Cat Behavior Explained Blog

Why Letting Go Of Someone You Love Is For The Best? Here Are The 4 Reasons For It

It is harder than it sounds to leave a relationship with anyone whom you love, and many people don’t want to because they think it implies giving up.

We’re told we should never give up from a young age and this is good advice to a degree. However, it’s not necessarily so when it comes to relationships. Sometimes, learning how to let go and move on is the best thing for both of you when you love anyone.

#1 Involvement Of Two People

If you are going to find a job, finish a race or lose 10 pounds, the individual responsible for the results is you and you alone. It is up to you to set an objective and achieve it regardless of the barriers.

When you’re in a disturbing connection, there are two individuals there. And while you can be fully responsible for your behavior and your responses, you can not regulate your partner’s actions.

Maybe you decide to pay particular attention to look lovely and kind, but yourself still treats you like you are hideous and tells you terrible stuff. Or perhaps you decide that you will support him regardless of how bad his choices are and how bad his choices still influence his daily lives.

Or, maybe your personality is trying to change his behavior, but it doesn’t work for you, or perhaps it isn’t what you want. As a consequence, the connection is not healthier.

So, remember, don’t, if you chid yourself for “giving up.” There are two of you, and you both have to attempt to create it function.

#2 You Are Not A Superhero

Yes, we were told we should never give up. But it’s time to do just that.

Many of my customers have such weak interactions that their physical and mental health is impacted. You do everything you can to save your friendship, but your attempts are unsuccessful, and your connection is damaged.

Despite their efforts, they can’t make it function.

Recognize yourself for this. Did you do all you can to attempt and safeguard your connection, but still hit the brick wall? If so, recognize that you can’t modify some stuff, no matter how difficult you try.

#3 Is It An Excuse?

It’s tough to let someone go. We are afraid of the pain we know when we break up and fear that we will never again be loved.

Therefore we create every excuse in the globe to remain in the relationship, including one which makes us sound powerful.

So, wonder: are you really concerned about ‘giving up’ or are you a reason to remain, even if you are not pleased? It’s painful but not impossible to let someone go.

#4 Will It Be Bad?

Think of hill climbing. You can see the top, and you are dying, but you twisted your knee about a mile back, and it is getting sore. The pain is terrible, and you’re not sure that you can take another step.

What do you do? Do you continue, even if you understand that you might not be able to walk down? Or do you turn away knowing that your mental and physical health is the best thing?

The same is true of friendships. If you are mentally and physically harmed by your partnership, perhaps it is time to let go. Let us go so that in the globe you can be safe, happy, and functional.

Could Cat Urine Problems Mean Kitty Is Sick?

Cat urine changes often indicate that Kitty is in need of medical attention. This section of the website goes through the common signs you should watch out for.

picture of lovely grey cat

This section of the website doesn’t cover the reasons why your cat may be spraying or not using his litter box. To go to the section that deals with litter box problems, click here.

Potential Problems To Be Aware Of

Hopefully you already have a reasonable idea of your cat’s normal toilet habits. You probably know how much he drinks, what his pee smells and looks like (to an extent!), how often he has a pee and the rough volume he pees each time.

Changes to any of the above may indicate a problem. I’ve listed the most common cat urine problems below. For more information on any of them, please click on the text links. For advice on health insurance for your cat, click here.

1) Increased or decreased thirst and urine production

picture of tabby cat drinking from tap

A marked change in Kitty’s thirst and urination isn’t normal. You may find he starts peeing during the night, develops feline incontinence, tries to pee frequently, drinks out of the sink or spends much more time hanging round his water bowl and / or litter box.

There are several potential causes for this behavior. In all cases, the sooner he’s seen by a vet, the better:

Cat Urinary Tract Infection
Common signs include trying to pee frequently but only small amounts being produced, and suddenly starting to pee away from the litter box.

Chronic Cat Kidney Failure
Usually occurs in older cats, due to kidney function deteriorating with age.

