At a good friend’s dwelling, you watch as her two younger cats play like fiends, chasing one another, batting ping-pong balls, and having a grand time of it. Then, drained, they cool down collectively in a heap and fall asleep. In your method dwelling, you possibly can’t assist however assume: is my solo cat lacking out?
The brief reply is: it is determined by the cat. Some will take to a brand new feline companion pretty shortly and benefit from the camaraderie, whereas others will hate the intrusion and wage bloody warfare on the interloper. That’s the character of cats, a species that leans towards the stoic, the impartial, the self-sufficient. Cats are supremely territorial and infrequently detest to share house with different pets. And so they abhor change, which is what a brand new cat positively quantities to.
That stated, some cats are extra socially inclined than others. Shelter cats who’ve spent plenty of time with others earlier than being adopted will typically settle for a brand new feline into the house, as will naturally pleasant cats who don’t appear to thoughts who comes and goes. And kittens often have little drawback socializing with others, significantly different kittens (extra on that later).
The important thing query to ask earlier than continuing is: why are you contemplating a second cat? If it’s since you assume your cat could be happier with the corporate, perceive that you’re making use of a human perspective to the scenario. Although we would hate being alone ten hours every day, most cats do fairly nicely with it, and even favor it that method. However, if it’s merely since you need the additional firm or want to rescue a cat from the multitude going through euthanasia in an overcrowded shelter, that’s at the least a good and/or noble reply. And, in lots of circumstances, it’s one thing you may make work.
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Plan Properly
So, then, you desire a second cat, for you. Okay. Now the problem turns into: can or not it’s performed? The reply might be, although it would rely very a lot in your resident cat, on the brand new cat, on the out there house, and on how nicely you set your own home up beforehand. First, take inventory of your cat. Is she pleasant towards company? Has she interacted with different pets in a civil method? If that’s the case, the percentages are good {that a} new cat will ultimately be accepted by her. However, if she was as soon as a stray or a feral cat, has a historical past of preventing, or has lived for a very long time on her personal, then your job turns into tougher.
Does she conceal when company come, solely to resurface an hour after the final individual has gone? If that’s the case, the concept of getting a second cat turns into a riskier one. Now, look to your own home. Is it a one-room condo or a spacious home? Small areas make socializing two cats tougher, as a result of they covet territory and gained’t stand for fixed invasions into their house. In a big dwelling, even two cats hostile to one another can discover house to stay and to keep away from one another if want be. However in a small house, two indignant cats are more likely to brawl.
Kitten Energy
Cat lovers who need two cats do finest by getting two kittens, proper at first. Kittens who develop up aspect by aspect nearly at all times get alongside nicely and can amuse and train one another all through the day. Two littermates from a shelter are the perfect alternative right here.
When you have a younger cat at dwelling and desire a second, think about adopting one kitten of the other intercourse, as same-sex cats are rather more vulnerable to struggle one another for dominance. Your resident cat will nonetheless be younger sufficient to recall having enjoyable along with her littermates, and the brand new kitten can be very happy to oblige. Even when your resident cat is an grownup, deciding on a kitten of the other gender for the brand new pet is very advisable, as her youth and low stature will assure that few territorial disputes will happen. The older cat will learn her the riot act shortly, and set the tone for future relations.
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Adopting an Grownup Cat
Grownup cats have well-established personalities and gained’t change in a single day simply to accommodate a brand new competitor. In case your resident cat has a shy streak, you would possibly exacerbate the problem by bringing in quantity two. If the house cat is a considerably pushy, territorial character, the second cat would possibly find yourself strolling right into a buzz noticed of resistance. On this scenario, it might actually take a 12 months earlier than peace reigns once more.
If, nonetheless, your resident grownup cat has a historical past of social concord with different cats (or perhaps a canine), bringing in one other sociable grownup might work, offered you alternate gender (identical intercourse pets struggle extra), have a big sufficient dwelling, and introduce them in the fitting trend. In case you do add an grownup cat of the identical gender, count on some preliminary fireworks, after which a considerably longer time frame for the 2 to combine.
Territory
Cats revere territory. They patrol it, mark it, defend it, lord over it. On this, your home cat will not be a lot completely different than a lion. Carry a brand new pet or individual in, and even change the format of your own home, and your cat might act out in some ways, together with hiding, aggression, marking, destruction, or incessant vocalization. That’s why it’s essential to have sufficient house out there in case you’re going to usher in a brand new cat. For 2 cats, attempt to have a minimal of a 1000 sq. toes of house in your house, and extra if potential. A number of flooring and diverse open rooms will assist the cats set up their very own “sub-territories” throughout the dwelling, so open issues up as a lot as potential.
