How to make two cats friends in the same apartment, what to do if they fight

When having two pets at home, many owners are faced with the problem of conflicts between animals. The psychology of cats is such that they require a clear division of territory boundaries - this is inherent in their nature. Therefore, the question of how to make friends between two cats in one apartment should be approached carefully.

If you let the problem take its course and allow pets to figure out their own relationships on their own, you can end up with such difficulties as uncontrolled “marking” in the apartment, fights between animals with adverse health consequences, and severe stress in cats, which affects their condition and provokes chronic diseases.

Two cats in the house - behavior options

The behavior of two pets living in the same house, the first acquaintance and subsequent relationships depend on many factors - in particular, on the individual characteristics of specific individuals and the temperament of the breed.

There are several models of animal behavior:

Friends. Both pets behave friendly, even if they are wary at first. First comes sniffing each other, then playing together and sleeping. Such partners will not object to a shared toilet and house; they calmly eat from the same bowl.
Fright. Often both cats or a new pet will demonstrate one of the most powerful emotions - fear. They crawl into secluded corners, don’t eat for several days, and don’t go to the toilet. Fear often leads to a fight.
Competitors. Both animals are offended, and an unspoken war begins for territory, toys, food, and the owner’s attention.

With any type of behavior, it is possible to make two pets friends. Correct actions by the owner can correct the situation.

How long does it take to make cats friends?

It is impossible to give an exact figure. Much depends on the breed and morals of both. But in addition to pets, the owner himself makes a big contribution to the reconciliation of two cats in one apartment.

A person must ensure that everyone has personal space, and most importantly, no one should be deprived of attention.

Important! The time for complete or acceptable adaptation will take from 3 to 12 months.

In some cases, two creatures get along as soon as they see each other, but this is extremely rare . It happens that cats do not reconcile at all, and every time one sees the other, they show signs of aggression. The reason for this is the incorrect approach of the two pets at the first meeting.

Only by showing care to each pet to an equal degree, and carefully observing the behavior of each, does it make sense to hope for the desired result.

Be sure to read:

What to do if a cat marks in the apartment, how to deal with it

Expected difficulties in the relationship between two cats

Any female has a main program - procreation. She is more self-sufficient and independent than the male. It considers any territory to be its nest. When invaded by a stranger, she fiercely defends her rights, especially if it is a representative of her gender.

The most common behavior pattern during a first meeting is fear.

Getting to know each other is often much more difficult if both cats or one of them:

Pregnant or nursing offspring. Under no circumstances should you uncontrollably bring two mothers together. All instincts of females are heightened during this period. The goal is one - to protect future or existing offspring. It is better to separate even cats that have lived together for a long time while bearing and feeding kittens. Read about how to understand that a cat is pregnant and about the first birth.
Estrus. The period of sexual hunting is also not the best time for dating. A hormonal surge makes cats aggressive; they see any female as a competitor. Read about your cat's first heat.
Over five years old. It is much more difficult for adult females to rebuild their behavior model and accept a new friend into the pack. Young individuals get along much faster and become companions in games.

How to make two cats friends

Males are much more good-natured than females and quickly get used to a new place and people. But when a newcomer appears on the territory, a struggle for spheres of influence most often begins. The main behavior model is competition.

The situation will be much more complicated if these are two sexually mature males. Fights can end very badly for one or both pets. You should introduce such “rivals” very carefully, following all the rules and advice of the breeder.

The solution to the problem is to castrate pets if they are not intended for breeding.

Breeding cats almost never coexist in the same territory. Each of them should have its own closed area - an enclosure or a room. Read the article on how to breed cats.

Let's live peacefully

The range of emotions in cat relationships is very wide - from hatred to tenderness. But there are extremely rare cases when animals once and for all perceive each other with hostility, imbued with deep mutual hostility. Usually, the owner is quite capable of reconciling two pets on the same territory - he will need desire, patience and some knowledge of the nature of cats.

Why do cats fight?

