Multi-Cat Households - The Pros and Cons

I want to get a cat but someone told me I should get two together – is this true?

Cats were once considered to be solitary creatures but we now know many cats are in fact sociable to a greater or lesser degree and thus may benefit from interaction with their own and other species. As a result of this knowledge there has been a move to promote ownership of more than one cat and in particular to encourage owners to take on two cats at the same time. This can be beneficial as the cats play together and provide each other with both physical and mental stimulation. However, it is important to have an understanding of feline society if you are to take on two cats successfully.

Some cats may in fact find the company of other cats stressful and therefore before you introduce a new cat to a household where another cat is already established it is advisable to seek the advice of an appropriately qualified behaviourist.

If I am going to have two kittens at the same time should I get them from the same litter?

Basically cats are family orientated creatures, are not very tolerant of outsiders and are less likely to cohabit harmoniously with a cat that they are not related to. For this reason the best combination of cats is actually littermates and if you are taking on kittens it is certainly better to consider taking on two from the same litter than taking on a solitary kitten. If you are not able to locate two littermates you can raise very young kittens as if they were from the same litter, provided that you take them on at a very early age, and preferably before they are seven weeks old. Taking on two slightly older kittens may work out, but the general rule is that the younger the kittens are brought together the more easily they will accept each other as part of their social group. However, there are still no guarantees of harmonious living.

If I already have a single cat should I consider getting another cat to keep it company?

If your cat is an adult and is established within your home as the only cat then you should think very carefully about introducing another feline. The majority of cats are naturally hostile to other felines, if they are not related to them, and there is certainly no guarantee that your cat will thank you for its new playmate. However, some cats are particularly sociable and do benefit enormously from feline company so the decision has to be made on a case by case basis. If your cat is often seen in the company of other cats outside then it may be possible to integrate a new cat into the household quite easily, but in cases where your cat shows hostility to other cats outside and hisses and spits when they enter his garden it may be better to think again!

If my cat was raised with its littermate from an early age but has now been left on its own, due to the death of its brother or sister, should I go and get another cat as a replacement companion?

The bond between feline littermates can be very strong and when one of a pair dies before the other it is not uncommon for the remaining individual to show signs of what is believed to be grief. These include behaviours such as vocalisation and searching for the missing sibling, as well as changes in basic behaviours such as feeding and seeking social interaction with owners. This grieving process is very variable in its duration but it is not uncommon for it to last for up to six months and while it is in progress it is generally not advisable to take on another cat. Indeed hostility toward another cat which is introduced during the process of grieving can be very intense and the likelihood of ultimate integration between the cats is very slim. Once the grieving process has passed and the cat has come to terms with the loss of its sibling it may be possible to integrate a new housemate but you need to realise that it is very unlikely that any bond will be established between your cat and the new cat will certainly not replace the brother or sister that he has lost.

I have decided to take on another cat but I would like to know whether my resident adult cat, who is a neutered male, would accept a kitten or another adult more easily?

Although it is generally accepted that related cats make the most compatible housemates there is a distinct lack of information about the relative compatibility of unrelated cats and therefore it is difficult to give guidance to people in your situation. One piece of research did show that adult cats are more likely to accept the introduction of a younger individual than one of the same age or older so it would probably be sensible to think about a kitten or a young adult for the new addition to your family. However, this does depend on the age of your resident cat as it is generally accepted that introduction of a young kitten into the household of an elderly resident feline is not a good idea due to the high level of play requirement from the newcomer. If you need to take on an adult cat then the same research suggested that an adult of the opposite sex was more likely to be accepted and that in cases of same sex pairs two males were slightly more likely to be compatible than two females. However you need to realise that the new cat will not be part of your resident cat’s social group and the aim is for them to live in mutual toleration rather than in friendship. It is therefore important to question your motivation for getting another cat and to avoid falling into the trap of getting one as company for the existing cat. If you are getting the cat for yourself then that is fine but remember that you are likely to end up with a household of one cat plus one cat rather than a household of two!

I have just taken on a second cat and I want to maximise the chance of successful integration – what should I do?

Cats are territorial animals and when you are introducing a second feline you need to remember that they need to establish their own space within the home. Key resources such as food, shelter and social interaction need to be available in sufficient amounts to ensure that there is no unnecessary conflict and it is sensible to space these resources around the home to minimise the need to share them directly. Increasing the amount of available space within the home can be achieved by making use of three dimensional features of the house and adding furniture, shelving and aerobic centres which allow the cats to make use of vertical as well as horizontal space. Further advice is contained in the handout entitled “introducing a new cat to the household”.

Is it cruel to keep a cat as a single pet?

Although cats can be sociable creatures they are ultimately solitary survivors and as a result they have no fundamental need for social company. This means that cats can live alone perfectly happily and provided that they have sufficient supply of safe territory, food, shelter and affection from their owners they will survive very well. This does not mean that they would not benefit from the presence of another cat, especially a littermate or other relative, but it does mean that cats who are used to living alone are not likely to be suffering as a result.