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If you have one cat (or even more) there may come a time when you want to introduce another to your home, not only for your own enjoyment, but also as company for your original moggy. Firstly, do you have enough space and time for a another cat? Cats are most likely to fight if they are in competition for resources. The main resources they compete over are sleeping space, food and human attention. Do you have enough space to provide several beds, to feed two cats separately and provide enough attention that the original cat does not feel neglected? If not then stick to a single cat. It is also important to consider your cat's personality. If your cat is the sort that enjoys roaming the neighbourhood beating everyone else up, then he may well do the same to a newcomer. Conversely if your cat is scared of its own shadow and spends 90% of its time hiding under your jumper then he may simply not cope with a new friend. Generally opposite sexes are easier to mix, though it is still quite possible to mix cats of the same sex. Many people choose a kitten in the hope that it will be more acceptable to an older cat . While it is true that adult cats will rarely harm a kitten, remember that kittens are very playful and an older cat may find being pounced on extremely stressful. If you have an older cat and really want a kitten it is worth considering a pair. This way the older cat is pestered less while you still have the advantage of the kittens being more acceptable to the existing cat. In contrast a younger playful cat may positively enjoy having a new playmate. Older cats can also be a good choice as they may be calmer and more confident allowing them to rise above any grumblings from the resident cats. Whatever type of cat you choose it is important that the introductions are as pleasant as possible as a bad start takes a lot of work to recover from. The first introduction between a resident cat and a new cat is very important. A bad start can result in a long recovery time, therefore it is important to take things slowly. For cats, the sense of smell is very important in distinguishing friend from foe. When introducing a new cat the first thing to do is introduce the cats scents to each other. This way when the cats meet they will smell familiar and so are less likely to react aggressively to each other. Initially this means keeping the two cats separate while the scents are introduced. If you are moving between and stroking both cats you will automatically be transferring the scent of one cat to the other. You can increase the amount of scent transference that occurs by swapping sleeping blankets and beds between the cats and rubbing a cloth down the face and flanks of both cats to mix their scents. Do the scent swapping for several days, certainly until neither cat reacts fearfully or aggressively to the smell of the other cat. The next step is to allow the cats to see each other, preferably in such a way that they can smell each other, but not attack e.g. through some kind of barrier. At the same time offer some really tasty food such as chicken or tuna. Hopefully the cats will be so engrossed in their food they will not be bothered with each other. Gradually remove the barrier and increase the amount of time they spend in each other's presence. Continue with the scent exchanging so they continue to recognise each other's scent. Initially supervise all encounters and interrupt any aggression with a hand clap or other noise. Once you are happy they will tolerate each other the amount of supervision can be decreased. Using this method you should end up with a pair of cats which will at least tolerate each other, if not get on. Bear in mind it is often a slow process which will take weeks rather than days. No matter how well they get on eventually, most cats will still squabble. The odd fight is only to be expected. As long as neither cat is physically injured or mentally traumatised then these are nothing to be concerned about. The above is only a brief guide. If you are having problems introducing a new cat to the household it is a good idea to seek professional help sooner rather than later. The longer two cats have not been getting on, the harder it is to change their feelings towards each other.
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