Cat Behavior
Merge Cat Homes – Cat Behavioral Alliance and the Sanctuary of Cats de Carolina
5 steps to pacificly merge two feline kingdoms
By Rita Reimers, multi -cat behavior expert
Filing cat homes can be scary. You move with your partner, fourth or best friend, and have a cat (or two).
Meanwhile, his own feline lords have ruled their home with an iron leg for years. Now, these hairy monarchs must coexist under the same roof.
What could go wrong?
Good… a lot“If you don’t do it well.” Cats are not exactly known for their attitudes of “love at first sight”, and an abrupt introduction can lead to whistles, blows and a long -term feline dispute. But don’t worry! With the right strategy, you can turn Cat House Wars in Happily forever (with fur).
Linda’s experience fusing cat homes: In 2020, Linda’s son -in -law, Sebastian, died. His wife, Linda’s daughter, Nikki, had to move home with her 4 cats. Linda already had 7 more a small dog! Linda and Nikki (with an assistance of me) were able to achieve peaceful coexistence at home, and now cats are a large happy cat lever.
Our recipe to merge two groups of cats
This is how we did and how you can also make the transition as soft as the head of a cat, in Only 5 steps.
Step 1: The introduction of “Not so girl”
By merging cat homes: I don’t just throw them into a room and wait for the best.
That is a recipe to fly from skin and grudges for life. We listen to our customers often that their friends (poorly informed) tell them to simply let the cats “solve it.” That rarely works and could result in bloodshed. We recommend a slower approach to integration, since we desensitize them to each other.
Try this approach in its place
🐾 Start with the exchange of smell. Before they see each other, become familiar with the smell of the other. Change blankets, beds or rub a cloth on one cat and put it near the favorite place of the other. In this way, they begin to associate the new aroma with the home.Help if you moved to a new space where none of the cats still have territorial property).
🐾 Establish separate territories. Each cat must have its own space at the beginning: separate rooms with their own sand, food, water and hidingbooks. Continue exchanging aromas between the two sets of cats.
🐾 Feed them near the door. Placing their food bowls on opposite sides of a closed door helps them to associate the presence of others with something positive (and delicious!).
For the tip: Place a small carpet on the threshold and close the door, feeding each cat in its part of the carpet. Turn the next day so that they now have the place of feeding from the other to achieve the exchange of smell.
Step 2: The first meeting (through a barrier!)
Once they have become accustomed to the aroma of the other, it is time for a visual Introduction: But with a security network!
🐾 Keep short and sweet interactions. Do not force them to interact for too long, think about this as fast appointments, without moving on the first night. Those first interactions can last only a few seconds, but it is important to build the time they look slowly.
🐾 Reward calm behavior. This is important! The treats, the game time and the praise when they keep in the cold, help them to associate good things with their new housemate. Rewarding calm behaves when they see each other Help each cat associate good things from each other. This stage could last a few days or weeks; It is important not to hurry.
Step 3: Supervised game dates
When they seem comfortable seeing themselves from a distance and nobody is jumping to that wall door or whistling, then it is time for supervised meetings in a common area, such as the living room.
🐾 Keep short and positive sessions. A few minutes at the same time, gradually increasing whenever they get along (or at least tolerate each other).
🐾 Distraction is key! Play with wand toys, offer sweets or involve them in activities that maintain their minds outside the territorial disputes.
🐾 Be attentive to body language. Ears back, swollen tails, growl? It’s time to separate and try again later. Slow and curiosity? You are on the right path!
For the tip: If one of the cats tries to constantly intimidate the others (s), it can help catch the hunter. Then you can use the harness to have more control over the game date. Here is a review of several harnesses: Better Cats 2025
Step 4: Fusion territories
Once cats can share space without hostility, you can start mixing their territories.
🐾 Multiple resources avoid drama. More sand boxes, food stations and cozy nap points mean less competition. (The rule: one by cat, plus an extra!).
In addition, make sure each cat gets their own bowl of food. I have 18 of the cats of the sanctuary here, so I put 18 plus 3 extra boards since some of my cats like to try each bowl of food!
🐾 Vertical space = more peace. Cat trees, wall shelves and window hangers help them forge their own areas. Even cats that get along need places to get away from home noise and among them.
Rita’s experience with the rescue remedy: I moved 17 cats in a RAV-4, driving from Los Angeles to Charlotte. It was a 4 -day trip with motel status, and without Rescue remedyIt would have been a very stressful trip for all of us. But every night, the cats were calm even in the motel rooms, because I used the rescue remedy on them during the trip.
Step 5: Accept that they are never BFF (and that’s fine!)
Not all cats will become friends with hugs, and that is completely normal. Some may end as a nap partners, while others simply accept to ignore each other.
The objective is not necessarily friendship: it is a peaceful coexistence. You can see the changes in the hierarchy and see the form of new friendships once cats feel more comfortable among them.
Linda’s experience: At first, the cats of Linda and Nikki attached to their own group. But it soon formed links to each other.
Signs that need professional help from a cattle or veterinarian:
- Constant fights (not only occasional sheets)
- A cat refuses to eat, use the sand box or get out of hiding
- Persistent behaviors related to stress (overload, aggression or fear)
Final thoughts: love, patience and diplomacy of cats
Mix two cat homes Time, patience and occasional bribery (also known as treats). Go at your rhythm, look at your signs, and before you realize, you will have a harmonious– or at least functional“They know.”
He Cat behavior alliance The team is always here to help! Reserve a cat behavior session and we will guide it through the process so that you can pass from cat chaos to the peace of peace.