is best to consult a feline ethologist so that he can personally assess your situation. If you want to learn more about cat behavior, it's here.