Whether we like it or not, the cute furry creature did not lose the full set of instincts and reflexes of a predatory animal during domestication. Cats are self-centered owners, ready to protect their territory from the encroachments of strangers.

Cats are territorial animals, and each of them will not tolerate a competitor

When you try to move a newcomer into an apartment where an old-timer already lives, then at first there will definitely be, if not conflicts, then problems, the degree of which depends on the individual qualities of both animals:

gender and age;
psycho-emotional characteristics;
hormonal background.

If adult individuals are sterilized and, accordingly, their sexual instincts are dulled, then confrontation between them may not arise, but it will still take some time to adapt.

Sterilized animals behave much calmer

Cat and cat in the same house

If two sexually mature animals of different sexes meet, they will quickly become friends. True, this friendship will have only one result - mating and offspring.

If a female in heat is brought into a cat’s house, the animals will behave warily for the first 24 hours. The latter can hiss and hit the cat with its paw. But it will never come to a fight. The male will take a wait-and-see attitude and sooner or later will find an approach to his girlfriend. In this case, both will mark the territory.

If both animals are castrated or sterilized (read about sterilization of cats), then the situation can develop in two scenarios:

Competition and victory of a cat over a cat, as over a physically weaker opponent.
Manifestation of reflex sexual instinct. In this case, the male will take the female under his wing.

Adult cat and kitten up to six months

A sexually mature male, whether castrated or not, is unlikely to accept the baby friendly. But he will never get into a fight with him, even if the new pet attacks him himself. It can hit with its paw, but will not cause serious injuries and will not extend its claws.

If the kitten is very small (a month or a month and a half), then you should not leave the animals alone until the younger one grows up and gets stronger. In the wild, a male will eliminate a defenseless enemy from his territory, even if it is a child.

When the kitten is three months old, the cat will no longer be able to strangle it.

If the cat is neutered, then most likely he will accept a new tenant and the pets will quickly become friends.

Peculiarities of breeds in relationships with each other

The nature of the relationship between two pets largely depends on their breed. This is explained by the genotype, which imposes certain traits on the animal’s temperament.

The most aggressive breeds are those that have close wild roots and are obtained through hybridization. These are Bengal, Toyger, Savannah, Caraquet, Safari, Chausie. These cats tend to treat their owner as a member of the pack. It is always difficult for a newcomer to get accepted into it. Read about aggressive cat breeds.

The ideal option for such pets would be if they were brought home from a nursery at the same time or introduced at an early age.

Natural breeds such as the Abyssinian, Siamese, Burmese, Burmese, Persian, Briton, Siberian or Norwegian will have a hard time accepting a new pet. They consider themselves the ancestor of a pack, in which a person is at the head or is a warded member. It is also recommended to breed such cats with each other at a young age.

The exceptions to the rule are Russian Blues and Nibelungs. These are very flexible, calm and stress-resistant pets.

Breeds that have been selectively bred to enhance attractive external and internal characteristics are much softer and calmer. Getting to know such pets will be easier and faster. These are, for example, Sphinxes, Exotics, Rexes (Ural, Cornish, Devon, Selkirk), young varieties - Napoleon, Bambino.

How to choose a new pet

Not in all situations there is a choice of whom to bring into the house, but if there is an opportunity to make a decision, then it is better to follow the recommendations of veterinarians and animal psychologists on this issue.

The best option is kittens of the same age, approximately the same age or one to two months apart.
Older cats, on the contrary, should not be mixed with young and active animals - calm and phlegmatic companions are suitable for them.
A sexually mature, even sterilized, cat usually accepts a small kitten or teenager well - such animals have a well-developed maternal instinct, and they are able to take care of other people's kittens.
Animals of different sexes must be sterilized - even experienced breeders do not keep fertile cats and female cats together, as frequent pregnancies and childbirth negatively affect the health of pets. Yes, and making friends with such a couple will be problematic.
The most difficult thing is to achieve friendship between two male cats, regardless of their age, since males have much stronger instincts to protect their own territory.

