Cat Introductions: Helpful Hints

When the time comes to add a cat to your feline family, planning for a proper cat introduction will help promote success.  Could you imagine if a person came into your home announcing themselves as a new roommate and sat in your favorite chair and commandeered the TV remote?  Sometimes when we bring a new cat home and let the cats “work it out”, we’re creating a similar stressful situation.  While the cats might work it out on their own, we can certainly decrease the chances of problems and make the process easier on everyone.  Here are some tips for a gradual introduction.

• At first the cats should only be allowed to smell and hear each other, not see each other.  Confine your new cat to one room of your house with its own litter box, bowls, toys, etc. Place towels with the scent of the other cat (maybe one they've slept on) underneath each cat’s food bowl and on resting places.  Rub the cat’s toys with the scent of the other cat.  The goal is to have the other cat's scent associated with good things.
• After your new cat is comfortable in her room (maybe after several hours or more likely, several days), switch places for an hour or so (confine your resident cat(s) in the room and allow the new cat out to explore the rest of the house).  Do not allow the cats to see each other in this exchange.  This will help the cats to become more familiar with each other without the stress of confrontation.
• Give favorite treats close to the door of the cat’s room (with one cat on each side of the closed door).  This helps to associate good things with the presence of the other cat.  Try slipping one end of a toy underneath the door to encourage the cats to play with each other under the door.
• Repeat the above steps until there is no hissing, growling or fleeing and all cats seem curious about the cat on the other side of the door.
• Next, wedge the door open about an inch with doorstops.  This allows the cats to see each other, paw if they want to, but they can get away from each other safely if they chose. 
• Then let the cats out together.  When they are first out together, keep the meeting short, and continue to offer food, treats, toys and petting. If any hissing or conflicts occur, distract the cats into another activity - dangle a favorite toy, offer food (use the sound of the can opener to "call" the resident cat to the kitchen), etc.
• Supervise them, not allowing them to be alone together, until they are consistently demonstrating friendly behaviors with each other for at least one week.
• Punishment is not helpful.  It doesn't create the association of "good things" with the other's presence and adds stress to a stressful situation.

As always, if you have any questions or need help with a cat introduction, please call us.

article written by:

Sheila Newenham, DVM

Companion Animal Hospital Mount Prospect

Your Unique Feline Friend

Anyone who shares their home with a cat knows that they are a unique creature.  While every cat has its own personality, there are some underlying innate behavioral characteristics that make them decidedly different from dogs (and people). 

Dogs and people are “pack species” and have evolved as group hunters of large prey.  The cat is an “independent species” and has evolved as a solitary hunter of small prey.  The cat is also a prey item for larger animals (such as dogs).  Being independent by nature is what makes most cats happier with interaction on their terms.  Cats like to feel like they are in control of their situation, therefore changes to their routine or surroundings is challenging for them.  They do not respond to force.

It is important to understand the basics of cat behavior so that we can provide a home that they feel content and safe in.  Knowing how they would use a natural environment helps us to simulate that environment in our homes.  Not only does this make a happy cat that you can live amicably with, but it reduces their stress and anxiety.  It has been found that stress can play a role in illness, particularly urinary tract related illness, in the cat.  Without the proper provisions, normal cat behavior can be problematic in a home. 

From Kitty’s perspective:

1. I want my space.  Have a separate area for food, water, and elimination.  No one should sneak up on me when I am eating or eliminating.  Avoid placement near appliances or vents that could startle me.
2. Litter pan happiness.  The rule of thumb for litter pans is to have one pan per cat plus one (2 cats = 3 pans).  Place a pan on each level of the home.  Most, but not all cats like fine, unscented, clean litter in a large, open pan.  Finding my pan should not be a journey or dangerous adventure.  It shouldn’t be gross.  Experiment with side by side boxes to determine preferences if you are making a change. 
3. Let me hunt. I will hunt birds, bugs, or rodents, but I might have a favorite.  Experiment with toys to find which I prefer.  Do not use fingers or toes as toys.  Be careful of toys with strings attached or toys that are falling apart.  If small parts or a string could be eaten by me, the toy is no longer safe.  (Bugs= lasers, hard kibble, Rodents= balls, furry mice toys on the ground, Birds= feathered toys, suspended toys)
4. … Or let me sleep.  In nature, I am hunting as many as 20 prey items per day.  Between hunts, I rest.  I do not have a pattern to my sleep/wake cycle as my person does and therefore can be more active than my person might like at night.  Adding some play during the day can help to keep me quieter at night.   
5. Let me find my safe place up high. I want to spend my vulnerable sleeping time where nothing will surprise or hurt me.  In nature, I am a prey item for other animals.  I often have a preference for being elevated or hidden away when I am resting.  Perches also provide a means to watch the action from above, check out the outdoors, and satisfy my curiosity without feeling at risk.
6. Scratch that.  I may scratch horizontal or vertical surfaces.  I may prefer sisal, cardboard, or another substrate.  Experiment until you find the favorite.  I scratch to hone my claws, but also to scent mark and stretch.  My scratching areas should be readily available. 