Breed
Sure cat breeds are usually extra sociable than others. These embrace the: Tonkinese, Sphynx, Burmese, Cornish & Devon Rex, Balinese, Siamese, and Havana Brown. These lively, playful cats will stand a greater likelihood of getting alongside than will extra shy cats, such because the Persian, American Wirehair, Scottish Fold, or Angora. And, although exceptions abound, short-haired pure bred or combined breed cats typically are usually friendlier than long-haired cats. Although the sociability issue of combined breed cats is tougher to foretell, merely watching to see if she interacts properly with different cats on the shelter will often be a very good indicator.
Illustration by Kim Smith
What’s Wanted?
Earlier than you go to your native shelter for that new cat, you’ll must take some precautions first, and in addition receive a couple of new gadgets. First, be sure you arrange a “new cat” room forward of time. Whether or not you select a kitten or an older cat, the beginner will at first have to be sequestered in a room of its personal, quickly separated from the resident cat. This “quarantine” will enable the cats to listen to and odor one another, however not truly greet in individual. This era ought to final at the least a couple of days.
Subsequent, buy some kind of screening or a number of child gates, which can be positioned within the doorway between the brand new cat room and the remainder of the home. As soon as the preliminary quarantine is over, you’ll open the door and change it with the see-through barrier, permitting all the things however precise contact.
You have to to buy a second litter field and scratching put up and separate meals and water dishes for the beginner. When you’re at it, purchase a couple of new cat toys. And in case you can afford it, get a carpeted, multi-tiered “kitty rental” to increase their territory and provides them locations to flee from the opposite if want be. Lastly, get a plant sprayer bottle to interrupt up the occasional struggle.
Gradual Going!
As soon as you discover that excellent new cat, you’ll be tempted to hurry issues, however it’s key you steadily introduce her into your resident cat’s world. Take your time. Carry the brand new cat into the house in a field (often offered by the shelter), and launch her into the “quarantine” room, which needs to be arrange properly with the litter field, dishes, toys, a mattress, and a scratching put up as this can be her dwelling for at the least a couple of days. The door at this level needs to be closed. Each cats will hear and odor one another with out having the ability to come nose to nose but.
After a couple of days, swap the cats for a couple of hours every day, giving the brand new cat an opportunity to discover and the resident cat the chance to research the “invader’s” scent. Have a good friend assist you with this fast swap. Look ahead to marking at the moment, even with a feminine. Do that switching for 2 or three days.
Seeing is Believing
Now, with the brand new cat again into the quarantine room, change the door with the see-through barrier. Odds are each cats will instantly go to the barrier and test one another out. If the brand new cat is a kitten, she’ll almost certainly be very curious and open to greeting, whereas the resident grownup cat will stay guarded or even perhaps hissy. That’s okay; simply be affected person. Go away this association in place for a couple of days and see what occurs.
Let the Video games Start
Now it’s time to allow them to work together in the principle space. They could sniff one another, run away, struggle, and even get alongside—it’s laborious to inform. If the brand new pet is a kitten, count on her to be open to interplay, together with your resident cat performing standoffish however not altogether aggressive. That is as a result of kitten’s age; she simply isn’t that massive of a menace. But when the brand new child is an grownup, be prepared with the sprayer bottle to interrupt up a struggle. You may even toss a cat toy at them to interrupt up the stress
If it appears to be working, allow them to determine it out. But when it’s too violent, revert again to retaining them in separate rooms for a couple of days with the barrier in place. It might take weeks earlier than they settle for one another, so be affected person!
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Détente
Ultimately, a state of resignation ought to take maintain in your resident cat’s thoughts. She’ll not be pleased to share her territory however, so long as there may be ample house and locations for the cats to retreat to, issues ought to ultimately work out.
At this stage, be sure you feed them individually to keep away from meals aggression. Steadily transfer their dishes nearer over time, till they will eat in the identical room. Monitor feeding time and look ahead to one cat stealing meals from the opposite. Omit toys and even perhaps two cardboard containers stuffed with newspaper and some treats to encourage exploration and to supply the cats with an alternative choice to direct battle. Like youngsters taught to get alongside by sports activities, distractions may also help your cats discover frequent floor.
Not like canine, who make associates pretty shortly, cats take some time to just accept new pets or folks into their sanctum. However in case you select the fitting new cat, keep affected person, and ease them into the brand new scenario, chances are high they’ll ultimately settle for one another, and finally be sleeping collectively in a furry little tangle.