Causes of cat fights

A fight between two pets can happen unexpectedly and its cause is not always clear at first glance. But in most cases, four factors can be distinguished:

Fear is always the root cause of any aggression. Most often the beginner is afraid. When attacking an old-timer, he defends himself.
Fight for territory. The older pet acts as the attacker here. He considers the house to be his personal space, and in this case does not consider the owner to be the leader of the pack.
Sexual conflicts are characteristic of two sexually mature males or females in heat. Breeding animals can only be isolated from each other. For pets from whom it is not planned to produce offspring, the best option is sterilization or castration.
Defending your interests. The stumbling block may be food, litter tray, house and toys. The owner also considers such animals to be their personal property. The struggle for influence over a person is also included in this group of fights. Only the correct behavior of the owner can save the situation.

Causes of conflicts

Many nuances can lead to conflict situations.

It's normal for a beginner to be a little afraid at first.

Below are four main reasons:

Fight for possessions. Felines are extremely sensitive to protecting their territory.
Fear. Most often, a kitten is afraid when in contact with an adult.
Sexual desire . During the hunting period, cats produce increased testosterone, which can cause the animal to be more aggressive.
Competition for treats, toys, tray, attention of household members . It will be especially pronounced on the part of the old-timer.

How to stop a fight

If pets chase each other, deliver short blows with their paws and jump back, hiss and scare each other, then you should not intervene. Enough observation.

If the conflict could not be prevented, and the fight has already begun - the cats are grappling and rolling on the floor, the situation needs to be resolved. And a lot here depends on the correct behavior of the owner.

You should never separate fighting animals with your bare hands. Despite their small size, cats are predators. With their claws and teeth, they can cause significant damage to humans (and each other).

It is necessary to separate animals and this can be done in the following ways:

The most effective results are achieved by a blanket, a large towel or any other dense fabric. If you throw it on fighting cats, they will freeze. You must immediately take it along with the blanket, without unwrapping one fighter, and move it to another room.
If the fight does not stop in the dark under the blanket (which is unlikely), you should try to push the animals away from each other using a mop or any other stick. You need to act quickly, but under no circumstances hit your pets.
Another effective technique is to pour water on the fighters. This method works flawlessly.
The cats need to be isolated from each other for several days, and then try to get acquainted again. The new one should be placed in a separate room. An old-timer should under no circumstances be offended by the owner and must remain in his familiar territory.
If animals are injured, they should be treated with any antiseptic. If necessary, call a veterinarian.

What to do in extreme situations

When the acquaintance has already taken place and the animals have accepted each other, this does not mean that they have an exclusively peaceful and happy coexistence ahead. Conflicts are quite possible throughout the life of animals together. Most likely, fights will also arise - important and fundamental issues need to be clarified, for example, who is in charge in the house. But these will no longer be battles to destroy the opponent, but rather brawls according to the principle “darlings scold - just have fun.”

Sorting things out on your own is more of a game than a fight

However, your task is to prevent conflicts and nip them in the bud. Because you are the man in charge of the house, and all four-legged brawlers should clearly understand this.

Fighting and other manifestations of discontent

If your cat doesn’t like the new tenant, she will protest in every way available to her - and not just by punching her. There are various protest actions in the cat's arsenal, and you will have to somehow cope with them. Your pet may show dissatisfaction in these ways:

attack another animal;
show aggression towards the owner;
scratch walls, furniture, shoes, etc.;
Read also: How to make friends between two cats or male cats in the same apartment
By scratching furniture and things, cats express their dissatisfaction with the situation.
marking the house with urine and feces;
refuse food.

Not a pleasant list, isn't it? And the worst thing is, even when the “tenant” is gone (if, for example, your friends temporarily gave him up for foster care), your cute cat’s behavior may never change for the better - her character will be hopelessly spoiled. Therefore, try to isolate the stranger, unless you can refuse to take him for a while.

