Reasons why it is better to have two cats than one

Many people have a strong opinion that cats love solitude. Despite the fact that they hunt, they are not alien to friendly communication. Cats are not loners and are not at all opposed to having their own company. Animals that don't initially know each other often become best friends. Cats are happy with each other's company when they are in the same room. Here are three reasons why it is better to have two animals than one.

Kittens learn life lessons together

Little kittens are energetic and active creatures. Many objects in the house become targets for them to hit or play with. Owners will not be able to constantly entertain kittens. There is a right solution - to have two animals. Kittens constantly entertain each other and never get bored.

In doing so, they learn valuable life lessons while playing together. Together they learn social and hunting skills. Playing two cats at the same time strengthens muscles and helps develop coordination.

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How to introduce a cat to a kitten. Let's organize the first acquaintance of cats

Here are the basic recommendations for the first meeting:

On the eve of meeting, it is advisable to cut and file the cats’ claws so that they do not injure each other.
Open all doors so cats can leave the room freely.
If the first cat already lives in the apartment, put the second animal in a carrier and leave it in the hallway so that the “owner” of the room can sniff it. Only then open the door. Do not remove the animal by force.
Observe the reaction and do not intervene unless necessary.
Do not bring cats face to face or lock them in the same room. However, you shouldn’t immediately lock them in different rooms either.

Will cats be able to get along with each other?

When taking on the responsibility of caring for two or more animals, owners need to know the following:

It is best to take cats from the same litter. As a result, such animals will be able to get along well with each other. They will be comfortable being in each other's company because they are familiar. Such cats usually live in the house without any quarrels or disagreements.
It is better to adopt cat friends than to bring together unfamiliar animals. The advantage of the first option is that they move to a new home without any worries. Cat friends should not be separated from each other. They will be sad and bored. The owners will be sad to see such animals.
It is necessary to gradually introduce the cats to each other. As a rule, small kittens find it easier to get along than adult animals. Due to the fact that they are responsible for their territory, it will be difficult for them to accept a stranger into their home. Owners should keep cats that do not know each other separately. It is best to introduce them gradually. Initially, many cats ignore each other. In order to achieve normal relations and not cause stress in animals, it will take more than one month.
It is best to adopt cats of the same age and activity level. Typically, animals that have the same energy level and age get along the easiest. Bringing a young kitten into your home can cause problems if there is already an adult living in the home. A young animal wants to be constantly played with. While an adult cat sleeps on the window most of the day. Therefore, in such a situation, animals may not be suitable for each other. Owners should consider this situation in advance to avoid injuring their cats.
Some cats don't like other cats. Sometimes the option of having two or more animals in the house does not work out. Some cats prefer to live alone. This is due to the fact that they were left to their own devices throughout their adult lives. Therefore, they do not want to share their personal territory and will not do it. In their family, such animals act as king or queen, so they do not want to share their loved ones with other cats. Such an acquaintance can end badly for everyone. Sometimes this causes stress not only for the animals, but also for their owners. True, this situation occurs very rarely, but it must be taken into account in advance.

Usually cats get along well with each other over time, so no problems arise in their relationship. Especially if they are the same age.

Reconcile or make friends?

How to make friends between a cat and a male cat living in the same area? And is friendship even possible between them? Certainly! It is believed that sterilized cats and female cats get along best with each other, since they do not guard the boundaries of the territory so fiercely. There is also a high chance of success for a couple consisting of a cat and a small kitten. Often in cats, if they have not been sterilized, their maternal instinct awakens and they take care of the kitten.

However, there are exceptions to all rules. Relationships between cats may not work out. But the situation can be improved. Before reconciling two cats, you need to isolate them from each other for a while, and then reintroduce them, following all the advice of experienced owners.

Grew up together

The question of how to make friends between two cats in one apartment can be answered unequivocally: get two kittens at the same time. It is best to take kittens from the same litter. At the same time, the fact that cats grew up side by side does not guarantee the complete absence of periodic conflicts between them. But, most likely, in this case it will be possible to avoid many difficult moments.

When kittens grow up together, they often share a sleeping area and even a toilet. They play a lot together. Many owners of cats that grew up together note that their pets behave better in the company of a partner.

Friends since childhood

The fact is that when a cat is alone and gets bored, it can come up with entertainment for itself, the consequences of which the owner does not always like. When there are two animals, they are busy playing together and are less likely to spoil things.

It has also been noted that cats that grew up together are not very picky about food. What one eats, the other will most often eat.

In this case, cats usually do not compete with each other for territory, but there are exceptions. In any case, the struggle is not as fierce as if a newcomer came into the territory of one cat.

Animals in a pair are socialized, and this is worth paying attention to for those people who want to have several cats. If you add another kitten or even an adult cat to the pets that grew up together, they will accept this more easily than the pet that was the sole owner of the territory.

How to hook a newbie

The situation in which another pet is added to the territory sometimes causes much more difficulties. Wrong actions of the owner can lead to mutual hostility between cats. Therefore, it is better to immediately carefully prepare for the meeting of the newcomer and organize the acquaintance so that it does not become too stressful for the pets.