Acute Cat Renal Failure
Usually occurs as a result of infection, poisoning or physical injury.

Cat Diabetes
Feline diabetes symptoms include increased thirst and urine production, weight loss and increased appetite.

2) Blood and / or pus in Kitty’s urine

Blood and pus are not normal components of a cat’s urine, and if they are present, Kitty has a problem.

The mixture of the blood staining and pus may actually look like cat constipation, so owners may not even realize that Kitty’s urine is the problem. It could be caused by a cat urinary tract infection, physical injury or acute cat renal failure. All need prompt veterinary treatment.

3) Offensive smelling urine

The smell of cat urine isn’t exactly pleasant, but if it suddenly becomes more pungent, Kitty likely has a problem. The most probable cause is cat urinary tract infection, but once again, a speedy trip to the vet is required.

4) Kitty appears unable to pee

photo of cat drinking from pool

If Kitty is spending most of his time straining over the litter box but not producing anything, then getting out of the box and licking the area under his tail, you could have a very serious problem on your hands.

This behavior is suggestive of him being unable to pee – i.e. there’s an obstruction that’s preventing him from passing urine. This could be caused by a physical injury, a tumor or bladder stones blocking the exit to his bladder. Whatever the cause, immediate veterinary attention is needed. If he can’t pee, he will die without treatment.

Kitty’s diet plays important part in the treatment of many cat urine problems. Your vet can advise you further on this.

There’s a lot of information here, and it’s not exhaustive. But the take away message is straightforward – if you notice any alterations in Kitty’s toilet habits or any actual cat urine changes, take him to the vet as soon as you can.

Click on these links for advice on how to clean cat urine and cat urine cleaning products.

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Cat Health Problems. How to Recognize the Signs

Cat health problems, if dealt with swiftly, can often be cured completely or greatly improved.

Many cat illnesses will show themselves by a variety of symptoms and signs.

These symptoms aren’t illnesses in themselves, but they’re a good indication that something is wrong and tell you that a prompt trip to the vet is needed.

This page describes the main signs and symptoms of many feline illnesses.

First, I’ve listed the signs and symptoms that often indicate Kitty has an illness. Each link takes you to a page with more detail about that particular symptom.

Below this list, I’ve given more detailed information about some of the key things to look out for which may be telling you that Kitty is sick.

General Signs of Cat Health Problems

Click on the individual links below for more details on each:

Click on this link for specific advice on health problems in elderly cats.

Things to Look Out For

1) General lack of energy

We all know cats sleep a lot, but if yours becomes much more lethargic compared to normal and can hardly seem to be bothered to do anything, something may well be wrong.

Depression in cats is often characterized by a lack of energy and excessive sleeping. Cat depression can be caused by circumstances that are upsetting your kitty or it can be a sign of a physical illness.

Lack of energy is also one of the common signs of feline anemia.

2) Loss of appetite and / or weight loss

One of the first signs of feline illnessses is often a loss of appetite. The loss may be partial or almost complete.

Appetite loss in cats can be a sign of numerous illnesses, but other symptoms that accompany it may give the vet a better clue as to the cause. These symptoms can include:

Poor dental health can be a sign of illness. It may just be that Kitty needs his teeth cleaned, but sometimes it can be a sign of other illnesses – for example leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.

Sometimes a cat will lose weight but not lose his appetite. Unexplained feline weight loss is another sign of illness and warrants a trip to the vet whether Kitty has lost his appetite or not.

3) Reluctance to groom and / or hair loss

Healthy cats are meticulous about grooming their fur, which is why it always looks so shiny and sleek.

A sick cat, often due to a general overall lack of energy, will reduce or even stop grooming his fur. As a result, his coat will quickly become dull, maybe have more dandruff and become tangled if he’s long haired.

Hair loss in cats can happen for a variety of reasons, but is often an indicator of another health problem.

4) Cat urine problems

Any change in Kitty’s peeing habits may indicate cat health problems.