This is short article is only a brief summary of the nuances of cat behaviors.  The best resource for all homes with cats is the website dedicated to Indoor Pets from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats 

article written by:

Laura Rau-Holl, DVM

Wolf Merrick Animal Hospital, Kenosha, WI

Why Does My Pet Do That?

We often get questions from clients about their pets behaviors that can be quite interesting at times.  I thought I would answer some of the most commonly asked questions today and see if you get an answer to something interesting your pet has been doing at home.  If you have other interesting questions don’t hesitate to send them our way we love to hear about things your pets are doing at home and try to make sense of what sometimes seems to be senseless.

Why is my cat not using his litterbox?

This is a common complaint for cat owners and it can be due to a medical problem, a problem the cat has with it’s litterbox (litter type, location, cleanliness etc), or a problem a cat has with a housemate or a neighborhood cat.  If your cat has started doing this it is best to have them seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible because the sooner we start working on it the better chance we have of fixing the problem.

Why does my dog lick, chew or eat strange things?

Puppies tend to do this because they are learning and investigating the world around them.  However if this continues into adulthood there was a recent study that indicates dogs that lick / chew / eat strange things could have an underlying medical issue with their stomach or intestines.  If your dog likes to eat strange things they should be seen and have their gastrointestinal tract fully evaluated.

Why does my cat prefer to drink from the sink?  Dog from the toilet?

Animals have an instinctual nature to be drawn towards running water because stagnant water in the wild is often a place where high levels of bacteria pool that can make an animal sick.  Other reasons are cool water from a running faucet or porcelain bowl doesn’t tend to be tainted with the taste of plastic or stainless steel and just tastes fresher.

Why do dogs circle / scratch / paw before lying down?

Dogs haven’t always lived indoors.  This is an instinctual behavior to make a nest and if the nest is made well it will help them to retain their body heat better.  Many wild animals also display very similar behaviors. 

Why does my cat rub their face on everything?

Cats that are rubbing their faces on things are displaying friendly cat behavior and leaving their scent behind to let other cats know that this amazing thing is theirs and they love it very much.  Don’t you feel special that your cat rubs his face on you now!

Why does my dog pull me on the leash?

This is a very common question and the answer is simple he wants you to walk faster than you are going.  Dogs are very excited to get outside and go for a walk and most dogs naturally walk at a faster pace than their people.  The best response for a pulling dog is to stop dead in your tracks and refuse to move one step forward until there is slack in the leash.  Do this on every walk and your dog should be much better behaved in no time.

Do you know how to smile at your cat?
Cats are always communicating with us and often times you can calm down your stressed cat or let them know you love them with a simple cat smile.  The way to do this is to make your eyes soft (eyelids half open) and close them very slowly and open them very slowly.  That’s it – pretty simple way to smile at your cat (avoid the normal primate toothy grin though because that can be very scary and aggressive to your pet).  Watch our doctors and staff next time you are in and see – are they smiling at your cat and more importantly is your cat smiling back!

Why does my dog always jump up on everyone?
Dogs are very social creatures and most of them really love people.  In the dog world the normal sequence of things is to start by sniffing each others hind ends and then work up to the face.  We humans put our face in a very inconvenient place since we walk around on two legs and the dog just wants to say hi.  If you say nothing and always ignore the jumping then bring your face down to your dogs level once they are sitting and calm this behavior will eventually go away as well.  *Never put your face near an unfamiliar dog though as this could result in a bite*

Do dogs like hugs?
Unfortunately the answer to this is no, unless they are trained to.  A hug or tap on the head to a dog is incredibly unpleasant.  In the dog another dog that comes along and puts a paw over the dogs back is asking for a fight.  If you want to test this theory hug your dog and have someone take a picture I bet you will see a dog with very wide nervous eyes with a happy smiling humans arms wrapped around them.  If you love to hug your dog (and believe me I do) give them a treat when doing this will help them to trust you more and they will eventually grow to enjoy (or at least tolerate) this silly primate behavior.

article written by:

Lorene Rockwell, DVM

previously of Wolf Merrick Animal Hospital, Kenosha, WI