Introducing Pets & Kids

Introducing Kids To Your Foster Cats.

Supervise all interactions between children and your foster cat. Key things to remind your children:

Always leave the foster cat alone when they are eating or sleeping. Some cats may nip or bite if bothered while eating or startled while sleeping.
Do not tease or rile up the foster cat.
Don’t chase the foster cat around the house; it may scare them.
Pick up the foster cat only when an adult is there to help. Cats can become scared when picked up, and they sometimes scratch with their sharp nails, even though they don’t mean to cause harm.
Be careful when opening and closing doors so as to not accidentally let the foster cat outside.
Show young children how to gently pet the cat. Toddlers can be a bit excitedly aggressive when petting animals. Hold their hand and show them exactly how to pet the cat.

Since we don’t always know a foster cat’s history or tolerance level for different types of people and activities, please teach your children how to act responsibly and respectfully around your foster cat.

Introducing Other Pets To Your Foster Cats.

You must wait the FULL two weeks before allowing your pets to meet. Once the quarantine period is over, start the introductions slowly. Slow means at the pace of the cat who is showing the most signs of stress. This may be the new cat and/or the resident cat(s). This introduction may be a matter of days, weeks or months.

Some animals will never be friends, but can easily learn to be in the same space with no issues.

Make sure you have an appropriate amount of litter, bedding and bowls for each cat.

While the foster cat is in quarantine, you can

Let the cats smell each other through a closed door, but don’t allow them contact with one another
Exchange blankets or towels between the areas to get them used to each other’s smells
Once quarantine is finished
Allow them to see each other through a baby gate or a door that is propped open two inches
If the cats/dogs are interested in each other and seem comfortable, allow them to meet.
Observe them closely. If any cat shows signs of significant stress or aggression, separate them again and introduce them more slowly.

Other things you can try if the first meeting doesn't go well

Feeding them on either side of the door.
Removing the foster cat from their sanctuary space and letting the resident pet in access to smell.

The Humane Society has a more detailed page on introducing pets to your foster cat here.