Physical Introduction

This is the final step and involves letting each animal approach the other on their own terms. If the above steps have been successful then it would be expected to go relatively smoothly; any animal showing negative reactions to the preceding steps should not proceed to this step.

Dogs should be kept on a lead attached to a secure collar or harness. At least 2 people are required for this step to help separate animals safely if they are becoming stressed or aggressive. If large/strong dogs are being introduced it is advised to have enough people to suitably restrain the dog if it decides to try to chase the cats. Animals must be constantly supervised during this step.

The very first time the introduced animals meet physically it is not unusual for there to be some minor negative reactions. This is particularly the case when 2 cats meet for the first time as they often need to establish a ‘hierarchy’. Due to their young age and small size, kittens are more likely to ‘submit’ to an existing adult cat, but this may change as the kitten develops and becomes bigger and more confident. A kitten may also attempt to challenge its social status within the hierarchy as it sexually matures and is exposed to reproductive hormones. For this reason, it is recommended not to attempt to socialise sexually mature cats. Once established, if the hierarchy is not ‘challenged’ then there should not be any ongoing issues.

To assist with the physical introduction, it is best that it is conducted in a quiet environment without any obvious possible stressors (e.g. loud noises, young children). It is also recommended to have some distractions on hand (toys, food) which can be used if tensions build. If the cats are getting in close proximity of each other but are not bonding, the following can be attempted:

• apply something palatable (tuna juice, kitten wet food) to back of the kitten’s head/neck

• often the older cat will lick this off the kitten, which simulates a mother cat’s grooming behaviour which often calms the kittens

This process is not suitable for introducing kittens to dogs, as many dogs get excited in the presence of food and may inadvertently bite the kitten trying to remove the food from its coat/

• the adult cat is also getting rewarded for its own behaviour and positively reinforcing this interaction.

• at the same time, the adult cat is leaving its saliva on the kitten which may help with future recognition the next time they are physically introduced.

This process can often be used when trying to ‘cross-foster’ orphaned kittens onto lactating queens.

If the physical meet is successful, then it is important to allow frequent interactions to strengthen the bond as extended periods of separation may result in loss of recognition and the need to start over. This is also true for cats that have always lived together that are then separated and then return home smelling differently (hospital stays or segregation during boarding periods).

If the physical meet is still not successful, it is ok to retry a number of times on different days provided the negative reactions being observed are minor. However, if there are moderate negative interactions it is best for both animals not to persist, as this may affect their future sociability.