When considering the possibility of adopting another feline into your home, several key questions arise – as with any pet adoption. But here it is, the whole thing is also to know if the cat you already have (or vice versa, one sometimes wonders) will be able to share their personal space… Because ultimately, that is what it is act! And since you are the person best placed to know your cat and anticipate its reactions, it is up to you to bear the heavy responsibility of determining whether or not the arrival of a new cat will be a source of tension or happiness…
Take time to think about it
Adopting a cat – and any other animal – is an act that must be weighed, and which requires responsible reflection. Even if you have already adopted in the past. By definition, you already know what adopting a cat entails if you already own one. But this time, there is a new factor to take into account, and not the least: the ball of fur that already occupies your knees on a daily basis – or not, if sir / madam is independent.
Precisely, it is a question of carefully considering the character of your cat before making the choice to bring him a new companion or a new companion. First, ask yourself if your cat’s temperament is compatible with a newcomer. Is he pleasant with his congeners, or does it just tolerate them? Does it know how to be patient with kittens?
Does your cat suffer from loneliness?
Feelings of loneliness and anxiety can manifest themselves in various ways in cats, even if they sometimes try to hide them. Solitary animal par excellence, it does not prevent a lack of company from being felt. Of course, if you don’t want to adopt another cat, there are ways to relieve your cat of his loneliness.
That said, identifying the causes of this discomfort can help in your thinking. If your cat meows constantly, follows you everywhere, destroys everything that passes under its claws, becomes lethargic or changes some of its habits (food, sleep, toilet, etc.), this can reflect a feeling of loneliness. Therefore, the presence of another cat in your home will undoubtedly make them feel less alone.
How does he behave with other cats?
Is your cat aggressive or rather sociable? Does it defend its territory vigorously? Is it adept at scratching? It is clear that having a cat of an aggressive nature and quick to bare its fangs at the slightest annoyance is not a better omen. However, you can prepare the ground beforehand with daily exercises to try to make him more sociable.
If you still want to welcome a new companion, it is possible to do everything to put the odds in your favor and ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. Adopting a cat of the opposite sex or a kitten are actions that will minimize the risk of a bad relationship. And in any case, it is essential to prepare well for their meeting!
Present them step by step
When you organize the meeting between two cats, precaution and patience are essential virtues – all the more so when they are destined to live under the same roof. If you adopt a kitten, there is less to worry about since it poses no threat to your hairball already in place in the house.
First, plan to place them, their bowls and litter boxes in very distinct and separate places. Having their own privileged space will prevent them from feeling threatened or stressed in terms of sharing food resources and territory. You will be able to bring them to cohabit gradually, under your supervision at first!
Also, you can start by getting them used to the smell of the other, for example by using a cloth or a toy impregnated with the smell of the other feline. This will allow each of the cats to get used to the other even before having met them.
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