Cats visiting for a few days

by Isabel Mroczkowski
(Bedford, MA)

We have a one year old Maine Coon and she is well adjusted as the "single cat" in the house. She's very social with humans and loves to be where the action is. Your typical Coonie. No problems.

My daughter and husband have 2 Balinese cats that have stayed in our home numerous times for a stretch of 10 days.

They want to bring them again but I worry that this won't go well with our cat "Tuffy". Any thoughts and suggestions?
-Isabel Mroczkowski

Reply:
Hi Isabel,
You're right to think she probably won't be thrilled! Cats don't really think in terms of “visiting.” To Tuffy, other cats coming into the house are simply cats appearing in her territory.

Even a very friendly, social cat can react differently when another feline shows up in her space. Cats are naturally territorial animals, which is why introducing them slowly is usually the best approach.

The fact that these Balinese cats have stayed with you before is actually a good sign. Cats remember scent very well, and Tuffy has already experienced their presence in her home through their scent.

That doesn't guarantee everything will go smoothly every time, but it does mean this won't be a completely new situation for her. It may take a few visits before everyone really settles into a routine with each other.

If they come again, it would be wise to give the visiting cats their own room at first. Some cats simply do best knowing the other cats are there, but not sharing space with them right away.

You're probably already planning to set them up with their litter box, food and water, and let everyone get used to the situation gradually.

Tuffy will probably spend some time investigating the door and taking in their scent before deciding how she feels about them.

When they do see each other, a little staring, cautious sniffing, or even some hissing is fairly normal.

Cats often need a little time to sort out where everyone stands. The important thing is to watch for any real aggression and separate them if things look like they might escalate.

It also helps to keep Tuffy’s routine as normal as possible. Feeding her at the usual times, playing with her, and letting her have her favorite spots in the house can go a long way toward helping her feel secure.

Some cats tolerate visiting cats surprisingly well once they realize the newcomers aren't permanent.

And sometimes the best arrangement during a short visit is simply keeping them mostly separate - it really depends on the personalities of all the cats involved, and often there's no way to know how things will go until you "give it a go".

Either way, giving them space and letting things unfold at their own pace usually works best.

Sometimes it really is a bit of a "try it and see" situation. If anyone reading this has had cats stay in their home temporarily, it would be interesting to hear how it worked out for you.

All the best,
Carrie

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