cat friends

Does Your Cat Want A Friend?

Are you thinking about bringing another cat into your home? Maybe the neighbor’s cat just had kittens or your local shelter made a convincing plea to find a home for one of their long-time residents. Maybe you think your current cat needs a friend or you want another snuggly lap warmer. Adding a new pet to your household is a big deal, so don’t take this decision lightly. There are some important things to consider before you take in a new housemate.

Does your adult cat want a friend?

First you’ll want to consider whether a new cat would be a welcome addition in the eyes of your resident cat, or a source of stress. We know that cats naturally live in social groups and need social interaction. Most cats will generally enjoy the company of another cat and they can form close bonds akin to friendship.

But – and this is a big “but” – social bonding between cats is complex and dependent on many factors. Not every cat pairing is going to work out. Imagine if someone chose a random human roommate for you. What are the chances that you would actually like living with that person? Similarly, your cat doesn’t get a say in what other cats you bring home. What are the chances that they will like each other?

Consider your cat’s history. Have they ever lived peacefully with other cats? If not, they might be one of the many cats that would prefer to be single pets. They will likely prefer to soak up their human family’s attention for their social needs.

If your cat has lived happily with other cats in the past, it might be more likely that they will accept a new friend. Try to match their ages and personalities for the best chance of success. (A kitten may terrorize your 13-year-old that just wants to snooze in the sunshine!) When introducing the two cats, be sure to expose them to each other slowly, one scent at a time, to help them get to know each other.

A word of caution if you are considering a new cat after your cat’s bonded friend passes away. Many close bonds are formed between kittens while growing up. If you have a long-time bonded pair that is broken up, don’t make the mistake of thinking that bond can be easily replaced. Your cat may not get along with a new cat or if they do, their relationship won’t be the same as the old pair.

If you already have multiple cats, do they get along? You definitely don’t want to add another cat into the mix if there are already problems between your current cats.

Yes, your kitten needs a friend.

If you have a kitten, you should definitely bring home another kitten. Kittens need other kittens for healthy development.

Single Kitten Syndrome is a cute term for a big problem that happens to kittens that grow up with no other cats in the home. When a kitten grows up alone, it can cause behavior issues such as destruction, aggression, neediness, and more. They don’t learn how to socialize with other cats and will likely be aggressive toward them if encountered later in life. They don’t learn bite inhibition and often enjoying playing with your hands or feet. That might be cute when they’re little, but isn’t so fun as they get older.

Kittens that grow up alongside a littermate tend to be healthier, happier, and better socialized. They learn how to interact with other cats and how to play properly. They also keep each other busy so they don’t climb your curtains or wake you up in the middle of the night. They also bond more easily when they’re young, so if you might want multiple cats in the future, two kittens have a better chance of getting along than trying to introduce two adult cats.

Do you have the resources for another cat?

You probably already know that cats are not low-maintenance pets. Before you add another one to your household, be sure that you have the resources to care for them. Remember all of the supplies you purchased for your first cat? You’re going to need more. Having ample litter boxes, food stations, cat trees, and resting areas are essential for multiple cats to coexist peacefully. Also think about the monetary investment for additional food and veterinary bills. 

Do you have the time to commit to another cat? For a proper introduction to your resident cat, you’ll need to be prepared to have the new cat separated for several days or several months, depending on how quickly the cats take to one another. That means you’ll have to set aside time for daily introduction sessions and separate play and snuggle times with you. Once the cats are happily living together, you’ll still need to reserve daily quality time with each cat.

So before you bring home that cute new furball, think about all of these factors to make sure it is the right choice for your household. If you and your current cat are not ready for a new housemate, hastily bringing home a new cat can cause more stress for everyone involved than it’s worth. Rescuing a cat in that situation may not be doing them any favors. A successful integration will take thoughtful planning and the right cat pairing to lead to a happy multi-cat home.

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