Litter box problems (i.e. suddenly starting to pee outside the litter box) are very often a sign that Kitty’s water works are in trouble, as is incontinence.

If your cat suddenly and inexplicably starts peeing outside of his litter box, you should take him to the vet as soon as you can. This behavior is often a sign of a urinary tract infection. This is easily cleared up with antibiotics if it’s treated quickly.

If your cat suddenly appears unable to pee and is straining over his litter tray, he may have bladder stones. If you suspect this to be the case, you should rush Kitty to the vet without delay. A cat with a blocked bladder will die without treatment.

5) Excessive thirst or reluctance to drink

Excessive thirst can indicate a number of cat illnesses including:

In some cases of kidney failure, depending on the stage it’s at, thirst can decrease rather than increase.

6) Excessive sneezing

All cats sneeze from time to time, and usually it’s nothing to worry about. But excessive sneezing can be a sign of a number of cat health problems and illnesses, including:

*Click here for other leukemia symptoms in cats.

A prompt trip to the vet is key to solving or reducing cat health problems and maximizing your cat’s life expectancy. The longer a health problem is left, the harder and more expensive it becomes to treat.

What Is Catnip?

What is catnip? Why does it make Kitty go crazy with pleasure? Why do some cats not respond to it? What does a cat on catnip do? Is it safe for my cat cat? Is it addictive? What else is it used for? How do you grow it? This section of the website answers all of these questions.

Catnip is a perennial herb belonging to the Mint family Labiatae. It originated in Mediterranean Europe and was introduced from there to North America and Canada where it’s now native.

When most cats smell or eat catnip they display a range of unusual behaviors that last between 5 and 15 minutes. Besides giving Kitty pleasure, catnip has a number of other uses, some of which may surprise you. Please click on the text links below for further information on anything that interests you.

Effects of Catnip on Cats

Cats on Catnip Video Clips

Catnip Plant Uses

Catnip Extract Uses

How to Grow Catnip

When to Harvest Catnip

Cat Care 101

Cat care is a big subject. There are a few reasons why you might want advice on caring for your kitty:

You’re thinking of getting an adult or kitten and want to prepare for his arrival as best you can
You’ve got cats already but need some advice on a specific issue
You’ve got a cat or kitten already and just want to learn more in general about looking after him

Whatever your situation, the more you can learn about caring for cats, the better.

If you’re thinking of getting a cat for the first time, understanding what’s involved in caring for him can help you make an informed decision about whether to go ahead or not.

If you already own one, the more you know about looking after him, the happier he (and you) will be.

Cat care covers a multitude of subjects including grooming, bathing, eye care, ear care, health (including recognizing when Kitty is sick), neutering, spaying, vaccinations, worming, nutrition, safety… and so on.

This section of the website is being developed to provide a comprehensive resource for you, so you can easily find advice and information on all the most important aspects of caring for your kitty.

Everyday Cat Care

Adopt an Adult or Kitten?

Before you take the plunge, you need to decide whether to adopt a kitten or an adult. Read about the pros and cons of kitten adoption and adult adoption.

House Cats

Indoor cats need more entertainment than outdoor cats. Get lots of ideas here for entertaining and caring for house cats.

Medicines, Tablets and Grooming

Discover the best way to give your cat medicine and tablets.

Find out the correct way to clean your cat’s ears.

Learn how to clip cat claws.

Older Cats

Useful information about elderly cats – elderly cat care , elderly cat health problems and aging cats – what happens to cats as they age?

Identity Methods

Pros and cons of collars, tattooing and microchipping pets.

Travel

Tips and tricks for traveling with cats by car, and the pros and cons of different types of cat carriers.

Death of your Pet

Some suggestions to help you cope with pet death and the Rainbow Bridge poem.

Illnesses

Learn how to recognize the signs of a healthy cat, which then makes it much easier to be able to recognize when your kitty is sick.

There’s detailed advice here on the most common cat illnesses, including flu, enteritis, diabetes, urine problems,fleas, worms, leukemia symptoms and many more.

