For cats that are left on their own for long periods each day, it is a good idea to consider providing another cat for company. Sociable interaction with another cat can greatly enrich their daily lives. The younger they are when introduced, the greater the chances of their getting on amicably most of the time.
Pairs are Happier
Despite their independent natures, cats are social creatures that need companionship to thrive. Left alone, a cat can develop behavioral problems, and in some cases, even show signs of depression. Cats in bonded pairs, on the other hand, are more likely to be better adjusted.
Cats are naturally solitary animals and are often happy without the company of their own species. They are territorial animals who don't like conflict with other cats. Introducing a new cat to an existing cat in the household takes time and patience – but don't worry, we have advice for this!
Staying Occupied. But one of the best reasons that two cats are better than one is that your cat will stay occupied—they'll be less bored and less destructive if they have a friend to keep them company, to play with, and to bond with. This is especially true for young cats.
According to Katenna Jones, an Associated Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and owner of Jones Animal Behavior, some cats can be very social and get lonely easily, while others may be more solitary and prefer to be alone.
It can be a long and sensitive process of acclimating each cat to the other—and you should get another cat only if you're prepared to do the work. “Any time you're introducing any pet into a household, you have to be patient and know that there will be a period needed for adjustments,” says Brian C.
A single cat can still be happy, healthy, and well-adjusted. Just make sure to set aside quality time for human companionship, and keep his environment entertaining and interesting.
Most feline behaviorists agree that cats generally lead healthier, happier lives if there is another feline in the household. Even if the cats never become bosom buddies, just sharing the house with another living creature while you are away helps to break the monotony and loneliness.
Fortunately, neutered and spayed cats are much more likely to get on well together than intact adult cats. Generally, female cats tend to be more accepting of new cats into their home. They are more likely to accept another female cat than a male cat.
The ideal number of litter boxes for a multi-cat household is one for each cat and an extra box more for security, however, if you cannot afford this or if your cats are trained to use one litter box, it is okay to use the regular one, but it is still best recommended to use the self-cleaning or automatic litter box as ...
Two Can Be Better Than one
Cats can get territorial if they don't have enough individual space, so if your home or apartment is small or cluttered, two might not be the best choice. To avoid potential conflict between pets, try to adopt young cats at the same time.
Raising two cats together can turn out to be a challenge the complexity of which can fluctuate on a case-by-case basis. The decision to raise two cat means double the responsibility and the patience on most of the occasions, however, if you love cats, then it's twice the cuteness and fun.
In fact, by having two, a lot of the 'effort' involved with caring for a kitten in terms of play and affection and training is helped by the other! It doesn't take much more time either, as you can feed them both at the same time and take them to the vets together and so forth.
Don't worry too much about the gender of the cats involved. Age and temperament are the most important factors.
Follow this simple rule: one box per cat, plus one extra. So if you have two cats, you should have three boxes. Making sure everyone has their space can help ease elimination issues. Some owners prefer a hooded box, but some cats don't like them.
Given time, many cats will accept a new kitten. When you think your older cat is comfortable around your kitten, you can start to let your kitten have more freedom, under supervision.
Cats will sleep together, share common feeding areas, and groom one another within family groups. For this reason, cats often do well adopted in pairs.
You just have to be calm, encourage the cats to play and eat together, separate them if there's aggression, and BE PATIENT. The cats will need to first get used to each other, and then establish their social order in the household. But they usually DO work it out.
Putting two adult female cats together can be risky. But again, it totally depends on the cats. Every animal is different. If you have an adult female cat and are looking to adopt another female, a kitten or a youngster is your safest bet.
If you've been questioning your number of cats, rest assured that there's no single number considered too many. If you're looking for a specific number, though, Cassiday feels having three or four cats is the sweet spot and what most people can reasonably care for.
This independence could be tied their wild ancestors, who were solitary animals. However, domesticated cats have evolved to crave companionship, often forming strong bonds with humans and sometimes even other pets. So, do cats get lonely? Because of the attachments they form, the answer is yes; cats can feel lonely!
You should expect the introduction process to take no less than a week but could take much longer depending on your cats' temperaments.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
They are more mentally stimulated
Having two cats in the house (provided they are a good match) can help because they mentally stimulate one another. They will invent games, chirp, chatter with one another, and keep themselves challenged when you are not around to play with them yourself.