Since cats are territorial creatures, bringing a new cat into your home can be problematic. The best scenario is to get two cats at the same time so that neither is infringing on the other’s territory. But what if you already have a cat?

When a kitten is introduced to the house of an older cat, you need to make sure not to neglect the older cat. This is extremely easy to forget when you’ve got a new kitten as people tend to fuss over kitten a lot more than older cats. The older cat may become jealous and start fighting with the new member of the family. This can lead to other cat behavior problems where a cat might decide to start urinating outside of the litter box, or it might stop eating and get sick.

If conflict arises, try to keep the cats apart for a time until they become used to one another. You can put their litter boxes in different areas of the house and keep the food dishes apart. Any time that one shows aggression to the other, calmly step in and prevent the battle from escalating.

By considering the feelings of the older cat, not neglecting it, giving it sufficient time and letting it know that it is still special, there is a better chance that the new kitten will be accepted by the established cat.

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If you are trying to choose a name for your cat, you will find all kinds of ideas on the internet. With all of the possibilities, how can you choose the best cat name?

Fifty percent of cats are named with human names. Often this is because the owner really likes a particular name and wants to christen something in their life with the name.

Personality or appearance are a good starting place for picking a name. Midnight for a black cat or Fluffy for a long-haired cat are common choices. Twenty percent of pet names are based on appearance or personality.

Remember that whatever name you choose will be a reflection of cat’s character along with your relationship with the cat. Since a name can give either a positive or negative impression, be careful to choose a name that will reflect well on your cat. For example, Porky may not be the best name for your pet, even if he or she is overweight. What if your cat slims down, and the name no longer fits? Drawing attention to negative characteristics could cause you to miss all of the positives.

Make sure that the name sounds good when you call it. You may not want to run around your home calling Pookie. Make sure that the name will grow with your cat. You might choose ‘Tiny’ for a kitten only to have the kitten grow up to be a huge tomcat.

Cats respond best to two-syllable names. If you choose a longer name, be prepared to use a shorter nickname as the call name.

You can also use your cat’s heritage as a source of names. An Asian name might be a good fit for a Siamese or a Russian name for a Russian Blue.

You might also select a name that reflects your hobbies or interests. If you like motorcycles, you might name your cat ‘Harley.’ You could also use names from your favorite movies, cartoons or bands.

Once you choose a name and begin using it, do not change the cat’s name. This would prove to be confusing to the cat as they may not comprehend that two different names can both refer to them.

Since a cat name will stay with your pet for a lifetime, be sure to take your time and pick a fitting name for your feline.

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Long hair cats are beautiful, but the extra maintenance and care required for these kitties can be a a lot of work. Find out some of the concerns with these furry felines before deciding if one if for you.

The long hair of these cats requires more grooming than their short-haired cousins because their hair can easily mat and become tangled. If care is not taken, the result can be clumps of hair that cannot be brushed out and have to be shaved off.

A visit to a professional groomer is often necessary because some parts of a cat’s body are difficult to brush effectively unless you have lots of experience in cat grooming. Some owners shave their cats during the shedding months, which usually at the end of winter and early spring. The full shave keep their houses from being overwhelmed with cat hair while also creating a chance to grow in a new coat that does not have any tangles or mats. Unfortunately, cats usually do not like to have their coat shaved off and may become very angry as a result.

Folk wisdom says that long haired cats trigger allergies in humans more easily than short haired cats. Usually, allergies are triggered by the dander in a cat’s hair, and not by the actual hair itself. Some short haired cats may provoke more severe allergies in some people than long haired cats.

Although most people find long haired cats to be gorgeous, they may not find the hairs left behind by the long haired cat to be as beautiful. Keeping your cat well groomed will help reduce stray hairs laying around the house and on your clothes, but you will probably need to invest in some lint rollers to place around your house to rid your clothes of hair before heading out your door.

Before bringing home a long haired cat, make sure that you are able to meet the grooming requirements, and that you are able to deal with a certain amount of long cat hairs appearing throughout your home and even on you.

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If you have decided to acquire a feline friend, you will need to decide whether you want a kitten or a grown animal. The advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed below.

Kittens are incredibly cute but they usually need considerably more attention and care than an older feline, especially if you adopt a kitten that has never been away from its mother. A new kitten may be very scared and apprehensive when first exposed to a new home.

Kittens also will need to be trained on using a litter box and how not to destroy your possessions. Most kittens easily learn to use the litter box , so this is often not a drawback for new cat owners. Kittens also have a relatively long lifespan, so adopting one usually means that you will have a pet for many years into the future. Some people also appreciate the idea of being the only owner of a cat, and the only way to ensure this is to adopt a kitten.

Cats that are no longer kittens have the advantage of already knowing how to use a litter box and getting along with humans. They hopefully have been taught to not claw the furniture and that humans are a source of pleasure.

Some people do not like the idea of adopting an older cat for fear that the cat will not live for very long, but a cat that is four or five years old, while not a kitten, still has many years of life ahead of it. An older cat will generally be much more mellow than most kittens, so if you are looking for a docile pet, then an adult cat works well.

If you still cannot decide whether to get a kitten or an older cat, go to the pet store or shelter and visit with some of the cats. Every feline has a unique personality, and you cannot always predict if the personality displayed at adoption will be the cat’s true disposition. Once you have visited with several kitties, you should get a feel for what age would be best for you.

Whether you choose a kitten or an adult cat, with proper care, you will have a furry friend for many years.

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Cats and dogs are reknowned for their fights, just watch Tom and Jerry cartoons. If you have a new cat, you will need to make sure that he or she is introduced properly to your dog. The tips below will help you make the introduction process go smoothly.

Obedience training for your dog is a must. Your dog will need to reliably respond to commands such as no, sit, and stay. Otherwise, you will have no way to control your canine if your cat is being attacked.

Keep the animals separated for several days after bringing home your new pet. Do not even let them see each other. Instead, confine one animal while letting the other roam your home. Then, repeat the process with the other animal. This will allow each animal to pick up the other’s scent in differeent parts of your house.

Now you are ready for the introduction. You will need two people – one to hold the cat and the other to hold the leashed dog. If the dog barks or jumps at the cat, say ‘no’ and pull the dog away. After every session, reward both animals with their favorite treat so that they learn to associate good things with interacting with the other animal.

Once the dog has stopped barking at the cat, you can try an introduction with the dog off lead. You may have to do this over several days until the dog acts reasonably around the cat. If they start fighting, put the dog back on a leash for a session or two before trying again off lead.

Now you are ready to put the cat and dog together without anyone holding either animal. Again, if a fight begins, you will have to restrain one of the animals for another session or two before trying again.

If you have any doubt about the safety of your animals, keep them separated when you are not at home. You could let one have run of the basement, and leave the other one upstairs.

Even dogs and cats who are friendly with each other will occasionally have disagreements. You may hear a hiss or see the dog chasing kitty through your home. There are cats that actually enjoy love/hate relationships with dogs, so your main concern is if one of the animals is getting hurt. If not, let them play.

Use the tips above so you can have both cats and dogs in your house that get along peacefully, at least most of the time.

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