How to make friends between cats in an apartment?

A person who acquires a cat must understand that this is a huge responsibility. And if you decide to have more than one pet, then the responsibility increases significantly. In our article we will tell you how to make friends between cats in an apartment.

If the owners of one cat in the house is not enough, then you can have a second. This solution has both advantages (cats are excellent stress relievers) and disadvantages (increased maintenance costs). Therefore, you need to think about whether you have enough free time to take care of both animals and whether you will “pull” them financially.

Many people have a second pet, thinking that the first one is bored to be at home alone during the absence of the owner. This is not reasonable. It should be understood that representatives of the feline breed are not gregarious animals, so they do not need company. The owner's attention is another matter, it should be given to any pets: both dogs and cats.

Get a second cat as a company only if if you are not at home all day and you cannot devote enough time to pets. However, it is important to understand that some pets are not able to find a common language and will constantly conflict, even if the owner does everything to reconcile them.

Before starting a second cat, it is recommended to prepare an apartment by dividing it into zones. If each of them has their own drinker, feeder and tray, they will become friends much faster. It is advisable that the animals do not intersect while eating, in the recreation and toilet areas.

For a beginner cat, you should make a separate sleeping place, it is desirable that it is in another room... An old-time cat will never let a "newbie" go to his place of rest. Prepare a separate mattress for the new tenant and place it away from the other cat's "bedroom". It will be a big advantage if there is a door between the rooms. At night it will have to be closed, at least for the first week.

If the pets are still unfamiliar with each other and have not had time to make friends, then, most likely, they will show aggression when bowls with food are close. Therefore, the "new" cat needs to be fed from a separate bowl in another room, where the "old" cat never feeds. After a while, when the pets become friends, bowls can be placed next to each other or purchased double.

Before purchasing a new pet, consider purchasing a second litter box. By the time it appears, the litter box of the first cat should already be dirty. So the animal will understand that this toilet already belongs to someone and, most likely, will choose the one that is cleaner.

Stranger cats are strictly forbidden to go to the same toilet, as a conflict will arise, and the oppressed pet will start shitting in the corners.

The "new" cat should be positioned so that it does not disturb the "old" one. It is not recommended to change the conditions for the old-time cat. It is important that he does not feel any infringement of his rights due to the appearance of a second pet.

The process of dating cats is very important. How their relationship will be built in the future depends on this factor. Almost all the owners at this moment make a gross mistake: either they push them face to face, closing them in one room, or they immediately take them to different rooms, taking away the opportunity to communicate. In both the first and second cases, the conflict will be inevitable, and a fight will surely follow.

Before meeting you need to trim the claws of both cats. "Manicure" should be done shortly, but it is not recommended to cut the claws at the root, go over the tips with a nail file. New pet claws can be trimmed both at home and in the entrance. Also, this task can be easily coped with in any salon for animals in a few minutes.

Some breeders recommend mixing the smells of both cats when possible.

Bringing the newcomer home should be correct: take a box of a suitable size and place the cat in it. Cut out small holes so she can keep track of what is happening around her. In the process of acquaintance, all interior doors must be open so that in the event of a fight one of the cats can escape. On the contrary, it is forbidden to open windows.

Put the box with the newcomer in the middle of the room and do not let it out for a while. It is important that the old-timer gets used to the new scent. This will give the cats the opportunity to communicate.

After an hour, you can open the carrier, however, the cat must remain inside. He himself will understand when you can go out. Some pets are immediately selected to explore a new area, others can sit inside for half a day. Leave the animal the right to choose.

When a newcomer decides to get out of the box, the old-timer will begin to show that this territory belongs to him. You can hear hiss, menacing growls.In most cases, the "newbie" by his whole appearance shows that he does not care. He tries not to cross his eyes with the aggressor. By such actions, the pet shows that it is not a supporter of conflicts. The owner should not interfere; it is better to act exclusively in the role of an observer until the moment a fight breaks out.

Single paws and aggressive meows are considered normal reactions. Be patient and let the animals sort things out, otherwise you will only delay the moment of the fight. The sooner the pets find a common language, the sooner peace will reign in the house, any hint of conflict will disappear.

If both cats look into each other's eyes, not looking up, you should be careful. This is a sign that the newcomer does not want to recognize himself as a guest and is ready to fight for a place. Pets can stay in this state from a few seconds to 2-3 hours. If you do not have time to sit and monitor them for so long, then you need to separate them in different rooms.