For a new pet you need to purchase your own:

bowls for food and water;
litter tray;
scratching post;
toys.

You also need to organize a sleeping place for the newcomer. It should be located far from the place where the old-timer usually sleeps. The most ideal option is to isolate the new cat for the first time in a separate room with everything necessary.

If the newcomer is in an isolated room, the owner of the territory will still know that he is not alone in the house, smell and hear the second cat. But he will experience much less stress than if a new cat immediately encroached on his entire territory. In addition, this way the owner gives the cats time to get used to new circumstances.

Exploring a new family member

The next step to reconciling two cats in the same apartment is to become familiar with each other's smells. You need to take two soft cloths (you can use two clean socks). Use one of the cloths to stroke the newcomer, paying special attention to the area of the cheeks, chin, and nose. Use a second cloth to stroke the old-timer in the same way. Then place the new cat’s cloth on the old-timer’s territory, and vice versa. Cats will be able to calmly sniff the source of the smell.

Attention! Often the cat growls or hisses at the source of the competitor's scent. In this case, you need to take your time and give enough time. When a cat begins to calmly react to the presence of someone else's scent, it needs to be rewarded with a treat. Getting used to it may take several days. In this case, the scented cloths should be renewed.

Once each other's scents have been learned, you can give the new pet the opportunity to explore the territory. To do this, the old-timer needs to be locked in a separate room, and the newcomer needs to be released. After he sniffs everything and examines the situation, he should be locked again in the room allocated for him.

The next day you can exchange rooms between your favorites. This way, cats explore each other’s territory and learn smells even better.

If the pets are calm after mutual exploration of the territory, you can show them each other. The meeting must be backed up with pleasant impressions. It is ideal to start getting acquainted with joint feedings. In this case, the bowls should be located at a considerable distance from each other. Each cat should have the same food in the same quantity.

Acquaintance

You can gradually increase the time the cats spend with each other. The owner must be extremely attentive: at the slightest manifestation of dissatisfaction or irritation, the newcomer must be isolated for the time being.

Attention! In order to make friends with cats, the owner can play with two of them at the same time. At the same time, each cat should have its own toys. The pet enjoys the game and at the same time, using peripheral vision, watches the other cat. This technique can lead to the consolidation of pleasant associations with the appearance of this cat.

Getting to know the cats can take a significant amount of time. But, getting to know each other gradually, the pets will most likely find a common language.

Place where cats go to the toilet

A new cat will need a new litter box. If there is no one and the cats use one, conflicts and even fights may arise. It is unlikely that they will be able to make friends under such conditions.

There are other cases: the old cat does not drive the new one away, but she herself stops going to this litter box, starting to dirty the corners of the apartment.

To avoid creating such situations, it is better to put two trays, and when the cats become friends, you can remove one of them.

Advice: to help a new cat figure out which litter box is for him, do not change the litter in the old cat for a while. This way he will be able to identify someone else’s place by smell and choose another one.

How to make friends with cats of different ages

It is easier for animals to make friends at the same age, and the sooner this happens, the better. In a situation where a younger animal is brought into the apartment of an older friend, most likely the second one will growl and show that he is in charge here. It’s good if the second cat avoids the conflict, but worse if it also growls in response. Here a lot depends on the gender of both animals.

Cat and kitten

An adult male almost never accepts a new kitten in a friendly manner. But if we are talking about a very small animal, he usually does not start a serious fight: at most he will hit him with his paw. The exception is if the baby himself shows aggression.

When a kitten reaches 3 months of age, it is possible that the older cat may strangle it. Therefore, you should not leave them alone until you are sure that the animals have become friends.

In this case, it is better if the older animal is neutered.

Cat and kitten

Typically, an adult cat will show displeasure (arching its back and hissing), but rarely show overt aggression. Over time, her maternal instinct will turn on, and this will help the animals get along. Neutered cats hiss especially often and do not allow the kitten to approach them - don’t be alarmed, this is normal. Over time, the animals will get used to it and start playing together.

Preparation

To increase the chances of feline friendship, experts advise a newcomer not to use the things of an old-timer. Along with the second cat, a separate set should appear in the house - food bowls, a tray, a basket or a bed. Designate a separate area for each pet, following these guidelines:

A place to sleep This is the most important area for a cat. This is a place where the animal relaxes and feels safe, including during sleep. At first, the new cat should sleep at the greatest possible distance from the old-timer’s resting place. Close the doors in these rooms at night - let the animals relax as much as possible without fear at night.
Place for eating It is important for a cat to sleep and eat peacefully. Your first pet will not tolerate a newcomer approaching and interfering with his food. Dissatisfaction is often expressed by growling. Feed the newbie from his own bowls and elsewhere, but give the food at the same time. When the animals get used to each other, place the bowls nearby.
Tray: Both pets should not be allowed to use the same litter tray. If a newcomer decides to use the toilet of an old-timer, the latter will probably refuse to use it.

Before the first meeting of two cats, trim and file both their claws - in the event of a fight, the animals are less likely to be injured.