Most cat owners who already have a cat think that getting a second cat will be overwhelming. But that’s not true at all.
Given the cat’s independent nature and adaptability, things will go smoothly, if you follow these guidelines:
1. Cats Are Territorial, But They’re Willing to Share
Adult cats are territorial and don’t appreciate intruders, especially other cats, but they quickly learn to share, as long as boundaries are well set.
Bringing another feline into your household requires patience. At first, your cat won’t like it, but a few days together, to solve the turf separation will do magic.
Each cat will get to know which is their territory and will be able to share and trespass the other cat’s turf without problems.
Cats know how to solve their problems. The felines that tend to be aggressive toward other cats will eventually adapt because they become tolerant and avoid conflicts.
For example, if two cats in the same house hate each other, they will stay away from one another, rather than get into fights.
At some point in my life, for about two years, I had 6 cats that hated each other. The only time of day you’d see them hanging around was mealtime. Yes, you could sometimes hear them growling at each other when their paths crossed, but that happened rarely and only if I didn’t spend enough time with them.
Adapting an adult cat with a new cat is a gradual process and will require time and patience.
2. You Take Frequent Trips
If you take frequent trips and spend nights away from home, another cat may be a great aid for you. You can leave your cats home alone without worrying, for up to three days, thanks to their independence and territoriality.
Considering the latter (cats being territorial), this makes them less suitable for traveling because they tend to stress out. But even so, they can develop separation anxiety. Your cat will do better with a playmate. Even though it may dislike having another cat around at first, in the end, two is better than one.
3. To Prevent Obesity Of Your Cat
Playing on your own isn’t fun at all. Imagine your whole childhood or even adulthood, without any social behavior. But, how about if two cats play together? They will appreciate it and they’ll want to chase each other around or even play with the same toy.
It stimulates them to sleep less and exercise more. Some cats simply eat out of boredom. Having another cat fella’ around will mitigate this aspect.
My cats like to imitate one another. For example, if one of them goes into the bathroom to drink water, the other two will follow shortly.
I have two kittens and a senior cat that used to sleep almost the entire day. Since I’ve got these two small fellas, she is more playful and sociable. They’re happy and content doing stuff together, although sometimes, they love being on their own.
4. To Mitigate Behavior Changes
Any change in your cat’s environment, such as moving into another house, a newborn, or if you aren’t around the house as much as you used to can give your furry friend unpleasant behavioral issues.
Many house cats start destroying furniture, curtains, or other household items out of boredom or because they are depressed or anxious.
Research has shown that having more than one cat can aid with these behavior problems. Instead of taking it out on your couch, your cat will be tempted to follow the other feline around the house, observing it and playing around, keeping busy in the end.
5. Overall Kitty Welfare
Purring company equals mental stimulation and welfare. One of the domestic cat’s distant relatives are lions and they thrive living in packs.
Feral cats tend to do the same, depending on the available food sources from the area they reside in. They establish a hierarchy and social order they follow, to thrive and survive. The same principle applies to domestic cats.
In a household with two or more cats, you may notice there’s the Alpha cat, who tries to dominate the other felines. These may or may not follow it.
The cat hierarchy isn’t as well defined as with other animals, such as wolves or other pack-living animals. Some cats will get along better with each other than with other cats. They’ll learn from each other and mimic gestures if this helps them in any way.
The mental stimulation provided by the company of another feline keeps the cat alert and in shape and is beneficial for its overall health.
For example, one of my cats opens the doors by jumping on the door knobs to steal food from the pantry. My other two cats follow it closely, for the perfect midnight snack.