Cat showdown

If somehow two animals that are not fully prepared to meet each other accidentally cross paths, a fight will most likely arise between them. And not in a playful way, but in a serious combat context. Such a conflict must be stopped immediately, and in this case you should have the following items on hand:

thick leather gloves;
cold water;
thick blanket.

It is not difficult to separate fighters with the help of simple improvised means, but this must be done decisively and in such a way that, of course, you do not harm any of them. The fighters should immediately be locked in separate rooms and allowed to completely calm down - they may have to be fed a sedative pill. Each cat should have clean water at this moment.

Video: fights without rules

Host mistakes

Situations in which a person has to introduce and reconcile cats arise quite often, and a lot of recommendations can be found on this matter. Understand for yourself right away: what worked great for someone else may turn out to be absolutely useless in your situation. And thoughtless experiments often end very badly. Here are just a few “helpful tips” that should be used with great caution.

Let them sort things out once, don’t interfere - very risky, although in some cases effective advice; Remember: cat fights can result in serious injuries and even death.
Remove the owner cat from the house for a while so that the “resident” can get used to the new place without him - this approach can increase the conflict between animals, because the old-timer will consider himself offended and will defend the trampled rights to the territory with redoubled agility.
Bathing both cats one by one in the same water so that they “exchange” smells is dubious advice, because the stress of washing will be superimposed on the emotions of a new acquaintance, and this is unlikely to contribute to reconciliation.

It depends on you whether your cats will be friendly and healthy.

Inexperienced owners forget that a new animal, especially if it was picked up on the street, is most likely a carrier of the infection. In this case, you should not rush to get acquainted - let the newcomer undergo an examination by a veterinarian and quarantine in a separate room; he must also be vaccinated, if he has not had any. During quarantine, the initial tension will subside and it will be easier to introduce cats.

Should I get a second pet?

When purchasing another cat, a person does not always think about the feelings of the old-timer. In some cases, a newcomer coming into the home may not be desirable.

If the first pet is quite an adult - over seven years old - it will be very difficult for him to accept a new one, especially if it is an active baby.

From the stress, the cat may even fall into severe depression, refuse to eat and die.

A sexually mature, uncastrated male poses a serious threat to a kitten less than three months old. It is better to wait until the baby is older and castrate an adult cat.

If there is a pregnant or lactating cat in the house, the arrival of a new pet is highly undesirable. The female will protect her children and attack the newcomer. Kittens can also die. Many animals in stressful situations kill their own offspring.

Different sex couple

If you don’t want kittens, sterilize one pet.
Most often, making friends between a cat and a male cat is not a problem. A couple of opposite sexes has a much better chance of peaceful coexistence. They quickly get along and get used to living together.

Disagreements may arise in the spring, when the cat's hormones are raging. The female may not reciprocate and begin to hiss, or even attack the suitor. Otherwise, a new addition to the family may be expected.

Advice! If you do not want kittens, sterilize one pet.

Mr. Cat recommends: tips for the owner

Experienced cat breeders face questions about how to help two or more cats get along peacefully every day. Their advice will help a non-specialist in the matter of introducing two pets.

The future owner should think carefully when purchasing a kitten from a nursery. Any animal yearns for loneliness. If possible, you need to pick up two babies at once. In this case, they will never have problems living in the same territory.

Even adult cats or cats are better to buy two at once. Finding themselves in the role of newcomers in unfamiliar territory together, the animals will not quarrel, but will begin to explore new possessions together.

A person must demonstrate to an older pet that he is in charge, his role in the house is a priority. Since two animals in this case are fighting not only for territorial isolation, but also for influence on the owner.

You can’t push animals together on the first day of meeting each other, let them sort things out on their own, or fight.

There is no need to show violence towards the newcomer - you just need to open the carrier and wait for him to come out on his own.

It is worth trying to mix the smells using a dry cloth. Rub the paws, muzzles, genitals of the new and old-timer. This can smooth out aggression.