Health Problems

Many illnesses in cats will show themselves by a variety of symptoms and signs.

These cat health problems aren’t illnesses in themselves, but they’re a good indication that something is wrong and tell you that a prompt trip to the vet is needed.

Find out common causes of cat sneezing, vomiting, dehydration, depression and more.

Kitten Care

Learn all about caring for kittens, including advice on the important do’s and don’ts of feeding kittens, how to deal with fleas on kittens and introducing a new kitten to your resident feline(s).

Safety

Find out how to make your home safe for kittens.

Recognize and minimize the risks of potential Christmas hazards for cats.

Different Cat Breeds. How to Choose the Best Breed for You!

There are many different cat breeds available for you to choose from.

If you’re relatively new to the world of cats, you may think a cat’s a cat, and there can’t be too many differences between breeds… Oh no!

Some domestic cat breeds have very different personalities to others.

Some are more mentally demanding, some more physically demanding. Some are more pre-disposed to certain diseases.

The amount they meow even varies a lot – the Siamese cat, for example, is well-known for its vocal talents!

If you’re thinking of getting a cat, the choice of breed is extremely important. Choose well and you and Kitty stand the best chance of developing a long and happy relationship.

On this web page, I’ve listed some of the most popular different cat breeds, and given a quick overview of their personalities, the type of home they’d be suited to and other information specific to each of the different cat breeds. This will hopefully help you make your choice. However, a word of caution…

I believe every feline, in one way or another, is a law unto him or herself. Different cat breeds tend to have certain characteristics, but there are always exceptions.

A good example is Priscilla, my Persian. Persian cats are meant to have quiet, melodic voices, and allegedly don’t vocalize often. Priscilla meows loudly, a lot, and is about as melodic as a pneumatic drill.

So when you read this, bear in mind it’s a general guideline only. OK, here we go…

Click here for information on (almost!) non shedding cat breeds.

Popular Different Cat Breeds

Abyssinian

Personality: Active, curious, intelligent, affectionate

Suits: Lively families, experienced cat owners

Other: Love climbing, very agile, quite vocal, need lots of mental and physical stimulation

American Shorthair

Personality: Gentle, good with children, quiet

Suits: Families, first time cat owners, singles

Other: Healthy, long lived breed

Bengal

Personality: Very intelligent, demanding, active, agile

Suits: Lively families, experienced cat owners

Other: Very vocal, need lots of attention and stimulation

British Blue

Personality: Clever, trusting, loyal, quite shy

Suits: Singles, quieter homes, first time cat owners

Other: Loves curling up on your lap, hardy, sometimes frightened of young children and often avoid them

Cornish Rex

Personality: People orientated, loving, playful

Suits: Lively families, busy households with children and other pets

Other: Want to be the centre of attention, need stimulation and lots of space to run around and play, have short curly fur which sheds very little

Devon Rex

Personality: Love people, energetic, playful, very clever

Suits: Lively families with children, families and singles with other pets

Other: Need lots of attention, need to play and be active, best kept indoors

Himalayan

Personality: Affectionate, calm, easy going, gentle

Suits: Families with older children, experienced cat owners

Other: Coat needs grooming daily, face needs washing regularly. Flat face may give rise to breathing problems and watery eyes. Not very vocal

Maine Coon

Personality: Very friendly, love people, easy going, intelligent

Suits: Families, singles, first time cat owners

Other: Quite vocal, large cat

Manx

Personality: Calm, love people, friendly, easy-going

Suits: Families, first time cat owners, singles

Other: Love climbing, very fast, good with other pets

Munchkin

Personality: Generally sociable and outgoing, playful, clever

Suits: Singles, first time cat owners, families

Other: Love attention, active and very resourceful when they want to get on high surfaces (will use anything available as a climbing frame!)

