The White House is getting ready to welcome the First Feline home, and Smalls (with the help of Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Mikel Delgado) wants to offer some advice so everyone starts the new term on the right paw.
Major Biden has made headlines for concerns over behavior, and there is anticipation and curiosity about how a cat in the house might have an impact. Dr. Jill Biden let the cat out of the bag last week when she announced the First Feline will be making her debut very soon. We wrote an open letter to Major (and Champ!) on how to get acquainted with their new housemate.
Dear Major,
We know you’re meeting a new feline friend very soon so wanted to help out with some advice from our friend and resident animal behavior expert, Mikel Delgado. Here are our tips, and if we can send along any treats for positive reinforcement, our DMs are open.
**Go slow** - Proper pet introductions take time
**Think high** - Cats love vertical space, and cat trees and shelving allow them to investigate new situations while staying safe
**A room of her own** - Baby gates (with a cat door, or placed high enough that a cat can squeeze under) can create spaces where the cat can go, but the dog cannot follow. This can be helpful in allowing the cat to eat and use the litter box undisturbed
**Positive associations**
Help Major and Feline Biden associate each other's presence by giving them their favorite things (like treats!) when they are near one another
**Safety first** - It's helpful to have Major on a lead the first few times he and Feline Biden meet to prevent any chasing, lunging, or unexpected problems
