Holiday Fostering & Adopting: Introducing Your New Kitty to the Rest of Your Pet Family
I think it’s safe to say that we all have a bit more time on our hands these days. So what better way to spend it and the holidays than to foster or adopt a new kitty? So in the holiday spirit, that’s exactly what I decided to do, and as of Thanksgiving week, I was falling head over heels in love with my new “foster.” I use the term, “foster” lightly because knowing me, he will be joining my fur family permanently! I’ve already given him a super cute and purr-fect name, Jerry Berry, that compliments my other kitty’s name, Cannoli Bean. So now that I’m madly in love with the fella, the trick is getting my other kitty and dog to feel the same way.
My good friend, Paige Hodges is today’s guest blogger. She is the owner of Feline Yogi, yoga mats for cats. She recently wrote a great blog on this exact subject. She could not say enough good things about an informative guide book on kitty introductions called, Cat vs. Cat. Given her wealth of knowledge about our kitty companions, I knew I had to have it! I’m even thinking about gifting it to friends and family for Hanukkah and Christmas. You should too!
CAT VS. CAT
By FELINE YOGI
Cat vs Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat is the latest book by award winning author and cat behaviorist, Pam Johnson-Bennett. Let me just cut to the chase and say I can’t recommend this book enough! It’s fabulous and a must have for any cat guardian, especially if you live with more than one cat.
This book’s main focus is on multi cat households but it’s so much more than that. Yes, you will learn how to keep peace among your cats, how to introduce a new cat to your kitty family, and how to help an elderly kitty surrounded by younger ones, but there’s a wealth of information on cats in general in this book. The author outlines in detail how to understand feline social structure and understand cat communication. Learning how your cat communicates is valuable whether you have one cat or twenty.
Johnson-Bennet also addresses the often misunderstood idea that cats are natural loners. Cats can thrive and enjoy the company of other cats and she shows how to plan, set up, and maintain a home environment that will help kitties and their humans live in peace.
I recently introduced an adult male kitty into my home of three cats and 1 turtle (yes, not a cat but still part of my pet family LOL ) I was a little worried as I have a feisty female who rules the roost and I knew she would not serve on the welcoming committee.
There’s a whole wonderful chapter on introducing a new kitty to your current cat(s) and even though I considered myself somewhat knowledgeable on the subject, I learned plenty of new things. From the “sock exchange” to creating lots of vertical territory, I’ve been able to try out all kinds of new techniques and it’s going amazingly well. As I write this, all four cats are out with each other after four weeks and I was prepared for it to take four months! We’re not exactly where we need to be but each day it gets better and better and all four cats are settling in and getting along.
Cat vs Cat also reminds us cats are their own special breed and we must not treat them like dogs, humans, or any other animal. They are cats and they do their own thing. As the author reminds us: “Cats aren’t fur- covered children and they aren’t dogs. Too often, though, cats are brought into the family with the expectation that they will act and communicate in the way the human family members want them to. If you take the time to really look at all the ways your cats communicate with you and with one another, you’ll see your frustration filter start to dissolve. You’ll develop a new appreciation for how complex, efficient, and beautiful the feline language really is and the essential role it plays in a cat’s survival. More awareness of how cats communicate can strengthen or repair the bond you share.”
Cats are amazing animals. They have one foot in the wild and one foot in the domestic. They are probably the closest thing to a wild animal we humans will have an opportunity to interact with so intimately. It’s well worth the time to learn more about what makes these amazing little beings tick and Cat vs Cat will teach you just that.
Treat yourself to this book this holiday season or give it to the cat lovers in your life. For more information on this book, click here.
Feline Yogi’s signature product is the Yoga Cat Mat. Because today’s hip modern enlightenment seeking cat needs their own yoga mat! Check them out at the Feline Yogi Store.
Paige Hodges, owner of Feline Yogi is the creator of these fun, comfy and must have yoga cat mats. She is the proud fur momma a 4 fabulous felines and a turtle! She’s loved and had cats all her life and has also volunteered in numerous cat rescues over the years.