Should You Get Another Cat? A Happy Cat Expert Explains!
It’s a common misconception that cats are solitary animals. But we are familiar with seeing cats live happily with people, other cats and other species – so they’re clearly not as solitary as they seem.
In which case, is it a good idea to adopt a second or even third cat into your home? Let’s take a look at how cats really feel about sharing their space and what factors to consider before expanding your feline family into a multi-cat household.
Do Cats Get Along?
While cats are descended from a truly solitary animal, the African wildcat, domestic cats vary in terms of how sociable they are. For example, some cats are happy living in huge multi-cat households, while others prefer to be the only cat in their territory.
A cat’s sociability really depends on the individual, their unique temperament and the experiences they’ve had with other animals and people in the past.
Should You Get A Second or Third Cat?
If you have one cat already and are wondering if you should get another cat to join the family, there are a few things to think about to help you make the decision.
Do You Have Enough Space & Resources for Multiple Cats?
The first thing to consider when getting another cat is if you have enough space to accommodate a new cat in your home. Keep in mind that if your new cat and your resident cat don’t get along, you may need to split your home into two separate territories to help avoid conflict.
Even if they do get along well, it is good practice to provide plenty of resources to reduce any feelings of competition. Ideally, you should always have one of each resource per cat, plus one extra. For example, in a home with two cats, it is recommended to permanently have three litter trays, three water bowls, three scratching posts and so on.
Are You Prepared for the Introduction Process?
It’s also important to make sure you have enough time to manage the introduction process. Slowly integrating a new cat to your home will help both cats get used to each other. This gradual introduction is much more successful than if they are suddenly surprised by the appearance of a new cat sleeping in their beds and eating from their food bowl.
This can take many weeks or even months, so make sure you have a good set-up for keeping both cats separate and that you have the time to supervise them when they are first together.
How Does Your Current Cat Feel?
Next is to think about how your cat feels. Do they think you should get another cat? What does their behavior tell you?
If your current cat often fights other cats or shows signs of being agitated when they see a cat from the window, they probably won’t take well to you bringing a strange cat into their home.
If you’re worried they’re lonely, have a look to see if your cat is showing signs of anxiety or boredom and genuinely need a feline companion. It is very easy to assume they want a friend, when really, they are enjoying life as a single cat.
Take particular care if your cat has lost their best friend – a cat in your home they were bonded to. Bonded cats usually have a very solid history of showing friendly behaviors, spending time together and genuinely trusting each other. This type of relationship can’t always be replicated with a new cat. In some cases, helping them through the grieving process may be kinder than introducing a stranger.
Is Your New Cat a Good Match?
It's also important to consider the needs of the cat or kitten you are looking to bring into your home. Have they lived happily with other cats in the past? Are they going to struggle living in a multi-cat household?
Asking as many questions as possible about your new cat’s experiences will help you decide if it’s a good match.
Kittens usually benefit from living with another kitten of a similar age, so they have a playmate who is equally on board with the rough-and-tumble play kittens seem to love so much. Even if you already have an adult cat, bringing home two kittens can often be better than just one, as they are more likely to leave the older cat alone in favor of playing happily together.
What If Your Cats Don’t Get Along?
If you have already brought a new cat home and things aren’t working out, with one or both cats showing signs of stress living with the other, there are steps you can take to help.
FELIWAY® Optimum can help create a calm environment, and you can make changes to your home to support two separate territories with plenty of beds, litter trays and scratching posts.
If there’s still tension, call in professional help to cast an objective eye over your home and the cats’ relationship.
When Rehoming May Be the Kindest Option
If all else fails, as difficult as it would be, rehoming can be a kinder option than forcing two cats to live together that really don’t get along. This is understandably a very upsetting situation, as it’s almost impossible not to become attached to both cats. However, it’s important to keep each cat’s best interests at heart and decide based on what’s suitable for them individually.
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