CATS PROTECTION

I get many requests from people who have a cat already and would like another to keep it company, and many think that their cat will accept another cat readily. But, I have to say this very rarely happens.

That isnt to say you shouldnt do it, as in most cases it does work, eventually ....

However, if you have a pair of cats and one dies, the remaining cat may seem lonely and a little sad, but please remember, they are missing their companion, not another cat, so in those circumstances, dont rush to find a suitable companion, give the cat time to grieve, and give it as much of your time and companionship as possible.

In the wild, cats are communal creatures, they live in colonies and rely on each other heavily, but when we come along and take a kitten into our household, their communal spirit dies, and they see themselves and their new human family as their colony and out of pure instinct, defend it against all intruders. And a new cat or kitten, will be exactly that, an intruder.

So how do we change this?

Well, firstly we need the existing cat to realise that the new one is no threat to either it or its family of humans, and the best way of doing that is to introduce them slowly and always accompanied by a human, at least to start with.

I always when bringing a newcomer into the house, keep it, either caged or in another room. That way, if the newcomer is caged, the existing cat can sniff around the cage, learning to recognise the newcomers smell, and sense any aggression that may or may not be coming from it, then after a few days of this, release the newcomer for short periods of time, always watching that no actual 'fur flying' battles start. Exactly the same principal applies when keeping the newcomer in another room, except with this method, the newcomer will regard this room as being its territory and its 'safe place', and as such, it will always run to that room, should it feel under threat.

With a kitten, of course you cant just lock it in a room, but you can ensure that the older cat doesnt feel threatened by it, by putting it in its cat carrier when you want to spend some quality time, fussing over the existing cat. This is why, when asked about a kitten to be a companion to an older cat, I always recommend they consider taking a pair of kittens, that way, the kittens will play with each other, allowing the older cat to join in should it wish to, and if the older cat hisses at a kitten, ( and most do as they naturally do as the mother cat would and chastise the kitten) it wont feel rejected, it will just turn to the other kitten and continue play.

In my experience, and as I have had 20 cats living here at any one time, it can take around 3 weeks to totally introduce a new cat, so those of you who have a new addition, and dont feel its working, be patient, give it time.

I also get asked 'is it better to have 2 toms?' If you have a neutered Tom, then dont take on another Tom, as it will eventually lead to territorial conflicts and spraying, get a queen, and vice versa. If you get kittens together from the same litter, then 2 Toms or 2 Queens can work, but other than that, dont do it.  If you have a Tom and a Queen, and want more cats, then obviously you have to do it, but then look at personalities, dont take in a dominant Tom, look for one thats a little bit of a softy who doesnt care who top cat is.

Of course if you want any specific advice over this, or indeed any other problem, then feel free to email me via the Contact page and I will be glad to help if I can.

Chris

Co-ordinator of Cats Protection - Newcastle Branch

A behaviorist discusses how the findings of modern feline behavior research can help pet owners encourage friendships among their cats and acclimate them to unnatural human environments

Although cats have been domesticated for more than 4,000 years, we know shamefully little about their normal behavior patterns, the factors that contribute to behavior problems, and the best ways to resolve those problems. A common behavior issue cat owners face is fighting among family cats. Improved methods for both preventing and resolving these feline disputes would be helped by a better understanding of cat social behavior, including an examination of what constitutes normal feline social relationships and the factors that influence whether cats will form social bonds with one another.

It is perplexing to both owners and behaviorists alike that an individual cat is able to get along well with some other family cats, but not with all. Recent research has shed some light on this question. In a study of neutered, indoor-only house cats, there were no differences in agonistic or friendly behaviors between cats based on gender pair combinations.  This negates the belief that any particular gender pair (male/female, for example) is more likely to get along better than any other.

The same study also found that the aggression between cats decreased significantly after they had lived together for more than eight months. Other research found that few affiliative behaviors (“allorubbing” and “allogrooming”—terms describing cats’ scent-sharing behaviors) were seen in a group of cats living communally in a shelter until the cats had been together for at least a year.

These findings hold particular significance for owners introducing a cat to resident cats. First, cats require a significant amount of time to learn to get along with each other. Owners who expect cats to quickly develop a friendly relationship with each other are likely to be disappointed, putting at least one cat at risk for not staying in the home. Second, cat-to-cat introductions should be very controlled and implemented gradually by providing opportunities for the cats to watch or sniff each other without direct interaction. Most owners rush cat-to-cat introductions, and in fact many do not implement any formal introduction procedures at all. This definitely contributes to social stress and probably makes the development of fighting problems more likely.

Socializing the Shy and Scaredy Cats

A significant finding that was emphasized by all of the scientists conducting these research studies is the tremendous individual variation among cats in their social behavior and preferences for group or individual living—something that anyone working with cats has easily observed. One factor likely contributing to these individual differences is the degree of socialization a cat has received; it is well-known that early socialization has a tremendous effect on an animal’s social behavior later in life. A number of behaviorists have independently arrived at the conclusion that the importance of kitten socialization is a topic that is all too often ignored; though many veterinarians strongly emphasize the need for socialization during puppy appointments, the subject of socializing kittens and juvenile cats is generally overlooked.

Based on behavioral observations, it seems that many cats are undersocialized. They exhibit fearful reactions to visitors, new environments, changes in existing environments, and car rides. Many cats are difficult to handle in the clinic or shelter, at least in part because they are stressed, anxious, and defensive by the time they arrive. An innovative socialization program called Kitty Kindy (NOT AVAILABLE IN THE UK) encourages owners to bring their kittens to socialization sessions at the clinic. Here, kittens learn important social skills, including how to play with other kittens, and owners learn about their cats and their behavior. ( this wouldnt be encouraged by Cats Protection unless all kittens were tested against FIV and FeLV and in tip top health )

Related to socialization is the idea of environmental enrichment for cats. The practice of keeping cats indoors, especially in urban or suburban areas, has long been advocated by many veterinarians, behaviorists, and animal shelters wishing to protect cats from harm and prevent them from becoming a nuisance to the community. But many professionals have also begun to question whether a crowded, multi-cat, indoor environment can adequately meet a cat’s behavioral needs. One study found that indoor cats may live at densities as high as 50 times the highest densities observed in studies of outdoor cats. (4) To protect cats while also catering to their natural desire for a taste of the outdoors, some experts are increasingly considering encouraging cat owners to allow their cats access to the outdoors in a safe, confined manner. Outdoor cat enclosures—and do-it-yourself plans for building them—are becoming more widely available commercially.

Text in Pink added by Cats Protection