Is it better to adopt littermates?
It is preferred that if you’re going to get two cats, you might as well get them from the same litter. Cats are huge on valuing kin, so the brotherly or sisterly love will be swell for your duo. This could possibly be the easiest transition. But, just as humans sometimes choose their own family, cats do the same. They love you, right? Littermates are ideal, but do not stray from the idea of getting your cat a partner in crime when they get a little bit older.
How old is your cat?
This is something to take into consideration. It is much easier to get a second cat when your first cat is still pretty young. Fun fact on Felinology from the Ologies podcast: Kittens become most familiar with people, places and things during their socialization window, which is in their first 2 to 7 weeks of being alive. If your cat is older and wiser, they probably don’t need (or particularly want) a youngster whipping at their tails and begging for attention. However, if you find a young cat that has a modest temperament, then your older cat might not mind the relaxing company. Age, personality and temperament work as a trifecta in decoding how your cat is going to behave around others. However, opposites do attract – even with cats. If you have a cat that is more rambunctious, they might need a partner who mellows them out.
Do you have the resources to provide for your fur babies?
Simply, there has to be enough to go around. The last thing you want is your cats to be reenacting a “you can’t sit with us” situation. Having enough litterboxes, food bowls and personal space to make your cats feel in control of their own space will help them transition into coexistence. If you don’t have the space or the funds to make sure your cats feel catered to individually, you might want to consider holding out on becoming a cat parent of two.
Would you be willing to separate your felines when the fighting becomes too much?
At the end of the day, if you notice that your cats just aren’t getting along and are constantly starting cat fights like Alexis and Krystle Carrington in Dynasty, you might have to separate the two by finding one of them another home. If you’re not willing to say farewell or be comfortable with making that decision, you might want to hold off on getting a second cat.
If you decide that you are ready to bring in another feline, remember to be smart about it. When you bring your second cat home for the first time, don’t be surprised to see that they are greeted with the tunes of hisses and scowls rather than a Hallmark card. Consider this a welcome greeting of sorts. As cats are territorial, they want to assert their dominance for as long as they can before they decide: hey, this schmuck isn’t so bad after all. Eventually, your cats will be best friends. Then you’re going to wonder, should I get a third cat?
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