Here are just some of the benefits as well as the downside of having another cat in your household: Bringing a new cat home may require some changes but this is to be expected. But cats do exhibit behavioral changes after the loss of another cat and sometimes these can be difficult to understand. Turning out to be a clingy Velcro cat to their human, Attention seeking demeanor, like meowing loudly, Obsessive behavior, like extreme grooming, Damaging behaviors, like chewing and scratching everywhere. 6. But even cats that frequently quarrel may lament the loss of their feuding partner. They should each have their food, water bowl, litter box, scratching post, bed, etc. 1) Rubbing of bodies and faces with each other. It felt as if it was something she secretly wished for. After all, they are siblings. It means that as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. It will also give the new cat the chance to explore her new home. If you like our work please do us a favor. Allogrooming among cats establishes relationships as well as hierarchies. Weird Cat Facts: 8 Reasons Your Cat Likes to Lick You Top-Secret Tips to Get Your Cats to Pose for Your Camera 5 Ways to Catify Your Home, Even If You Aren’t the Handy Type Cats make various sounds that have a corresponding meaning. They communicate territory boundaries through urine marking, which is a way to decrease interaction among aggressive unneutered cats. . I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic. The mood within the household will change. Published by . Give them their meals separately and from a safe distance from each other. The solo cat showed an evident and absolute bliss when the second cat came home. Assign a particular room or place for the new cat as its so-called “territory” and provide the essentials like food and water bowl, litter box, bed and her own scratching post. When you see them lick their bodies, it is their way of cleaning themselves. © EpicPetClub 1) If your household has an adult cat, a younger kitten of the opposite gender will significantly reduce potential cat conflicts. Ensure that each cat has plenty of separate space and always put their litter boxes, food and water bowls and beds in separate areas. Your cat is trying to speak your human language, and you, in turn, are giving your best attempt at speaking their cat … Cats are highly territorial creatures, and they often defend what they believe is their rightful zone, whether it is a particular room in the house, a spot in the back yard, or a ball they play with. Considering this biological behavior of felines, it is not surprising how difficult it is to introduce a new cat into an established territory, even when the zone is your home. We are only providing information. However, a feline friend may not be the only solution, Krieger points out. The introduction should be done gradually. This is also true even with just a trip to the vet. If your two cats won’t like each other, they shouldn’t cause you to worry. If the cats become comfortable with each other and are generally calm you may allow them to socialize and interact without the barrier. To tell if your cat is constipated, check to see if your cat cries out or hunches over when using the litter box, as these are signs of constipation. A good time for interaction would be after their meal or playtime when aggression levels are low. A study shows that cats who have feline friends are more socially adjusted and live longer. 1) Rubbing of bodies and faces with each other. In this article, I am going to show you how you can identify if cats are bonded. When bonded kittens play together, they do that without going far beyond breaking things and making things messy. Allowing the cats to play together. They may play in a rough manner that could potentially escalate to a real fight, especially when the other cat can keep up on the same page. 2) The intertwining of tails. While some cats will eventually learn to tolerate each other, there will be those who will always be fighting. Your pet comes when you call. I didn’t know about cat bonding and all that. But some cats are … Adult cats may not be as friendly initially but will eventually enjoy and crave each other’s company. There are just a few cases when one needs to get re-homed due to aggressiveness. If your pets looks at each other with a relaxed blink it is a sign of trust or affection. Separating bonded cats : Should you do it? You can also discourage fighting among your cats by placing more perches and scratching posts to keep them busy. 4) Romping and roughing out but not too far. However, watch over them during the interaction. This will allow both of them to hear and smell each other without actually seeing or having physical contact with each other. It could be another way of rubbing against each other and releasing pheromones. Felines are very particular when it comes to marking territory which they do by rubbing scent glands on objects. Handily, Petplace lists seven whole ways to tell if you're on your furball's Valentine's list, but one stands head and shoulders above the rest. Meowing means they want to gain your attention and it is their way of saying hello while purring