Norwegian Forest

Personality: Friendly, intelligent, good with other animals and children

Suits: Families, first time cat owners, homes with other pets

Other: Love climbing, grow quite large

Persian

Personality: Affectionate, easy going, docile, very adaptable, need attention

Suits: Families, experienced cat owners

Other: Coat needs grooming daily, face needs washing regularly. Flat face may give rise to breathing problems and watery eyes. Not very vocal

Ragdoll

Personality: Gentle, easy going, relaxed, love people

Suits: Families, singles, first time cat owners

Other: Fascinated by water and very trusting, so should never go outside without supervision

Here’s an article on Character Traits of Ragdoll Cats, written by Jenny Dean, owner of Floppycats.com

Russian Blue

Personality: Affectionate, gentle, intelligent, playful

Suits: Singles, first time cat owners, families with older children

Other: Not very vocal, shy with strangers

Scottish Fold

Personality: Calm, love people, lovely temperament, not very active or demanding

Suits: Families with other pets, first time cat owners, singles

Other: Good with children, adaptable

Siamese

Personality: Very outgoing, sociable, highly intelligent, people orientated

Suits: Lively families, experienced cat owners

Other: Need lots of attention and stimulation. Very vocal – loud, penetrating meow which they tend to use excessively

Sphynx

Personality: Very affectionate, playful, curious, intelligent

Suits: Families, singles, experienced cat owners

Other: Skin needs sponging almost daily, ears need regular cleaning, don’t tolerate cold well so need to be kept in warm conditions

P.S. Moggies Need Good Homes Too!

The different cat breeds here are some of the most popular, and there are many more to choose from.

Maybe you’re not particularly bothered about owning a pedigree, or can’t decide on which of the different cat breeds you’d like?

As an alternative, there are thousands of gorgeous, affectionate, healthy moggies in rescue centers all anxiously waiting for good homes.

Click on this link for more information on black cats.

Funny Kitten Pictures

This page has some gorgeous funny kitten pictures to brighten your day!

All of us kitty fans love pictures of funny cats, but there’s also just as much – if not more – enthusiasm for pictures of kittens.

Those huge ears, wide-open innocent eyes, gorgeous faces and tiny little bodies are enough to instantly turn most cat lovers from rational human beings into gibbering wrecks…

When a kitten is caught on camera doing something funny, even better! It’s not always easy to do this; because kittens are so fast, luck often plays a part in clicking the camera at just the right moment.

So, without further introduction, here are some funny and cute kitten pictures I hope you’ll love!


U r squashin me man!	What do you mean I’m too young to have a goatee?	To you, it’s a shoe. To me, it’s a new litter box!


I prefer broadsheets – they make muchbetter beds than tabloids	If we get in it now while it’s empty, it legally becomes ours!	Look into my eyes… you will give me more fresh fish…


It would help if you could start drinking your milk out of bowls, then I could get it easier!	Flower heads? Whatflower heads??	OK, plan of action – I’ll pee on the carpet and you rip the sofa!


I fink I r stuck!	This dinner ain’t big enough for the both of us!	Don’t mess with me!

Have you got the kitty picture bug? If you have, click on the links below to see loads more!

More pictures of kittens
Cats funny pictures
More pictures of funny cats

Or, if you’re interested in drawing cats yourself:

How to draw a cat

Click on this link for lots of useful information and advice on kitten care.

Feral Kitten Adoption And Taming

If you’ve decided to adopt a feral kitten, you’ve got the challenging job of trying to turn her from a little fiend into a loving family pet.

The ease and speed of taming these kittens depends on the age at which they have their first human contact.

Feral kittens under 6 weeks of age can usually be tamed quite quickly. If they’re 6 – 9 weeks old, it usually takes a bit longer. If they’re over 10 weeks old it’s more difficult and may take a long time.

But the good news is, with patience and perseverance, it usually can be done.

feral kitten

Tips For Taming Your Kitten1) Find a suitable, safe place to keep her

feral kitten

You should put your kitten into a fairly small space that she can’t escape from. A small bedroom or box room is ideal – just make sure all potential escape routes (e.g. windows, chimneys, under floorboards) are blocked off.

