Cat Etiquette: They Require A Proper Introduction

Cats FightingIf you’re a cat owner and wonder why your cat does some of the things he does, I highly recommend checking out My Cat From Hell, on Animal Planet, Saturdays at 7 p.m. Central Time.  The star, Jackson Galaxy, has a unique look but he does have a way with the felines.

In last night’s episode, he met a couple who had two cats:  Gigi, the established cat-in-residence and Princess Suki, the kitten newcomer.   The couple called Galaxy because Gigi kept attacking Suki and they were afraid Gigi would seriously injure or maybe even kill her.

After talking with the couple and observing the cats, Jackson saw that Suki had not been properly introduced to Gigi, causing Gigi to lash out at her to protect her position as the ruling cat.  With some basic changes in routine, over time the two cats were able to inhabit the same space without a battle taking place.

The lesson to be learned is that cats don’t automatically love a new cat in their environment.  It takes time and patience to properly integrate a new cat into the family to prevent issues like the one in last night’s show.

Set aside a room in the house for the new cat, making sure to have litter box, food and water dishes and a bed in there.  Keep the door closed for a few days while he gets used to the new surroundings.

To help the cats get to know each other, open the door to the safe room a few inches so the cats can see each other and familiarize themselves with the others scent.  Open the door a little more each day until it’s all the way open, and allow the cats to find each other.  Watch them closely for any signs of aggression and separate them if problems arise.

Keep the safe room intact for the new cat if needed and be sure not to leave the cats together when you aren’t home, even if it appears all cats are getting along, you never know what could happen when they’re left home alone.

If you plan to bring another cat into the family, remember the rules of cat etiquette to keep everyone happy.


Written by Karen