Two separate areas with their own bedding, toilets, and bowls should be ready.

It is advisable to trim cats' claws first. In the event of a fight, they are less likely to hurt each other.

The first days of a newcomer in the house: how to behave as an owner

Meeting cats suggests the presence of aggression. The owner must behave as carefully as possible and not interfere while the animals are sorting things out at the level of warning signals. Such signals include:

fighting stance, heavily fluffed tail, hissing;
slight waving of the paws, warning blows;
attacking throws accompanied by instant rebounds.

Finding out the relationship between cats always begins with a period of warning signals

Newbie behavior can manifest itself in two ways:

will show agreement with the leading position of the old-timer, lower his eyes and take a pose of humility;
will show retaliatory aggression, expressing it through hissing and short paw strikes.

The owner can intervene in a cat fight only when it is really necessary, there is a risk of injury. That is, if the animals interlocked, forming a ball. You cannot get into a cat fight with your bare hands. It is better to use methods such as pouring water or throwing thick cloth over the conflicting parties.

What to do to make two pets in the same apartment friends

All breeders give the same advice on how to avoid fights between two pets in the same apartment: buy two kittens at once. It doesn't matter whether the babies are from the same litter or not. They have no gender or territorial aggression, so there will be no conflicts at all.

But since the simultaneous appearance of two pets is rare, you will have to try to make friends between the two individuals. To do this, you need to follow some recommendations from veterinarians:

The old-timer needs to demonstrate his importance. Any cat is afraid of losing the territory that it owns, and a pet is also afraid of losing the love of its owner. Therefore, when meeting a newcomer, it is best to take your first-born in your arms, stroke him and talk affectionately.
On the very first day, cats should not be confronted head-on. The new pet should be brought in a carrier, placed on the floor and the door opened so that he can independently get out and familiarize himself with the territory. You can’t limit the firstborn, you need to give him the opportunity to get acquainted with new smells. But you can’t leave your pets alone; you need to monitor their behavior all the time.
You can use a manipulation such as mixing animal odors. For example, wipe the face, paws and genitals of one pet with a dry towel, and do the same procedure with the same towel with the second animal. This procedure will help dull aggression.
Animals need to have areas where they can rest. The best solution would be to leave the first cat all the space where she likes to live, and isolate the newcomer in a separate room. It can be released under the supervision of the owner, and all doors can be left open so that in the event of a conflict, the pets have the opportunity to retreat. If you isolate an old-timer, he will decide that he has lost his territory and the love of his owner, this will increase stress and aggression.
In the first days of acquaintance, cats can often become combat-ready. This is the norm. If aggression is not directly manifested, then the situation will soon settle down.
It is important to provide each cat with its own tray. It has long been known that cats are overly clean. You cannot clean out the old resident's litter box before the new resident arrives. If a newcomer marks a toilet that is not his own, the cat may refuse to visit it again and will begin to leave marks anywhere. It is better to give the newcomer a different place for the tray at first, away from the toilet of the permanent pet.
You cannot feed animals from the same bowl. Initially, it is recommended to give them food in different places so as not to provoke a fight.
As soon as the animals begin to show kindness to each other, for example, rubbing against each other, you need to treat them with a treat.

How to make two cats friends

When introducing two cats, difficulty may arise if:

One of them is pregnant. In another cat, such a pet feels threatened. In her position, she cannot boast of strength and dexterity, and sometimes she does not feel well, that is, she is weak. This means that anyone can defeat her. The cat experiences a stressful situation, and with it aggression.
A pregnant cat will instinctively react with hostility to a new pet
Advanced age. If the first cat has reached old age, that is, if she is more than seven years old, and she has never lived with other cats, then it will be very difficult for her to accept the situation. It is generally not recommended for such pets to bring new animals.
Sexual hunting. Hormones drive the animal's instincts. Aggression will be splashed out on a competitor, even if there is no male nearby. If offspring are not expected, then it is better to sterilize two cats.

