How to make friends between a cat and a female cat in the same apartment

Having decided to get a second cat, few people think about how their pet will react to the addition of another family member. Usually, old-timers are not happy about their new neighbor and attack him, trying to drive him into a corner. If you do not intervene in time in the relationship between animals, they will constantly conflict and the matter may end in separation from one of them. Let's find out how to make cats friends with each other.

Rules for keeping two pets

To make it easier for two animals to get along in one apartment, they need to immediately understand that the only authority in the house is a person. And so that the old-timer does not develop jealousy and resentment, he cannot be deprived of love and affection.

To reduce the risk of competition between pets you need to:

Provide each cat with an individual tray, a place to sleep and eat. So that animals do not feel deprived, it is advisable to buy them similar bowls, beds and pots.
Design separate places for each pet on an elevated surface. Cats like to keep an eye on what's going on from wall shelves, vertical stands, and cat trees.
Provide animals with play complexes, tunnels and houses for joint games. To ensure that cats feel safe and can escape if necessary, these structures must have multiple exits and sufficient space.
Place food and water bowls in the same room, but at a sufficient distance. This is necessary so that the cats see each other while eating, but are protected from attacks from their neighbor. If one pet constantly gets into the bowl of the other, then it is better to feed them in different rooms.
Provide both pets with toys. To avoid conflicts, you should not give one cat the favorite thing of the other.

On a note. Due to their natural cleanliness and disgust, cats do not accept the use of someone else's litter box. Therefore, each of them needs its own potty plus one spare.

How to introduce cats

Experts do not recommend bringing a second pet into a house where an old cat lives. A young and active animal will take a lot of attention from the owner. And the old man, feeling unnecessary, will fall into depression and may die.

You cannot bring a kitten under 3 months into a home where an adult, uncastrated cat lives. A sexually mature male poses a serious threat to the baby. Therefore, you will have to wait until the kitten grows up, or castrate the cat.

The presence of a new pet is also undesirable where a pregnant or lactating female lives. Protecting its offspring, the cat will fight with the “uninvited” guest. And if she gets stressed, she might kill her own kittens.

The appearance of a second animal is justified in cases where the cat living in the house is left alone for a long time and suffers from a lack of communication. But even in this case, much depends on how the first acquaintance goes.

To ensure everything goes smoothly, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

All windows in the apartment are closed and doors to rooms are opened so that the animals have room to maneuver.
The carrier with the second cat is brought into the corridor and the first pet is allowed to sniff it.
The door of the carrier is opened and they wait until the animal decides to get out on its own. If the newcomer immediately hides in the nearest room or hides under the sofa, he should not be reached. As soon as the cat comes to his senses a little, he will crawl out on his own.

In the future, the owner should only observe the behavior of the pets and intervene only if necessary. Pets can be left alone only after full adaptation.

To make it easier for cats to get along together, you cannot:

Pushing animals together. Each cat will protect its borders. As a result, fights will inevitably arise between them and making them friends will not be easy.
Lock two people in one room. Since the newcomer has not yet gotten used to it, and the old-timer intends to defend his territory, conflicts will begin between them. And this will greatly complicate the reconciliation of the two cats.
Lock yourself in different rooms. According to experts, separating unfamiliar cats is not the best way to introduce them. The animals do not see each other, but they smell an unknown smell that frightens them. As a result, the cat perceives him as a threat, and this may prevent them from making friends.

Causes of aggressive behavior in cats

When a pet begins to hiss and growl at the sight of a kitten and tries to drive the baby under the sofa, you should not yell at her or punish her, because this will only aggravate the problem and in the future it will be very difficult to make friends with animals. The owner must understand that this behavior of the cat is quite natural and in this way it shows its dissatisfaction and resentment.

If a cat has been the only pet in the apartment for several years, then it is natural that it perceives its home as its sole possession and does not want to share the territory with anyone, be it a dog or another cat.

We should not forget that cats are very jealous creatures, so the appearance of another animal is considered a betrayal on the part of the owner and will try to get rid of the rival in any way. This aggressive behavior is especially typical for cats that came into the house from the street or from a shelter. Animals are afraid that they will again find themselves unwanted and abandoned, and this is the reason for their hostility towards the stranger.

