Cats are creatures of habit and sometimes don’t accept change readily, especially in the case of a new person spending a significant amount of time, or 
possibly moving into your home. Cat behavior may become aggressive if the cat feels threatened by the new person’s presence. Although it may take time for everyone to get along, there are some steps you can take to help the process be successful:
- Turn all care of your cat over to the new person. It may be difficult to do this, especially if you have a tight bond with your feline friend, but turning over all care from feeding to play to the new household member will help your cat build trust with them.
- Give the new household member access to your cat’s favorite things. This will set the new person up for success in building a bond with your cat. Show the new person how best to spoil your cat, whether it’s offering a special treat or playing with a favorite toy. This will show your cat this person can be associated with good things and is not a threat.
- Don’t give up if it doesn’t seem to be working. Some cats are very slow to accept change, including new people. Even if it seems your cat will never accept the new household member, stick with the plan. Instruct the new person to not punish the cat for bad behavior, as this will only damage any progress made in the past toward building a good relationship. Advise the new household member to watch for times the cat seems to be relaxed and friendly and interact with him then. The new person should give small rewards for positive behavior, this will once again show your cat the new household member can be associated with good things.
Written by Karen
