This month Dr. Jacqui writes about Introducing a New Cat to Your Household

Introducing a new kitten or cat into your home should be a fun and exciting experience. However, if not introduced properly, it could turn into a fiasco. In general, gradual introductions are advised. The following tips will help the transition be a success.

A Safe Haven:

• Provide your new kitty with a safe spot so they can adjust to their new home in peace. Ideally this space would be a spare bedroom or bathroom. Another option for homes without extra rooms is to turn a large dog kennel (crate) into a kitty condo. The safe haven should offer all the basic feline resources: food, water, litterbox, resting spots and scratching posts/pads. Enrichment items such as hiding spots, toys and elevated perches should also be provided. Other animals should not be permitted in the safe haven. This safe haven will be the temporary home for your new cat as they are being gradually transitioned into the family.

Environmental Pheromones:

• Feliway® is a synthetic feline pheromone that helps to calm and relax cats. Available as a plug-in diffuser or a spray bottle, ideally it should be placed in the home about a week prior to the introduction of the new cat.

Cats and Children:

• Sharp cat claws can result in painful scratches. Regular (weekly) trimming of cat nails is advised to protect against inadvertent injury.
• Young children should always be monitored around pets and taught appropriate pet handling skills, such as gentle stroking. Poking, hitting, tugging or pulling the fur of a cat/kitten should never be allowed. When a cat is scared or experiences pain, defensive aggression is a potential consequence. Due to their small size, kittens are especially vulnerable to injury, so close supervision is advised around children.
• In general, a good rule of thumb is to let the cat initiate the contact with the child instead of letting the child approach the cat.
• The cat should always have a safe haven or escape zone (e.g., elevated perch).

Cats and Dogs:

• All dog and cat introductions should be carefully controlled but extreme caution should be taken when introducing cats to a dog with a history of aggression to cats (e.g., chasing cats). Some dogs and cats cannot live safely together. Dogs that stalk cats may be viewing them as prey and strict management (e.g., segregation) should be in place.
• The cat should have had an opportunity to acclimate to the home environment prior to introducing it to the dog.
• The dog should be under full control so that there is no safety risk to the cat. This may include crating the dog, having the dog wear a muzzle, having the dog leashed, etc.
• The cat should have escape options/dog-free zones (high perches, access to a safe haven) to retreat to if it so desires.
• When the cat and dog are in a common area, they should be rewarded for demonstrating neutral or friendly behaviors to one another. Aggressive or chasing behavior from the dog should be interrupted and the animals should be separated.

Cats and Cats:

• Trim cat nails weekly to keep nails dull and minimize injury if the cats do get into a fight.
• Introduce slowly starting with supervised introductions.
• Provide an abundance of resources (litterboxes, food stations, water stations, resting spots, scratching posts) spread around the house.
• Make sure each cat gets daily play and cuddle time.