In addition, owners often make the common mistake of paying all their attention to a small kitten, forgetting that it is at such a moment that the cat needs the love and care of the owner . And it will be much simpler and easier to establish friendship between a cat and a kitten if you show the adult pet that with the birth of the baby, the attitude towards her will remain the same, so that she does not feel deprived of the owner’s attention and affection.

How to make friends with cats

All cat acquaintances follow a similar pattern, and their success is influenced by the temperament of each animal.

The greatest likelihood that pets will quickly find a common language exists in the following situations:

when a small kitten is placed with a cat;
when a cat is taken to a cat;
when both animals are relatively young.

The most difficult thing is to make friends between an adult cat and a kitten and two males. But such a neighborhood is also possible if you introduce the animals correctly and show maximum patience.

Adult animals

The easiest way to make friends between a cat and a female cat in the same apartment is if the female is placed with a male. He will not perceive her as a rival, which means that the animals will not have competition for territory. An uncastrated male may begin to show signs of attention to the female. But if the cat hisses in response, the cat will most likely retreat.

The female is more demanding and is unlikely to immediately accept a new neighbor. If an adult cat is neutered, she may hiss and become aggressive when introduced. Over time, the “mistress” will calm down and get used to the new resident. It is unlikely that cats will sleep on the same bed, but it is likely that they will not refuse to play together.

Making two cats friends is much more difficult. Each of them will consider herself a mistress and defend her rights. It is especially difficult to reconcile cats if one of them is sterilized and the other is not. A female who has given birth will always be guided by the instinct to protect her offspring, even if there are none yet. The owner will have to make a lot of effort to make the cats friends with each other.

Relationships between two adult males are not easy. They perceive each other as rivals and begin to compete fiercely. Cohabitation of a pair of sexually mature males will be marred by constant marks and fights. To make cats friends with each other, they will have to be castrated.

Cat and kitten

To make friends between a cat and someone else's baby, you need to be patient. At first the female will hiss at the new kitten, but over time her maternal instinct will awaken. As soon as this happens, she will begin to take care of her adopted child and teach him all the wisdom.

If a sterilized individual lives in the house, you will have to think about how to get the cat to accept someone else’s kitten. If the female's maternal instinct is not activated, it is necessary to wait until she gets used to the presence of a new resident. And in order to quickly make friends between a cat and a kitten and not provoke conflicts, it is recommended:

At first, do not leave animals alone;
do not allow the kitten to use the tray and bowl of an adult cat;
do not deny your cat affection when she needs it.

Cat and kitten

Making friends between an adult cat and a kitten is quite difficult. The male will begin to perceive him as a rival and may behave aggressively. In order to make friends between a cat and a kitten over time, you need to stop the baby’s attempts to get closer to the adult pet’s bowl and at first do not let him roam throughout the apartment.

How to stop aggression

Aggression is a normal reaction of a predatory animal to stress, the appearance of a rival, or an unfamiliar creature. It manifests itself at the level of natural instincts; a person is not able to fully predict and prevent it. But in the case of pets living together, the owner can and should intervene in this process and reconcile the cats. This must be done carefully, competently and in a timely manner.

Causes of aggression

Felinologists identify several main reasons for the aggressive behavior of cats:

Social rivalry. The struggle for the role of alpha male.
The fight between old and new pets.
Territorial behavior. Cats can fiercely defend their eating, sleeping, and toileting areas.
Reaction to a new smell. After visiting the veterinarian, the animal brings with it unusual smells of medicines - this can cause aggression in other pets. An unusual smell turns a familiar cat into a “stranger.”
Bad feeling. The disease changes the animal's behavior; it may become more restless and aggressive.
Stress. Any stressful situation negatively affects the behavior of cats.
Personality conflicts. Just like people, cats are all different and do not have to like each other. A mismatch of temperaments can lead to struggle.
Maternal aggression. The cat protects its offspring in this way.
Fighting game. During joint games, cats can attack each other, jump, bite, and watch from around the corner.

