Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
ADDING A NEW CAT
Cats are creatures of habit, and they generally would prefer that things
stay the way they are. The same holds true when you're introducing a
new cat to a household where other pets live. This is a situation when
patience is a must. Sometimes all animals involved are amenable to the
addition, and other times your former best friend will have nothing to
do with you or the new cat.
As difficult as it may be to find the perfect cat for you, it is even
more difficult to try to pick out a friend for an existing cat. I always tell
people that they should be getting another cat because they want one,
not because they think their cat needs a friend. If you get another cat
and she does not get along with the original cat, you are still responsi-
ble for the new cat.
Cat owners interested in acquiring another cat often ask me
whether the sex of the new addition matters.There are no current stud-
ies showing that cats have a social preference for living with any par-
ticular sex. Many potential cat owners shy away from acquiring a male
cat because they are concerned about urine spraying.This is not a com-
mon problem in cats who are neutered before they reach puberty.
Female cats can spray too, but they rarely do. Both males and females
may eliminate outside of the cat box to mark territory or to show their
displeasure in certain instances. It is very uncommon for cats to spray
or eliminate inappropriately if they live in single or dual cat households,
but the risks increase when three or more cats are present.
I think it is easier to bring a kitten into a household with an exist-
ing adult cat or cats. In this situation, the territory and dominance of
the resident cats are established, and they are not as threatened as they
would be if they had to compete with another adult cat. Senior cats
may not tolerate a kitten jumping on and bothering them, and they
usually keep their distance. It is a good idea to put a young “pest” away
in another room, if needed, to give an older cat a break.
Tips for Introducing Cats Successfully
For health reasons, a veterinarian should examine a new cat or kitten
before she comes into direct contact with your other cats. She should
be tested for feline leukemia, a potentially fatal and contagious feline
virus. If she is six months or older, she should be tested for feline
immunodeficiency virus (FIV) as well. If the new cat came from a
