Feisty Introductions
Introducing cats to one another, especially if territories have been already established can lead to some feisty encounters. For these reasons, it can cause some unwanted tensions, especially for cat owners who want to get another kitten but cannot due to such reasons. In fact, this blog topic has been suggested by one of our readers and I am so thankful for you all for your recent suggestions! I personally do not own a cat so inputs such as these are greatly appreciated because I can write topics that can be more useful for cat owners like you.
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First off…
According to ASPCA, aggression is the second most common feline behavior issue seen by animal behaviorists. Fights between cats are rarely fatal but a cat’s weapons (e.g. teeth and claws) can result in bite wounds and severe lacerations which can become easily infected. Not only that, but scratches can result in cat scratch fever (an infectious disease that causes flu-like symptoms). For these reasons, it is important for owners to be able to distinguish between friendly or aggressive behavior in cats.
Body Language
One of the best ways to distinguish between aggressive and friendly behavior in cats is to observe body language. What kind of body language you might ask. Body language in cats are made up of body postures, facial expressions, and the positions of certain body parts such as the ears, tail, and even whiskers! In fact, during my research, I found that cat body language is more subtle than dog body language. Dogs are already hard enough. For these reasons, discerning between aggressive and passive behavior requires a keen eye.
Friends or Foe (Part I)
Before I give a list of the typical feline aggression, I would first like to say that if your feline is displaying such signs, do not touch, attempt to reassure, or punish the cat! Doing so can cause worse consequences.
Offensive postures include:
A stiff, straight-legged upright stance
Stiffened rear legs, with the rear raised and the back sloping downwards towards the head
A stiff tail that is lowered or pointing straight down
A direct stare
Perked ears that face forwards
Raised fur (includes fur on tail)
Growling, hissing, or yowling
Directly facing the defendant
Constricted pupils
Friends or Foe (Part II)
Now that I shared the offensive postures, I believe it is also crucial to know who is the defendant as well so you will be able to distinguish who is causing the ruckus and who isn’t. It is to be noted that the defensive cat will display these signs listed below along with some of the aggressive signs listed previously!
Defensive postures include:
Head tucked in
May quickly strike to the offender with unsheathed, front paws
Hissing or spitting
Not directly facing the opponent
Wide eyes with pupils partially or fully dilated
Crouching
Tail curled around the body and tucked in
Raised fur
Retracted whiskers or whiskers panning out forward
Ears flattened sideways or backward on the head
Introductions
Now let's get into how to introduce your new member to your feline to reduce the likelihood that the two will get into a fight. Just like humans, first impressions are important. If the two display aggression during their first meeting, this can impact their future relationship. For these reasons, it is best to separate your resident cat from your new cat to first plan out how to introduce them to each other. First, the two cats should be able to smell and hear but not see or touch the other. They should also both have their own food and water bowl, litter box, scratching post, bed, and other necessary enrichments. In addition, make sure to feed the cats near the door that separates them so they can get to “know” each other better.
After two or three days, switch the cat’s locations so they can better investigate each other’s scent. Once a few days pass, encourage your kittens to paw toys with each other under the door (so that they can not see each other).
Vision
After about a week of no sign of aggression at the door, you can now introduce the cats to each other. Do so by using a temporary screen door or a tall fence so that the cats cannot touch each other. Ask a person around you to help you with introducing the cats together. Have one person and a cat on both sides of the door and begin the introduction by directing the cat a few feet away from the barrier. Once the cats notice each other, say aloud their names and toss treats behind them. Do this for the next few days and gradually offer the meals, treats, and toys closer to the screen.
Touch
Last but not least, the step you all have been waiting for: permitting the cats to spend time together without the barrier. Despite all the steps that I listed above, it is still important to supervise the face-to-face interactions carefully. Whenever you notice that your cats seem to be calm, it is a great opportunity to bring the cats together to further their bond (if all is well). If the cats seem to be getting along well, allow them to stay with each other for longer and longer periods of time.
What if I want to introduce a cat to multiple cats all at once?
If you wish to introduce a new cat into a household with multiple cats, introduce each resident cat to the newcomer individually, following the same steps as advised above. Once each of your cats have met the new cat, you can then allow the cats to mingle into a group.
I hope you found this blog not only interesting, but also potentially helpful to you as well. Make sure to stay safe and wear a mask at all times and I will see you in the next one!
Citations:
[1] “Aggression in Cats.” ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/aggression-cats#:~:text=Play%20aggression%20is%20the%20most,%2C%20grasping%2C%20fighting%20and%20biting
[2] Paws. “Introducing Your Cat to a New Cat.” PAWS, https://www.paws.org/resources/introducing-cat-to-cat/#:~:text=Ask%20a%20friend%20or%20family,aiming%20the%20treats%20behind%20them.