This archive article (written 2009–2016) contains advice that may be out of date and is waiting for veterinary review. Please check with your vet before acting on it. About our articles
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| Introducing a new cat to the household |
| Declaring Question Will declaring my cat change his personality? Answer This is actually a bit of a controversial issue within the veterinary community. Many veterinarians feel that declaring a young kitten won't change his personality. The procedure is least traumatic when performed on young animals, because they're smaller and they have less weight to carry on their feet after surgery. They'll experience less pain and heal more quickly than full-grown animals, and should therefore be less affected by the surgery. Still, many feel that even adult cats can be declared without a permanent change in personality. There are some veterinary professionals who feel that declaring may change a cat's personality and behavior, however. They argue that declared felines may feel defenseless and may be more likely to mark (urinate on) their territory, avoid contact with others or become aggressive, and change their pattern of vocalization (growling, hissing, or increased crying). The issue of declaring remains controversial, but the choice to declaw or not is a personal one. For more information, consult your veterinarian. Can a three-legged cat live a normal life? Answer Because of their small body weight, cats do very well after the loss of a leg. Their human friends often take longer to adjust to the change than they do. It might help, however, to make the cat an exclusively indoor cat. It's reflexes and ability to avoid predators may be a bit hampered. Another helpful move might be to provide a few stools where the cat chooses to get up and down from things, such as beds or a favorite window sill. If a front leg has been removed, jumping down can be painful if one leg has to catch the fall from three or more feet up. If a rear leg is missing, it may be difficult to provide the torque to jump up onto high things without a stool halfway. How do I introduce a new kitten to my adult cat? Question How do I introduce a two-month-old male kitten to my five-year-old female cat? Answer |
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It is best to introduce the kitten to your cat slowly — don’t force them to
interact. A gradual process of discovery and investigation is best. Bring the
kitten into the house in a travel crate and let your older cat approach the
crate and sniff, hiss and paw at it. Then reverse the situation by putting the
older cat in the crate and let the kitten explore around the crate. |