Merging Cats from Two Households as Newlyweds

Miriam Fields-Babineau

Miriam Fields-Babineau

— 3 min read

You have a lot to do and consider when getting married and merging your two households together. As the pet parents of cats, you will have to meet a huge challenge of merging your pets together into one home. This can prove very challenging, as cats do not easily accept new territory, nor have another feline within it.

Territorial Behavior

Most cats have specified home territory. Felines that are indoor cats make their indoor space their territory. Cats who live outdoors tend to have a very large home territory. They mark their territory in several ways – urine along the borders, scratching the ground and tree limbs, which releases scent, rubbing the backs and heads along surfaces, which also releases scent, and physically patrolling the area.

Rarely can people smell the scent left with their paws, heads or other body parts, but certainly can smell the scent of urine. Cats that are re-establishing territory will secrete a specifically pungent urine.

Regardless of where you newlyweds move in together – one of your homes or a totally new home, your cats will respond in a negative manner. Merging cats will certainly have many challenges.

Aggression

Cats who do not spend many years together, via being together as kittens or long-term housemates after adoption, will display aggression to the other unknown cat. It is not a pretty sight and even more destructive to your new marriage.

Destruction

Cats in a new environment will have anxiety and tend to be more destructive. They will sharpen their nails on furniture, eat the wrong household items, be more elusive, and tend to be quick to anger.

Vocal

While most cats are not super vocal, as it is a learned behavior, felines with anxiety will tend to yowl, spit and growl. They will do so most when near the other cat, whether they are loose together, or if one is locked in a room and they sniff at each other beneath the door.

How To Safely Merge Two Cats into One Household

There is no push button method of merging two cats into one household. It will require patience, persistence, a lot of management and time. There is not a prequel meeting, such as you can arrange for dogs. The cats would merely be stressed being transported to a new location and then confronting another cat.

Training and Socialization

The best means of avoiding having to deal with the merging of two cats into a single household is to train them prior to this upheaval. Granted, you are likely busy with planning and arranging the wedding and moving, but you should take 10 minutes out of your day to prepare your cats. It will save you many hours of stress, which is something you should not experience after the joy of nuptials.

Here are some great sources which will make training your cat easy. Cat Training in 10 Minutes. Another good book is, How to Clicker Train Your Cat. The internet has several great cat training websites as well, such as How to Train Your Cat for Beginners, 30 Tricks to Train Your Cat, and 8 Essential Cat Tricks.

Here are a few essential behaviors your cat should learn:

  1. Walking on a leash (harness and leash)
  2. Coming when called
  3. Jumping onto your lap or into your arms
  4. Redirection from scratching
  5. Redirection from aggressive behavior
  6. Stay in place

Once your cat is comfortable wearing, and working with, a harness you can begin taking them with you on excursions, such as the pet shop, a large animal feed shop, lumber store or just for a walk in the park. The more comfortable your cat becomes with these excursions, the faster they will acclimate to moving into a new home.

Acclimation Procedures

Prior to bringing both cats together in one home make sure you have the following supplies:

Begin by separating the cats into different enclosed rooms. Be sure to put their litter boxes, feeding bowls, scratchers and bedding in each of their rooms. Take turns allowing one cat the freedom of the house as the other remains in their room. Scatter catnip near the door of the room of the enclosed cat.

When the cats are no longer hissing at each other, allow them to meet in person. Be sure to remain near to redirect them away from being aggressive to each other. This is where that important training comes into play. When one of the cats begins to display aggression, fear or anxiety, call them to come. Maintain their attention for a few minutes with training exercises.

Do not give up on your cats. It can take months to a year for them to acclimate. Be patient, consistent and observant. As both of you newlyweds love cats, it is an activity you can do together.

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