How to Care for Your Cat - Socializing Your Cat

1. Let your cat set the pace. If your cat is new to you, or is simply shy around other cats, never force your cat to interact or play. Instead, start slow and follow your cat's cues. Let your cat become familiar with you or the other cats. Simply spend time sitting around your cat. Avoid standing over your cat, which may intimidate her. Once your cat starts feeling more comfortable with her environment, she'll begin to approach you or the other cats.
- When your cat approaches you, let her get closer to sniff you. You might encourage her to come to you by placing treats in your hand.[16]

2. Play with your cat every day. Help your cat get needed exercise by being your cat's personal trainer. Use toys like feathers, fake mice, or even a rolled up piece of paper to get your cat to run around. Toys are a great incentive to get your cat moving. Try tossing small toys for your cat to hit and chase. If you're too worn out to play, use fishing pole style toys or pocket flashlights to give your cat a workout.
- Playing with your cat every day will help alleviate your cat's need for your attention.[17]

3. Offer equipment for your cat to play on. Your cat should have plenty of objects to play with on her own. A useful and fun object is a scratching post or tree she can climb. Cat's love tall places and love to scratch. A large, sturdy cat tree will not only give a place to scratch, but will let her climb and enjoy a bird's eye view of her surroundings.[18]
- Try placing a cat tree or tower near a sunny window. The view will also give your cat something interesting to look at.

4. Get your cat to play with her food. This is especially important if your cat is strictly an indoor cat and can't chase or forage for food. Try putting your cat's food in different containers and cut holes in the sides. Place some of the cat's food in the containers, letting her shake and roll the containers to get to the food.[19]
- This keeps your cat active and engaged, which can prevent boredom and unhappiness.[20]

5. Introduce your cat to new pets. While cats are often solitary creatures, they do enjoy the company of other cats. This doesn't just mean you should place two cats together without properly socializing them. Instead, let your current cat get used to the new cat's scent by offering a cloth the new cat has slept on or letting her sniff around a room that the new cat has been in. You should also play with them separately for a while, so they learn to associate the scent with something positive.[21]
- Take care to offer food in separate bowls, but set the bowls next to each other. That way, the cats will spend time enjoying each others company while they eat.[22]

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