Category: Kitten

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How To Safely Introduce Cats

Cats are inquisitive and intelligent animals so you might think they would enjoy a feline friend for company. Before you jump straight into finding a new kitty companion, consider your current cat’s needs and personality. Unlike dogs, cats are territorial, so introducing a new cat into your home should be done with plenty of patience.

Choosing The Right Cat

Much like we humans like to play matchmaker for our friends, you should do the same for your cat if you are considering adding another cat to your home. Cats have individual personalities so it is important that the new cat is a good fit.

If your cat is playful and active, they should get on well with a confident kitten, but they may struggle to accept a nervous cat. Likewise, if your cat is quiet and laid back, they will not tolerate a rambunctious new roommate who wants to play all day.

Plan Ahead

Before bringing your new cat home, you should prepare your current cat and your home so everyone is ready for the new arrival. A sudden or unplanned introduction will likely cause both cats to become defensive and hostile towards one another. This is not a good start to a new relationship and it is difficult to recover from this. Here are some top tips to ensuring the introduction goes smoothly:

  • Start by preparing a safe space for the newcomer which is separate from the current cat. This could be a spare bedroom, the conservatory, or the laundry room. This will provide the new cat a quiet area to settle into before they meet the resident cat. If cats do not feel safe, they will be in a constant state of anxiety and any introduction will be ruined.
  • Introduce the cats to each other’s scents before they meet. Before you bring your new cat home, you should introduce their scent to your resident cat and vice versa. This can be done very easily using a cotton pad or something each cat has come into contacts with, such as a blanket or a cuddly toy.
  • Allow each cat to find these items naturally and gradually move them around the house so that your current cat gets used to the new cat’s scent. Ask the owner of your new cat to do the same in the days before you bring them home.
  • On the day you bring your new cat home, do not allow either cat to see the other, but do allow them to sniff one another through a solid barrier such as a door or a doorway divider. Each cat can sniff the other through the gap under the door and they should be familiar with the other cat’s scent if the previous step was done successfully.
  • For the first few days, you should place food and water bowls away from the divider. You can then slowly move the bowls closer to the door until both cats are comfortably eating together on either side of the partition.
  • When your cats appear settled with one another, you can then introduce them by sight. Fit transparent door divider or baby gate so the cats can see each other but they cannot touch. If the gaps between the bars of your baby gate are too wide, you can cover the gate with cling film or clear sheeting.
  • It is important that they cannot touch each other yet in case they are not friendly during this first meeting. The two cats should be left to greet one another without any interference. Do not push the cats together or try to encourage them close together. They should greet one another on their own terms to avoid any hostility.
  • After 2 or 3 days of visual greetings, your cats should now be comfortable with each other. Once you get to a point where both cats are actively seeking out the other and lying together on either side of the divider, you can introduce them to the same room. Again, it is vital that you do not force the introduction.
  • Open the divider and allow the cats to find each other themselves. keep the meeting short, even if it is a positive one. Don’t worry if they seem nervous at first or if one cat hides. This is normal while they get used to each other and establish themselves. growling and hissing are ok provided one or both cats back off. If neither do and they are physically aggressive, separate them immediately and repeat the meetings with the door divider for a while longer.
  • Successful meetings can be gradually extended until both cats are comfortable. Ensure both cats have separate places they can go when they want some privacy. If your current cat likes to snuggle on the sofa, only allow your new cat to join in if the resident cat is comfortable with this. Remember, your older cat is used to having you and the house to themselves. They are learning to share which can take time.

Encourage Playtime

Once your cats are accepting of one another’s company, you can help to strengthen their relationship through play. Cat toys such as balls with rattles or teaser wands are a great way to get your cats engaged.

Your resident cat may be territorial of their toys, so try to have some new toys that are neutral to both cats. keep the play sessions short and end them on a positive note. This will help the cats to associate each other with fun and excitement.

If your cats are not particularly playful, you can try using interactive games like puzzle mats instead. You can also use an old cardboard box with holes cut out and place some treats inside. Your cats then have to use their paws to retrieve the treats.

Final tips

The key to any successful introduction is time and patience. An introduction should take at least 2 weeks before the cats meet without a barrier.

Watch both cats closely and look for signs of contentment. This includes lying close to one another, giving casual glances to the other cat, purring, and rubbing their bodies against the barrier.

Never force 2 cats together if they are showing signs of anxiety such as pinned ears, raised hackles, and hissing.

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Kitten Litter Training

Getting a new kitten is lots of fun and very sweet, but you need to do the mucky jobs too. That means teaching your kitten where to do his business. Starting early will set your kitten up for success. 

We have compiled a comprehensive how-to list of things you can do to make litter training a breeze.

Tray Size Matters

Young kittens can feel quite intimidated by large litter trays, so start them off with a smaller size. These trays are shallower, making it easier for your kitten to step in and out without tripping or getting stuck.

As your kitten grows you can swap the tray for a larger size to accommodate them. Even if you have adult cats in the home, include one smaller-sized tray for your kitten during litter training.

Ideally, your litter tray should be one and a half times the length of your cat.

Give Me Privacy!

Nobody wants an audience to do their business and this includes cats. where you place your litter trays will have a direct impact on how successful your litter training is.

Litter trays need to be placed in quiet areas of the house with minimal food traffic. This includes the laundry room, downstairs toilet, garage, or conservatory.

Try not to have your litter tray in the kitchen or dining room as this is a contamination risk for your food and could make you sick.

While privacy is important, not all cats like to go in enclosed spaces. While you may prefer a covered litter tray, your cat may feel trapped and refuse to use it. Every cat is different. Try one closed tray and one open to working out your cat’s personal preference.