How to make two cats friends

The majority of fights between cats are provoked by mating rights. Sexually mature cats can be extremely aggressive during the mating season, and conflicts cannot be avoided. To resolve the situation, it is worth resorting to castration.

It is important to distinguish between two concepts: castration and sterilization. A neutered cat will still want to date the cat, while neutering contributes to the loss of sexual desire. In both cases, the possibility of reproduction is lost.

How to make friends between a cat and a cat

Fights between a male and a female can occur when:

The desire to injure an opponent who is physically weaker than oneself. The cat will try to demonstrate its authority, deprive the cat of food, and will interfere with taking a cozy resting place. Here it is necessary to take measures to feed animals in different places, from different bowls. Provide houses for each animal, monitor attempts to injure the cat and prevent them.
Manifestation of sexual instincts. If the cat and the cat are sexually mature, then their communication threatens the cat’s constant pregnancy. If breeding is not planned, then both should be sterilized. The cat's character will soften, and the cat will not bear offspring. The use of hormonal drugs is undesirable. They will negatively affect the health of animals. A tender relationship between a cat and a cat will come very quickly.

I had a situation when I moved with my cat to my mother, in whose house there was a cat. The animals accepted each other very quickly. There was a wariness in their relationship at first, but the most they did was hiss at each other. Naturally, the matter soon ended with the cat becoming pregnant. While she was bearing kittens, we castrated the cat. After the babies were one month old, the cat was also sterilized. We did not observe any particularly tender feelings between the animals, but they coexisted very peacefully.

How to make friends between an adult pet and a kitten

How the baby will be accepted into the new family will depend on the gender of the old-timer:

Cat. The female often accepts the kitten, as the maternal instinct is triggered. Clashes are possible, but they are more likely to be in the nature of education rather than manifestations of aggression. This applies only to those kittens that have not reached six months of age. If the kitten is older than 6 months, then it will be perceived as a full-fledged opponent, since at this age cats begin puberty.
Cat. The cat will definitely not become a nanny for the baby. However, there will be no obvious manifestation of aggression either. Don’t forget that in nature, cats often kill the babies of other people’s cats. If the old-timer is jealous, then during the first few days they cannot be left alone; it is possible that the cat will try to strangle the baby.
A cat will more easily accept someone else’s baby, as her maternal instinct will work.

My cat (mother of three children) perfectly accepted the foundling I found in the trash. She didn't have any questions about his appearance near her tummy. He was immediately thoroughly washed, fed and warmed. But I heard that not all cats can accept other people's kittens. Then it is recommended to wet the baby’s fur in the cat’s urine. The cat will smell its scent and begin to lick the baby, and then accept it as its own.

If pets do not make contact

You need to prepare for failure in advance. Not all cats can live under one roof. If, despite all efforts, fights continue, and the pets begin to show signs of illness due to a stressful situation, then the newbie will have to be abandoned and another home will be found for him.

Video: how to make friends between two cats who have not lived together before

Rules for keeping two pets

In order for two cats or two cats to live peacefully in one house, the owner must follow the rules of the hostel. Love and affection should be equally distributed among pets.

It is especially important not to allow jealousy and resentment to arise in an old-timer.

It should be made clear to both that the head of the pack, the only authority in the house, is a person.

If the acquaintance was not easy, then it is necessary to delimit the place and time of eating, sleeping, playing, and using the toilet.

If eating takes place in the same territory, then the older pet is always fed first.

Under no circumstances should physical punishment be allowed. Try to avoid fights and conflicts.

Toilet

There should be as many litter trays as there are cats in the house, or better yet, even one more. And even if you notice that cats often go to the same one, you shouldn’t remove the second one, at least not right away.

Meals

The problem here is that cats, as a rule, do not eat everything at once, unlike dogs. Cats will eat from your neighbor's bowl in any case; you are unlikely to be able to prevent this. Advice - place them away from each other. And if one cat is gluttonous and the other is undernourished, it is better to feed them in separate rooms.

