A lot of the information out there suggests that cats always need a friend or that introducing a second cat is a quick process. As many of my clients have discovered, this is not always the case. In fact, bringing home a new cat can be a lengthy process to get them acclimated. Casually deciding to get a second cat isn’t a great idea so here are a few questions to ask yourself before considering getting a second cat.
Why Do You Want Another Cat?
The most basic question to ask yourself, but probably the most important one, is the why question. Common reasons people will get a second cat include:
- Wanting one for themselves (nothing wrong with this!)
- Wanting their cat to not be lonely or bored
- Addressing behavior concerns
- Meeting a cat at a shelter, cat cafe, or somewhere else that needs a home and wanting to adopt that specific cat
I’m not including reasons like inheriting a cat or having a cat find you via the cat distribution system in this list as my focus for this post is on getting a cat in an intentional planned way. There are many reasons people plan to get a cat and decide on adopting a second one.
Can You Accomplish That Same Goal In Another Way?
For some of the reasons you may consider getting another cat, getting another cat really is the core desire. For others, it may be a solution to a problem (or a perceived problem) that you aren’t sure how to solve. It gets suggested a lot that if your cat has a behavior concern, you should get them another cat to keep them busy. I’ve even had clients who really don’t have time, space, or a desire for another cat that become very emotional during our session because they feel they don’t have another option.
Let me say it very directly: in most cases, there are other options besides getting a cat. Getting a second cat to solve a behavior issue is rarely the first or even the best option. It also isn’t a passive easy solution (more on that in a moment). In many cases, it’s a really bad idea. If you have a senior cat, for example, chances are they won’t love that wild kitten that won’t leave them alone. Sometimes it does work out, but it’s often not a great idea.
A frequent situation where getting a second cat gets suggested is when you have a really rambunctious cat that needs a lot of play. This sometimes is a good idea, but you can also try increasing play with your cat, adding in other forms of enrichment such as clicker training, or giving your cat more environmental outlets for their energy. Yes, that really tall amazing cat tree you’ve had your eye on may solve the problem. A second cat is far from the only solution!
Can You Try Doing Something Differently?
You may be thinking, “Yeah, random cat weirdo with a blog, I tried other things! They didn’t work. I have no choice but to get another cat.”
First off, it’s professional random cat weirdo with a blog to you.
Second, you may not have done the attempted solutions for long enough, gotten a cat product your cat doesn’t actually like, or tried methods that don’t actually work as well as people claim. Maybe the solution is doing something you already tried but doing it differently. Rather than getting a litter box your cat will hate, maybe you get a litter box that cats actually like.
Do You Have Time And Space To Introduce The New Cat?
Anyone who claims cat introductions are quick and easy either got very lucky; suggests using methods that are not very nice to the cats and may backfire on you; or doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Sometimes they are quick and the cats get along immediately, but you really need to be prepared for it to take a while.
Kittens do best adopted in pairs that already getting along, but you might be more likely to have a quicker introduction with kittens even if they aren’t adopted together. It doesn’t always happen quicker with kittens, though, so regardless of what age your current cat is, you need to be prepared for it to take a few weeks or even months to introduce the cats. There really isn’t a great way to introduce a new cat without keeping them separated for at least part of the time so you need to ensure you have space for a proper introduction.
Do You Have Enough Space To Meet The Needs Of The Additional Cat?
While some cats can get along in small spaces and you absolutely can create an environment in a small space that helps cats be happy, you need to consider the welfare of the cats involved depending on the size of where you live. Cats that are constantly stressed by not having enough space for the number of cats in your place aren’t living their best life. Is it really fair to the cats to force them to live like that?
There comes a point where one can just have too many cats to keep them all happy. That typically results in behavior concerns, though cats can sometimes be behaviorally suppressed and it isn’t always overt that they’re unhappy. It may not always be consistent so even intermittent behavior concerns may be a sign of stress in the cats.
Really think through if you actually have enough space for the new cat and be cautious of ignoring the wellbeing of the cats. They won’t necessarily figure it out how to make it work themselves.
What If The New Cat Doesn’t Work Out?
Speaking of things not working out, one uncomfortable topic to consider is what will you do if the new cat doesn’t work out? You’ll be emotionally invested in the new cat so it will be emotionally taxing on you and the cat to rehome them. In some cases, it may not work out and some cat pairings aren’t compatible even with a lot of work.
