Don’t rush the accommodation process

If your cat is stressed because of your guests, all you have to do is to keep your pet in another room until the guests leave. “If it is a short-term stressor — such as your friend coming over for the afternoon and bringing her dog, or a day-long home project — don’t even bother with trying to get the cat used to it,” said Parry. 

But, if you want to introduce a new family member in your household – whether we are talking about a new pet or baby – you have to take things slowly. “Take it slowly and introduce them one sense at a time,” said Johnson. 

If you rush the accommodation process, you will make a big cat parenting mistake. “People think they can get the cat used to the scary thing by exposure, but desensitization by definition has to be done very gradually, and over days, weeks, or months to be effective,” explained Parry.