My new husband has two cats who we will need to integrate with my two Westies and my own cat.?

Question

The two cats are flying here later this month. Can anyone suggest the best way to carefully integrate my "stepchildren" into the family? Many thanks!

Answer 1

If he can send you something that has the cats' scent on it, like something they sleep on or something like that, good. Take it and leave it around the house so your babies get used to the strange scent.

When the newbies arrive, do not leave the family unattended for the first couple of days! When the kids are all together, they MUST be supervised!! (Otherwise, it'll be pandemonium!) When no one's home, separate everyone - his cats in one room, your cat in another, the dogs in a third space. This way, there's no fighting thru doors.

Good luck! Be prepared to offer a lot of reassurance!

Answer 2

I would put them into a seperate room for a few days with a littler box, food and water. This way the other animals and yours can be smelling eachother and getting to know eachother a little bit. Next try just a gate or something like that so that they can see eachother for a few minutes at a time and within a week you should be okay. They may go hide out for a few days once you let them out of the room, but don't worry as long as you know where they are and that they aren't stuck somewhere. Animals normally work things out on their own, in their own time. It's the Westies that need to watch out if they go charging after the cat they will more than likely get swatted a good one!!!

Answer 3

This won't be easiest time for you, but it can be done. First let the new pets roam freely for a few hours in the house so that their scent is present.(with your pets securely in another room.) Try introducing the cats and the dogs first. Your dog is used to cats and this might be an easier transition. Make sure you talk and pet them all equally.
If any of these cats are male they make take to spraying with a new cat around. Watch this carefully and nip it the bud the minute you see one of them positioning to spray. Females can spray also but it is not that common. It's mostly a jealousy/ ownership thing when new pets are introduced. That is why it is so important that they all get attention.
Congratulation or your marriage.

Answer 4

Make sure the cats get along to begin with or hopefully are de-clawed in the front. Give the cats a room that they can escape to if the dogs try to bother them. But I don't think you'd have much trouble as you already have a cat with your two dogs ;)

When the cats first arrive make sure they're comfortable and relaxed in their cage before being let out to see the other pets and the new location, otherwise who knows what will happen!

Answer 5

With patience and squirt bottles. My partner and I recently merged our cats. It took a week and a half of vicious death blows, but now they bathe each other. Keep a squirt bottle handy at all times to spray them if they get too hostile. Seperate them when you can't watch them. Make sure they get to smell each other lots, either through a door, cage or some other means. The smells are the most important. For the kitties, consider getting Feliway plug-ins. They help tone down odor related hositilities. I think the dogs will be fine with the cats since they're already used to one cat.