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La coexistence among cats It is not always positive, since there are many cases of cats that quarrel, are buffeted or not accepted at all. For this reason, before introducing a second cat at home, it will be essential to prepare the home, inform us about feline behavior and make a good presentation.
In this new article we will show you the keys so you know how to make two cats get alongHowever, in the most serious cases, the intervention of a specialist will be necessary.
Cats are not a gregarious species, contrary to what many people believe, but it is about lonely animals who maintain social behaviors only during the time of heat. This does not mean that they can not socialize positively with other members of their same species, however, their way of feeding or hunting reveals obvious characteristics about their behavior independent.
It is also about animals very territorial, because they maintain a defensive behavior before the arrival of new individuals in their area, which is why the introduction of a new cat can be somewhat complicated.
In order to determine if our cat will accept the new member or not, it will be essential to ensure that he has experienced a good period of socialization with other felines (between the second and seventh weeks of life), otherwise, it is likely that understand the body language of cats and carry out a aggressive behavior, caused mainly by fear.
Likewise, some cats that have been properly socialized are not receptive when accepting a new cat at home. It can occur in cats that have not socialized with other cats for years, in older cats that receive a puppy cat or in cats that suffer from health problems.
As owners we must be aware that the introduction of a new cat in the home will cause a lack of stability, which may cause problems of coexistence. In such case it may be necessary to visit a ethologist or feline behavior specialist.
While cats usually show a lower competitiveness Before the resources that the dogs, it will be fundamental to assure that each individual has his own accessories so that a conflict does not take place for this cause.
The ideal is that each cat has its own utensils and, in addition, can access one extra. This applies to virtually anything: feeder, drinking fountain, scraper, bed, nest, sandbox toys. In addition, we offer you some extra tips so you know how to distribute them:
If you want to know more about the distribution of the home and the indispensable accessories, do not hesitate to visit our article about how to prepare the arrival of a cat at home.
Once we have clear everything we need for proper coexistence between cats, it is time for presentations. It is important to point out that, before presenting them, we will locate the newcomer in a separate room for some days so that a sudden encounter does not take place.
The goal is that, during this time, the cat that already lives in the home is aware that there is a new individual and begins to Recognize your smell through the cracks in the door. In the temporary room the new cat must have everything necessary: sandpit, drinking fountain, feeding trough. It is likely that the first days you hear how your cats are scaringHowever, it is important that you do not repress it, it is totally normal.
It is impossible to guarantee the success of the first encounter, however, there are some tricks that can make the presentation between two cats as positive as possible:
Finally add that it can be interesting to make use of kitchen gloves during the first meeting in case we had to act in case of a fight. Although it is unlikely to happen, it is best to be prepared.
It is totally normal that during the first days of coexistence occur snorts and chases throughout the home and, at best, the cats will show tolerant the one towards the other. Once again we must respect their communication and not intervene, since they themselves must learn to communicate and set their role within the home. In addition, punishing or scaring animals when they are intolerant can worsen the situation, generating a negative association between both cats.
As the days go by, tolerance increases and we can then know that two cats get along when they start to show certain intimate behaviors, such as sleep together or lick each other. Both behaviors are very positive and reveal not only tolerance, but also affection towards the other animal.
It may happen that, despite making a good presentation, the cats do not get along and begin to show negative behavior towards the other, such as snorts and scratches. In these cases it will be essential to pay attention to the sounds that the cats emit and the corporal postures of the felines to better understand their attitude and discover the cause of the problem.
Here we show some behavior problems and some signs that identify them:
Genetics, learning, traumas and many other factors they influence behavior of the feline and provoke the appearance of fears and aggressive behaviors. It is not always possible to discover what has been the cause of certain behaviors, especially when we talk about adopted adult cats.
The guidelines to work A possible behavioral problem among cats varies completely depending on the diagnosis, the available resources and the prognosis of the case. In addition, it may be necessary to adapt the guidelines according to the evolution, which is why it is impossible (and inadvisable) to offer a complete treatment of modification of generic behavior and adaptable to all cases.
Still, we offer you 5 basic tips that you can apply to try to improve the relationship between two cats:
To educate our feline and encourage certain behaviors we can make use of positive reinforcement, which consists in rewarding those desirable behaviors (for example, we pet the cat when it is quiet next to the other cat) and the negative punishment, that supposes the end of something positive when a bad behavior takes place (for example, we stop petting the cat when it blows the other feline). Both are part of positive education and minimize the risk of the appearance of stress and anxiety. We must apply these techniques whenever possible for foster a good relationship between both cats.
The stimulation through games of entertainment helps to keep the mind and body of our felines active, which favors the learning, the well-being and the enrichment of their day to day life. It is very important that these exercises are personalized depending on the cat for do not overstimulate.
Previously we have already commented that there are products that can generate well-being and relaxation in the cat, such as the use of synthetic pheromones, but there are other products on the market, such as balanced foods that include the “calm” label or the use of pharmacology prescribed by the veterinarian.
Also, remember that your own behavior It influences felines, so you should not hesitate to maintain a state of calm and relaxation at all times, acting calmly and favoring the environment is relaxed and conducive to both cats can become friends.
Unfortunately, the Internet is full of articles based on outdated methods or written by people without training or experience in behavior modification in cats. It is very important to avoid certain types of errors, such as the ones we show you:
If you are faced with a complex case or a behavior that is difficult to identify, it is advisable to go to a specialist, such as a veterinarian / biologist. specialized in ethology or a feline behavior professional. In addition to helping you with the diagnosis, the professional can conduct behavioral modification sessions with you and offer you concrete and personalized guidelines for your case
If you want to read more articles similar to How to make two cats get along?, we recommend that you enter in our behavior problems section.
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