If you don’t have a suitable room to house her in, put her a large wire cage such as a dog cage. Cover the back and the top of the cage, and place it somewhere where it will be level with your face when you talk to your kitten.

If you don’t have a cage, an animal shelter may lend you one for free or for a small donation.

2) Place her food and water against a far wall or at the back of her cage

Place her food where she’ll get used to eating it with her back to you. The reason for this will be explained later.

3) Don’t attempt to touch her for a few days

For the first few days, just change her litter, food and water but don’t attempt to touch her. If she’s in a cage, try to avoid putting your hand inside any more than you need to. When you do put your hand in, try to keep it away from your kitten, as it will frighten her if you get too close.

You should spend time with her and talk to her at this stage, especially when she’s eating and dozing off to sleep. Keep your voice tone low, calm and soft.

4) Start to stroke your kitten when she’s eating

feral kitten

After a few days, depending on her age, your feral kitten should hopefully start to become a bit less fearful of you. When this happens, feed her and then very slowly and gently stroke her back with one finger while she’s busy eating. It’s much easier to approach her from behind to do this – hence the earlier advice of getting her used to eating with her back to you.

As she gets less scared, stroke her with more fingers, then eventually your whole hand. Then stroke her head.

5) Pick her up

Once she’s happy being touched, pick her up by scooping her up under her body. Place her on a towel on your hand if you’re worried she may bite or scratch. She may be very frightened when you pick her up at first. If she is, don’t hold her for long, but repeat the same thing later or the next day. Slowly, she should get used to this too and then even start to enjoy it.

Taming a feral kitten is a challenge, but when you succeed it gives a tremendous feeling of satisfaction.

Useful Tips For Raising Kittens

Raising kittens so that they grow into confident, happy, well-adjusted adults is something every caring owner would like to do. This page gives you some practical advice to help you do this.

Raising Kittens To Become Happy Adult Cats

The experiences your kitten has when she’s little will have a big impact on the rest of her life. The way she’s treated and handled when she’s young is vitally important. The first few months of her life can, quite literally, shape the rest of it.

Basically, you need to keep her safe and healthy, protect her from nasty frights and try to make her as adaptable as possible. Here are some tips for doing this:

1) Help her to settle in quickly

Before your new fluffball arrives, make sure you’re fully prepared. Have her food, toys, litter bed etc. all ready for her.

Try to pick a name for her as quickly as you can, and start teaching it to her straight away. Click on these text links for advice on names for kittens and training a kitten to learn her name. If you’re struggling to think of a name, here are lots of ideas:

Male kitten names A – M
Boy kitten names N – Z
Female kitten names A – M
Girl kitten names N – Z

2) Handle her as much as you can

The more you and your family can handle your new kitten, the better. She’ll learn to enjoy it. Make sure any young children handle her gently. You may need to supervise them at first until they learn how to handle her properly.

Also, start brushing her, cleaning her face etc. as soon as you can. If she gets used to all this as a kitten, she’ll be fine with it when she grows up.

3) Safely introduce her to her new world

The sooner your kitten gets introduced to all the things that she’ll encounter frequently, the more adaptable she’ll become. These things may include kids, other pets, car journeys, staying at your friend’s when you go away etc. However, it is vital that this is all done safely. Nasty frights when she’s little may haunt her forever. Click here for advice on safely introducing a new kitten to your resident cat.

You also need to make your home safe for her. This includes blocking off areas where she could get stuck or hurt herself, keeping harmful household products out of her reach, keeping the toilet seat down, the washing machine door closed etc. etc. For further advice on taking care of kittens and making your home safe, click here.

4) Feed her a variety of good quality foods

Raising kittens on a mixture of wet food, dry food and meat gets them used to a varied diet. It helps to prevent Kitty turning into a cordon bleu cuisine snob, and it’s also healthier for her. Just make sure any foods you do feed her are good quality and suitable for kittens. Click here for more advice on feeding kittens.