In each specific case, you need to act in accordance with the situation.

If aggression occurs, cats fight and bite, do not ignore it. Don't think that cats will figure it out on their own. These methods will help stop aggressive behavior and save your pets from unwanted mental and physical injuries.

Tips for stopping aggression

Interrupt the fight with a loud sound (clap), throw a blanket over them, or spray the animals with water from a spray bottle.
Neuter your animals. Unneutered cats are the most aggressive.
Stop competition. Provide each pet with its own food bowls, trays, and beds. They must be the same or similar.
Build more shelters and high places to rest and observe the world around you.
Spray pheromones. Products with pheromones are sold in pet stores. Their aroma will help relieve tension that arises between animals.
If aggression is severe, separate the animals into different rooms. Swap them from time to time - this way they will quickly get used to each other's smell.
While licking, the cat is busy with itself, relaxed and does not pay attention to the other animal. Lubricate your cat's scruff with tuna oil or granules of her favorite food - this will distract and calm your pet.
Use calming anti-stress medications and feed additives to correct the behavior of your animals: “Cat Bayun”, “Stop Stress”, “Feliway”.

Possible problems

When trying to make friends with cats, many owners encounter the following problems:

Sexual conflicts. They occur between females in heat or two males. If the animals are breeding, they are temporarily isolated from each other. If cats do not take part in breeding, they are sterilized.
Upholding your own interests. The reason for a fight can be food, toys, a house, or even a tray. To correct the situation and make friends with cats, they need to buy similar accessories and give them the same food.
Fights between animals. If cats are clinging to each other, you can separate them by pouring water on them or covering them with a blanket. Then they need to be isolated for a while and try to get acquainted again a little later.
If cats are injured during a fight, they are treated with an antiseptic. If necessary, victims are taken to a veterinarian.

You can make friends between cats by showing maximum patience and perseverance. But if after a while all attempts end in failure, then it is much more humane to find new owners for one of them.

Causes of aggressive behavior

A cat or cat can behave aggressively for various reasons. But no matter what provokes your pet’s anger, you need to find your own approach to it and make every effort to suppress this anger.

You can make friends between an adult cat and a kitten if you know some rules and tricks

There are several reasons why cats do not accept babies into the house. And each of them has its own natural explanation.

Important! The ideal age for an adult cat to introduce him to a small kitten is up to three years old. The older the animal, the more difficult it will be to make friends with them.

Threat

An adult animal may see a potential threat in a small kitten.

Cats do not understand situations, so with any changes in their lives, they feel a real danger, thus protecting their lives. In such cases, they prefer to attack first, and then realize the essence of what is happening. The model of this behavior is clearly visible when cats attack dogs if the latter appear suddenly. Moreover, the size of the dog does not matter. The same thing happens when meeting a kitten.

Important! The cat will attack first and then take a closer look.

A cat may see a small kitten as a potential threat to its life.

The cat may also perceive a threat in the appearance of a small relative in terms of territory. If a strange animal enters a house where the pet has always felt like the sole owner, it becomes overwhelmed by a sense of potential danger. Therefore, manifestations of aggression cannot be avoided.

Jealousy

Jealousy is not unique to humans. Animals also actively demonstrate it.

Moreover, cats can be jealous of anyone: be it the owner’s husband or wife, a newborn child, or just a stranger. Aggressive behavior against a background of jealousy often manifests itself in relation to another animal.

As a rule, people give a small kitten much more attention and love, play with it more, and pick it up. This is what causes hostility towards the baby.

An adult cat begins to actively fight injustice and try to return all the love of its owner to itself. Most pets are possessive and find it very difficult to accept the presence of a new pet next to their adored owner.

Cats are very jealous creatures

Other causes of aggression

Other factors can also lead to aggression:

predator instinct;
revenge for the offense caused by the owner;
severe pain;
hormonal changes leading to mood changes;
unsatisfied sexual libido;
protecting your own kittens.

Cats are predators. The arrival of a small kitten can awaken this primal instinct in them. They won't eat it, but they can start playing rather cruel games with it. Often the cat imitates hunting - it tracks the kitten, sneaks up on it and attacks.