corresponds to showing affectionate comfort or self-comfort. However, environment is not always the cause. Better if you pick based upon your resident tabby’s demeanor than your personal preference. Give 'Em Some Space. When they rub each other’s faces against each other, they mingle their pheromones that strengthen their bond because of induced feelings of friendliness. Your Cat Rubs His Head Upon You. It's a warning. That means they will do everything together and show affection to each other. Answer these questions to see if you and your cat have bonded like you think you have. This will let the cats see and understand each other and to get acquainted without any actual physical contact. Step 4. But, it can also depend on how the owners introduce them. Cats are secretive little beings. After all, cats are all about scents and they use their sense of smell to identify people and things. To avoid this from happening, don’t let the two cats see each other face-to-face just yet. Taking a pet home for the first time is fun, which speaks well even for a cat, especially for a cat. Cats who are not properly introduced will have a relationship that started off at the wrong paw. In short, here are the signs to know if cats are bonded: Littermates sure have bonded from the beginning of their lives. Let Them Come to You As your cat becomes more comfortable, she’ll likely start exploring her new home and getting to know her new people. They do almost everything together and feel very comfortable in each other’s company. So, if they should ever be separated it can be a heartbreaking situation. If your cat brings you a dead animal, this isn't a gift. This is one of the safest ways to start familiarizing your two cats. How Do You Know? Cats are, by definition, a different animal, and decidedly more difficult to gauge on the affection scale. You may use a temporary screen door or baby fence. When cats are bonded, they clean and groom by licking each other. This determines whether they will have a good life ahead, whether together or apart. Also: purring. Their strong attachment to each other is not a guarantee they will not clash. Cats are notorious for not being big fans of change, and the biggest change any cat can go through is the death or disappearance of a bonded friend. Body movements convey a lot and the way your cat moves has a meaning attached to it. 5) All grooming" Cats are a neat freak. Let the two cats switch places in the next few days to allow them to study and get used to each other’s scent. Common Cat Anxiety Signs and Symptoms When cats form dysfunctional bonds with their humans, they’ll develop behavioral problems. Cats that enjoy each others company will stand next to each other and … Since cats typically do not like the taste of medicine, they will usually make upset sounds and growl consistently. Despite having the reputation of being solitary creatures, cats enjoy other creature’s companies, whether they may be a cat, dog, or humans. Epic Pet Club is not a medical resource. A good thing to do when bringing in another cat to your home is to use calming spray like Feliway or Thunderease. The contents are provided ‘as is’ and is subject to change or removal at any time. It is the same case with moggies who bond strongly with their mothers and littermates. If they feel the odor they are smelling, then there is a good chance at better bonding. When they play, you will see both of them are equally sporty and enjoying. When cats are closely bonded, they are probably more likely to become upset if one dies. Bonded cats, however, will yearn if they are separated. However; a feline’s bond worked to form, separating them may result in unpleasant things. Once you feel that both cats have gotten used to each other from a distance then it is time for your furry baby to meet the new cat. Given the amount of time the old cat and the new cat spend together, how will you know if they have bonded? Think hard about bringing your tabby a new friend. And, that has to be done without them seeing each other. Knowing whether your cats have bonded is crucial. Alternatively, look out for hard balls of fecal matter outside of the litter box, since your cat may stop using their litter box if they associate it with pain. I will give you some hint and signs that will make you believe that your both cars are bonded now and you can see them growing. The first impression is critical to cats. However, be sure there is a temporary fence or a screen door between them. A little matchmaking can do the trick too. First meeting and seeing each other. Place plenty of their favorite toys so your cats will be busy playing and this will distract them from fighting. 4. There is no scientific or proven way to make two cats friends, but these steps are worth giving it a try. Will My Cats Like Each Other? Your cat also may be bored and not have enough toys or entertainment. As cats rely heavily on scents, separation will hinder their most important part of communication. Their sense of smell is 14 times better than the human sense of smell. Males are aggressive by nature, and that is just how they are. 8) Will Bonded Cats Remember Each Other After a While of Being Separated.