It is important to have at least two litter trays away from each other so your cat has the choice of where they want to go. You may notice that your outdoor cat will not toilet in your garden. They will also go elsewhere. This is the same for litter trays. Cats like to have a choice.

Which Litter?

When it comes to choosing litter, the choices are endless. Gravel type litter, fine grain litter, wood chip, clumping or non-clumping? There is no straight answer here, just go with your gut. Try purchasing small bags of each type to see which litter your cat prefers.

When filling your litter trays, add no more than an inch of litter. It needs to be deep enough that your cat can dig and cover their eliminations, but not so deep that they fling litter everywhere.

Adult cats tend to prefer, sandy-type litters but if you have an indoor cat, you will want to choose the most absorbent litter types.

Introducing The Litter Tray

It is important to introduce your kitten to their litter tray so they know where to find them and get used to the new smells.

Pick your kitten up and gently place them into the litter tray. Give them a minute to have a sniff and praise them. They may even have a dig in the litter and some kittens will naturally wee.

Continue taking them to the litter tray after they eat, drink or wake from sleeping, as this is when they are most likely to need to toilet.

You can reward your kitten whenever they use the litter tray by giving them a little treat of their favourite biscuits or small pieces of chicken.

Do not scold your kitten for having accidents around the house. This will only make them fearful of toileting in the future, leading to more accidents. Simply clean up after them and continue rewarding them for using the litter tray.

Cleaning Your Litter Trays

It is important to keep your litter trays clean in order to prevent ammonia buildup, bacteria, and bad odours.

You should spot-check your litter trays daily and scoop out any messes. Add a little extra litter to maintain the depth. Once per week, you should empty the entire litter tray, throwing away the dirty litter.

Rinse the tray, clean it with a mild disinfectant and wipe it clean. Add a fresh layer of litter and replace the tray with its normal position. Cats tend to go straight into a litter tray after it has been cleaned, so keep your scoop ready.

What If Your Kitten Isn’t Getting It?

Some kittens take to litter training like a duck to water. Others seem to take forever to get the hang of it. If your kitten is struggling, there are a few things you can do.

Firstly, check that your litter trays are easily accessible and that your kitten is able to climb in and out without help.

If your litter tray is in a busy part of the house, try moving it to a quieter location and see how your kitten responds. They may be more comfortable having the litter tray away from the busyness of your daily routine.

Don’t tuck the litter trays right into a corner. Cats don’t like to feel confined or closed in and having a litter tray against two walls can make kittens feel uneasy.

If you have other cats, your kitten may feel intimidated using the same litter tray or your older cat may be territorial of their preferred toileting spot. Add an additional tray somewhere else in the house so your kitten has other options.

Try changing the litter type you are using. If you have a fine grain, trying switching to wood chip or a larger grain litter. If your litter tray is covered, remove the lid or vice versa. A little trial and error will eventually hit on a sweet spot and your kitten will be a litter tray pro in no time!

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How To Raise a Kitten to be Cuddly

Is your kitty crabby and you’d like to change that? While heredity influences a cat’s personality, you can raise a kitten that’s friendly and social even if you don’t know its early influences and experiences. If you’re looking to help your feline become a lap cat, here are five tips that can help you succeed.

Keep Calm

Sudden movements and aggressive actions scare cats and can make them stay away from you. Instead of sudden movements which might catch your kitten unaware, move slowly so your cat and kitten alike will feel comfortable with you being around. Even if you’ve been living together for some time, your kitten will appreciate some calmness which is at the core of basic feline manners.

Don’t stare

Cats don’t like eye contact and typically feel threatened by it. This is probably the fastest way to earn your kitten’s dislike and make them want to avoid you. Instead, slowly blink your eyes at him and watch for its reactions. The slow-blinking is a non-verbal statement that says “I love you” and if your cat responds with the same slow-blinking, it means your cat loves you. The slow blink is a kitty kiss without all the touchy-feely stuff. And if your cat walks toward you while purring and wriggling around your legs, it’s a sign that you’re getting it right.

Rub him/her the right way

Kittens and cats have the way and places they want to be touched, and when done right, it can help your feline pet become cuddly. The best spots to scratch are between the ears, beneath the chin, and that sweet spot between the eyes. Don’t forget to also stroke them along the spine as it can help you gain some extra points too.  Meanwhile, avoid the belly and base of the tail area as kitties and cats do not like being petted or scratched around those parts. Many cats feel uncomfortable when their tummy is at risk, even if you’re not a threat. The reason is that cats release scents off their odor from their tail glands which they don’t like to pick up from us even though they like to perfume us with glands on their heads and face. Perhaps, the glands at the base of the tail have certain uses for other cats, and their perfume isn’t meant for you.

Bond through grooming

Grooming is another way to gain your cat’s favoritism. Grooming is a social thing among felines as they do it to themselves and each other. Your cat will probably enjoy it if you rub him tenderly and in rhythmic movements while talking to them in a soft voice. Make sure you watch for your cat’s reactions to know if it is enjoying your attention. If you see your kitten’s tail twitching or he stands up and walks away, it’s a sign that it’s enough.

Bribe your feline: Cats do not mind you showing them the love that goes through the belly or stomach tract. Always go around with some cat food stick treats so you can reward your feline whenever he approaches you.

Conclusion

While you’re trying out these tips, keep in mind not to force petting on your kitty.  Research suggests that cats can become more stressed when they reluctantly allow people to stroke them than cats who avoid being petted at all. Perhaps, the most important nugget while training your cat is patience, and remember to observe their reactions to your petting.

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