In this case, you have five options:
- Behavioral euthanasia (which… I do not typically recommend. Let’s be clear about that, but it is technically an option)
- Permanent separation where each cat gets their own separate space, but they still live in the same home
- Not doing anything and letting the cats fight constantly
- Rehoming one or some of the cats
- Attempting to reintroduce the cats and solve the underlying tension
The first and third option are my least favorite of these as behavioral euthanasia is usually not necessary in this case (your cat absolutely can live happily somewhere else) and letting the cats be constantly stressed/fighting is, despite claims to the contrary, absolutely not normal or a good thing for the cat. That means that really the only options that take into account the full needs of the cats are separating them, reintroducing them, and rehoming.
If you don’t have space for permanent separation or to reintroduce the cats where the cats are all comfortable and have all of their needs met, rehoming is the best choice. It’s not always the best choice, but it’s absolutely not abandoning the cat. In fact, it’s the responsible, kind thing to do. Are you prepared to make that challenging decision and keep the cat happy until you can help them find a new home? While you absolutely should go into adopting a cat with the intention that they are there for the rest of their life, sometimes that isn’t the best idea. You need to be prepared for that nuanced idea and if things are really not working out, you should be open to the possibility of letting them thrive somewhere else.
Does Your Resident Cat Actually Want Another Cat?
In many cases where cats have behavior concerns, people interpret the behavior as a sign of the cat wanting a friend. Cats are flexibly social meaning they don’t have to live in groups. They can absolutely form deep bonds with humans or other cats, but it’s not required for their wellbeing. We can’t ask them if that’s the case, but there may be another need that’s not being met. Your cat may be bored or need more outlets for normal cat behaviors, but not necessarily want another cat.
In fact, if you get the wrong other cat, it’s not only going to not solve the issue, but now you have fighting cats on your hands. A new cat that is significantly more energetic than your resident cat will just cause more stress.
Does Your Cat Like The Specific New Cat?
More importantly, cats that are up for adoption often get labeled as getting along with other cats. While that is an important piece fo information, it doesn’t mean they like all other cats. Do you like every person you’ve ever met? Probably not. Cats are the same way (and it’s quite honestly a bit weird that we expect them to like all other cats when we don’t like all other humans) so they may like many other cats, but not a specific cat that you bring home.
It’s really hard to predict if two cats will get along. You need to be prepared to find a cat that seems like a great fit for you, but not for your resident cat and keep searching for one that better matches them. That cute, snuggly kitten may be sweet to you, but will absolutely annoy the heck out of your resident cat. You need to make sure the new cat has a reasonable chance of getting along with your resident cat first and foremost.
Don’t Interpret Affection Toward Humans Wrong
In many cases, I hear people who get a second cat thinking they’ll be totally fine because they’re so sweet toward the humans in the home. That surely translates to other cats, right?
Unless you are a cat (in which case I am impressed at your ability to read and understand human language), that’s not as relevant as you’d think. Cats coming into another cat’s territory is very threatening as it may mean the new cat steals all their resources. They may like humans, but not other cats.
Here’s a great example that may make more sense: me. I clearly am very kind to cats.
This also applies to dogs, guinea pigs, birds, capybara… You get the drill. Basically, I like animals.
Unless you’re a centipede in which case you are getting smushed and/or vacuumed up. There’s a reason I always get vacuums with a hose on them.
I have yet to meet one that I’m like, “Oh yeah, we’re cool.” Cats may be fine with humans, dogs, or another species, but not like other cats. Hopefully your cat doesn’t vacuum up other cats though.
What Can You Do If You Can’t Decide If Getting A Second Cat Is A Good Idea?
Hopefully you’re slowing down to think about whether getitng another cat is a good idea before jumping right to it. There is a lot to think about! It can be overwhelming and people are very quick to advise getting a second cat will solve every issue. If you’re not sure, start by exploring the idea in more depth.
- Learn about managing multicat households, read about cat behavior from reliable sources, and gather more information
- Discuss it with a trusted friend
- Get professional advice from a cat behavior professional or your veterinarian
- Consider fostering first to see if it works out
- Try other solutions to the behavior concern to see if they help
There’s no rush to make the decision, but once you bring home that new cat it’s a big deal. You may decide it is the best choice, but if it’s not, don’t feel like you have to get a second cat. If you want one but decide it’s not a good idea, you can still meet that need for yourself in other ways. It requires thinking of a different solution, but you’ll be much happier in the end.