A place for privacy

The cat must have a place where he can hide. Whether it's an offense against your neighbor, a child, or even you, the owner. Of course, it could be a shelf or the top of a cabinet, depending on what the cat likes best. You can organize several boxes with a passage, pets love it.

Games

Play with each cat in approximately the same way. At first, it is better to avoid playing with both pets at the same time.

The correct behavior of the owner at the first acquaintance and properly organized future life will help make the existence of two cats and a person with a family on the same territory cheerful and joyful.

Introducing cats to each other

Remember that cats do not need social connections - unlike dogs, who are pack animals, they live happily on their own outside of any social structure. Cats don't tend to feel the need for a friend, even if you would like to have another cat.

You won't be able to make cats fall in love with each other - some of them will easily get along with a new neighbor, while others will never get along or will only learn to live next to each other, maintaining an uneasy peace. You can only try. However, if there is no competition for food or safe resting places (as in most good homes), the cats will eventually accept each other, and some animals may even form a close bond. How cats get along with each other depends only on their desire, but you can still influence the success of the operation: it depends on how you introduce them. If the relationship becomes tense or frightening, if the cat feels threatened, it will be very difficult to change its behavior later. Therefore, it is extremely important to introduce animals carefully and gradually so that this does not cause an unnecessarily violent reaction.

Here are a few factors that influence the success of your first meeting:

Adult cats or kittens? A kitten poses less of a threat to the first cat than an adult animal, since it has not reached sexual maturity. You may also consider choosing a kitten of the opposite sex to reduce competition between them. Sterilization helps solve most of these problems, but does not get rid of them completely. If you are taking a second adult cat, it is also better to choose an animal of the opposite sex.

Time Choose a moment when the house is quiet and calm - avoid introducing cats during holidays, parties, visits from relatives or friends, choose a time when you can give full attention to your pets and support them.

Smell Matters Remember that smell is the most important of a cat's senses and the most important for communication and well-being. You can help your new cat fit into your life without being a “stranger” by mixing her scent with the scent of home before introducing her to your first cat. To do this, pet each cat and, without washing your hands, mix the smells. You can also collect secretions from the glands on your cat's head by stroking it with a soft towel, and then wipe all corners of the house and furniture with this towel. Giving your cat a chance to get used to new smells in the house and the smell of another cat before the first introduction will make her more tolerant. For this reason, it is better to postpone the first acquaintance of cats for several days or even a week. During this time, keep them in separate rooms, allowing each to explore the other's habitat and bed in the absence of the owner.

When introducing cats, use a cat pen or cat carrier. Your goal is to make sure both of your pets feel as safe as possible and that the new arrival is not harassed or aggressive (or is not aggressive himself). If the first acquaintance turns into a fight or a chase, problems may arise. The best way to avoid this is to use a special kitten pen when you first meet them. It is a metal honeycomb structure approximately 1m x 0.75m x 1m (l/w/h) with a door that can be left open or tightly closed. The cat, being inside, can see everything that is happening around, and at the same time feel safe in its shelter.

You may want to place a blanket on top at first to make your pet even more comfortable if you see him feeling vulnerable. A pen allows cats to see each other, sniff, meow or hiss without directly threatening or attacking. The bars allow the animals to be close, but at the same time protect them from each other. If you have a kitten, it makes sense to buy a larger pen so that you can keep your pet in it from the very beginning. Using it, you can introduce animals; you can also close the kitten in it, placing its tray and bed inside if you are going to leave and do not want the kitten to encounter any trouble or danger in your absence. The kitten can be locked in a pen at night (make sure it has a bowl of water) in the same room with other animals - then they will get used to each other in a calm environment. If you can't find a pen or crate, use a cat carrier or basket for the first introduction. Of course, it is too small and will not serve as a shelter for your cat, and you will not close your cat (kitten) in it for a long time, but it is better than nothing.