5) Gently but firmly set boundaries

A very important aspect of raising kittens is boundary setting. Unacceptable behavior may include scratching, biting, constant meowing, swinging off the curtains, jumping up on the dining table when you’re eating etc. etc. If your kitten is misbehaving, stop her, say “no” once (don’t shout) and move her away from her crime scene. It’s far easier to train kittens not to misbehave than it is to change a bad behavior pattern in an adult cat. Boundary setting when Kitty is a baby can save you years of future frustration.

Introducing A New Kitten To Your Resident Cat

Introducing A New Kitten
To Your Resident Cat

Introducing a new kitten to your cat can be a bit of a daunting prospect.
You’re concerned about your adult cat’s feelings, you don’t want your new kitten to get upset and you really want the two of them to get along. This page gives you some useful tips on making the introduction go as smoothly and painlessly as possible.

Tips For Successfully Introducing A New Kitten

There’s loads of different advice available on this subject. I’m going to share the method I use, which has always worked for me.

1) When your new kitten arrives, keep her in a room completely separate from your adult cat for a day or two

This helps your kitten to settle more quickly – she won’t be so overwhelmed or frightened if she’s in a smaller space at first. Also, her scent will be picked up by your adult cat, and his scent by her, which helps prepare them for their first meeting.

2) Put your new kitten into a cat carrier or cage on the floor, then let your adult cat into the room

Introducing a new kitten in this way has several advantages. It lets the two cats look at each other but not touch. The kitten doesn’t get terrified because she won’t get chased and backed into a corner. And the adult cat doesn’t suddenly feel his whole world has been invaded and turned upside down.

Close the room door after the adult cat has entered and let the cats check each other out for a few minutes. Stay in the room with them. If they sniff each other and are friendly, praise them. If one or both of them hiss, spit or growl, don’t worry – this is absolutely normal at this stage. Try to distract your adult cat away from the cage if this happens.

After a few minutes, let the adult cat out of the room if he wants to go. If they’re still being friendly, you can keep them together for longer. If they’re having a spitting contest, it’s probably best to remove the adult cat from the room at this stage.

Repeat this several times a day until they are being friendly and curious about each other.

3) Bring the kitten to meet the cat

The next stage of introducing a new kitten involves a role-reversal. Place the adult cat in the cage in another room and bring the kitten into the room to meet him. Repeat this until, once again, the meetings are friendly.

4) Swap roles and rooms again

Place the kitten in the cage in a different room and repeat the process. Then move to another room and put the adult in the cage…etc. etc.

Eventually, the two of them will lose interest in these meetings, and will be used to the sight and smell of each other.

5) Let them out in a room together

When the two of them no longer show much interest in each other, you can let them out in a room together. The best time to do this is when they’re both hungry. Delay their mealtime for an hour or so and then feed them in the same room. Put their food bowls a reasonable distance apart.

Keep a close eye on them, but if you’ve followed these guidelines, you hopefully shouldn’t have any major problems at this stage. If you’re in any doubts about your adult cat’s behavior, keep them apart when you can’t supervise them until you completely trust your adult cat.

6) Let them get used to each other

introducing a new kitten

You’ll usually find your new kitten will start to pester your adult cat once she’s got over her initial fear. She’ll get more and more bold until she pushes her luck too far and earns a swift slap around the head for her efforts. Don’t worry about this or scold your adult cat – he’s teaching her boundaries which she’ll quickly learn. Obviously if your adult cat is being overly aggressive to your kitten, you’ll need to stop him. But this is unlikely; it’s very rare for an adult cat to maliciously attack a kitten – especially if they’ve been introduced in a sensible, controlled way.

Introducing a new kitten to an adult cat in this way may seem like a huge effort compared to just putting them together and letting them get on with it. But I think this extra effort at the start is well worth it – by introducing them in a controlled way, you’re maximizing the chances of them becoming great buddies and living in harmony for many years to come.
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