Social aspects

Existing cats within a household are more likely to accept the introduction of a new cat if it is significantly younger than them . They are far more intolerant of same-aged or older ‘ new ’ cats .

A feature of multi-cat households , which is often misunderstood by owners , is that the existing cats can form multiple separate social groups within the same household . Social groupings can be indicated by the presence or absence of affiliative behaviour , such as allorubbing , allogrooming and ‘ tail up ’ greetings , among others . Passive-aggressive interactions , which can indicate conflict between individuals , include posturing , keeping distance and avoiding visual contact ( Heath , 2016 ). Cats that do not ‘ get along ’ will not always show this in obvious ways , such as overt fighting . Often they will simply avoid one another – in time ( using the resources at different times of day ) as well as space ( using resources in different areas ).

Improper introduction of cats carries a strong risk of fighting and long-term intolerance between them . When choosing a new cat , careful consideration of several key factors may help to increase the likelihood of its successful introduction to the household ( Table 1 ).

The new cat must be gradually introduced to the other cats in a series of stages . Cats primarily recognise other members of their group by smell , which is why cats sometimes react oddly to their owners after they have been handling or stroking other cats .

General preparations for the arrival of a new cat should include the provision of a room solely for the use of the new cat , complete with its own set of resources ( to include a litter tray or toilet facility , food , water and a variety of resting and hiding places ). The installation of a pheromone diffuser ( Figure 1 ) in the room can increase the sense of familiarity and security . Extra resources should also be provided for the existing cats in their area of the house , including a separate pheromone diffuser .

A social aspect often less considered is the wider environment and existing local cat population density ( Heath , 2016 ). Outside , different cat territories will overlap , as both male and female cats range ( albeit to different degrees ). There is therefore the possibility of inter-cat conflict in the wider environment , leading to injuries such as cat bite abscesses .

Preparation

Before introducing a new cat , it is important to assess the likelihood of its acceptance by the existing cats in the household . An already stressed group of cats will not readily accept a new cat ( Heath , 2016 ). Their existing problems should take priority .

Figure 1 . Pheromone diffuser .

Table 1 . Considerations in choosing a new cat , adapted from Horwitz & Pike ( 2016 ).

Considerations Gender

Familial relationships

Relevance

Male cats tend to be friendlier to unfamiliar people / visitors to the home . Female cats can be more aggressive towards other cats .

Siblings are most likely to show affiliative behaviours . With non-related cats , the best relationships are ( in order , as follows ):

Age

Temperament

Introducing a younger cat to an older household is preferable . Make this introduction when the existing cats have reached social maturity ( approximately 2 years of age ).

Attempt to match the new cat ’ s personality to those of existing cats . There are three main temperaments observed in cats :

42 Veterinary Nursing Journal