Cats can start a fight completely unexpectedly, and sometimes even experienced owners cannot identify the cause of the conflict. The following factors are commonly noted.

• Fear. This is the most common cause of a fight. Usually, fear is noticed in a new settler. When the "newbies" attack the "firstborn", they act according to the principle: "Offense is the best defense."
• Defending the territory. The main aggressor in this case is the old-timer. After all, the room has long belonged only to him and the owner.
• Sexual conflict - common during estrus. In this case, the animals can be accommodated in different rooms. If you do not plan to get offspring, then it is recommended to neuter the males, and neuter the females.
• Other interests. Here food, toilet or toys may be the cause. Usually such problems are noticed only among owners of the most proud and jealous cat breeds, for example, Siamese. They believe that the owner belongs only to them.

If just hissing was not enough, and the conflict turned into a fight, the cats ride, beat and scratch each other, then you need to intervene. The further development of events will completely depend on the owner.

Below are the main points that should be adhered to during the settlement of the conflict.

• The most effective way is using a blanket, bedspread or bath towel. If you put a thick cloth on pets during a fight, they will freeze. You need, without hesitation, take a newcomer and carry him to the next room right under the blanket.
• On very rare occasions, the fight doesn't stop even under the covers. In this situation, you can use a mop to push the cats away from each other. The owner must react quickly, as long as no one is seriously injured.
• Pets can be doused with cold water. This is one of the most effective ways to end the conflict, the warring ones will scatter themselves in different corners.

The cats are bred for a couple of days, then the owner must again carry out the dating process. If the situation repeats, then in two days we will bring the animals together again. Manipulations will continue until they start to treat each other well.

If scratches are found after a fight, then they must be treated. antiseptic ointment. In case of serious injuries, a veterinarian call is required.

Two adult males in an apartment cause a lot of inconvenience, as they almost always conflict. In nature, it turned out that the habitat of cats is much larger than that of females. Consequently, how many cats he fertilizes depends on the vastness of this territory.That is why cats have a negative attitude towards the fact that someone occupies their premises.

Adult pets can treat each other well for months, but there will still be occasional conflicts. With the help of a fight, they will be able to determine who is in charge, and, if possible, remove an opponent from their room.

If there is a female nearby, ready to mate, then the fight between the cats will be especially fierce, and, most likely, it will end with serious injuries or the death of one pet, if the forces are not equal.

In addition to fighting, pets will mark the territory every time, trying to interrupt the smell of a competitor, which will entail an unpleasant smell in the house that is difficult to weather.

And if it is almost impossible to make friends with two males, then heterosexual pets can get along pretty well. But be prepared for the fact that in the first days of communication, the cat will periodically show character, hissing or hitting the cat. This is how he shows his leadership.

Pets should be fed at the same time, but in different rooms. If they eat from one bowl, the male will constantly eat everything himself. Consequently, the cat will quickly gain extra pounds, and the cat will constantly be malnourished. Both will negatively affect health.

Many owners, in order to avoid fertilization of animals, simply breed them in rooms.

Males are skeptical of kittens than cats. Cats, by their very nature, never care for kittens, and in the event of a conflict, they can even kill them. But an adult cat is unlikely to quarrel with a kitten, because the male understands that he does not pose any danger. And after a couple of weeks, the pets will definitely strike up a friendship. However, you should still play it safe: do not leave animals alone at first. When the kitten grows up, further communication will develop based on its gender.

The nature of cats is different: they can be stubborn, proud and even brawlers. Aggressive breeds rarely make friends with a newcomer. It is not recommended to use force in raising pets, so the cat will develop an even greater dislike of a competitor. You will have to be patient and persistent.

Sometimes the owners in attempts to reconcile the pets behave incorrectly. Here is a list of the most common mistakes.

• It is forbidden to hit pets, even if there is a fight. No physical punishment is recommended.
• Don't try to put yourself in the lead. Man is the leader of the pack only for the dog. Cats do not recognize a person as a head. You should be just a friend to them.
• Don't make the old-timer jealous. You must give equal attention to both animals.
• Don't put cats face to face. A depressed pet can be very upset, stop eating, and even die.
• Remember cats are predatory animals. Never pull them apart with your bare hands, as they can seriously injure you during the fight.

How to make friends between cats, see below.