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.
Two cats (cats) in the house: developments
After a new four-legged guest appears in your home, the two pets will develop their own special relationship, which can begin as friendship, aggression, or even fear.
It is not always possible to predict the reaction of animals to each other, so the task of the owners is to create the most comfortable conditions for the animals to meet and live in the same territory.
Did you know? A cat rubs against a person not only because it wants to cuddle - it marks him. So you can consider yourself the property of your pet! And excessive love for these cute creatures is called ailurophilia.
Friendship
The most favorable development of the situation, except in the case where animals grow up together from a very young age, is the immediate sympathy that arises between them. This happens when a kitten appears in a house with an adult cat. And then the owners do not have to think about how to make friends between a cat and a kitten, since thanks to maternal instinct, a cat is extremely rarely aggressive towards the baby. On the contrary, she, as a rule, takes him under her wing.
But if a kitten is purchased for a home with an adult cat, then there is a chance that at first the old-timer will ignore the newcomer. But later, a warm and strong friendship can also begin between them.
Wrong actions
Mistakes that an owner may make when introducing cats:
- Give the animals the opportunity to get to know each other on their own, without interfering in the process. Sometimes owners think that the cat will be delighted to have a new friend in the apartment and will immediately start playing with him. Following this logic, owners simply bring a new cat into the house and immediately let it explore the territory. This tactic is fundamentally wrong and even dangerous: the sudden appearance of a competitor is extremely stressful. For a beginner, such an acquaintance will also be a big shock, because he does not know that the territory is already occupied. A fight may begin between the animals, and in the future - persistent hostility.
- Not preparing everything necessary for a new cat. It is naive to believe that a cat living in a house and considering itself the mistress will want to share its food bowl and toilet with a new pet. Also, each animal should have its own bed and toys.
Your own bed
- Allow the new pet what is prohibited to the old-timer. Sometimes the owner believes that it is more difficult for a newcomer in the current situation and allows him a lot. If a new cat does something that is forbidden to the first one, conflicts and protests cannot be avoided.
- Give less attention to a cat that has lived in the house longer. When a second cat appears in the house, the old-timer needs more attention and affection, as he must be sure that he is still loved. If the owner is more attentive to the new cat, jealousy will arise.
Aggression
Unfortunately, sometimes animals show real aggression towards each other. Cats may start jumping on each other, hitting each other with their paws, or chasing them around the room. If this happens, then there is no need to intervene, but simply observe, letting the animals find out whether two cats will get along in the same apartment and “who is the boss.” However, if the aggression has turned into a full-fledged fight, it is worth scattering the animals (without separating them with your hands!) and temporarily separating them into different rooms.
And then, after a pause of a couple of days, try to get acquainted again. This should be done until the cats get used to each other and become calmer when they see their relatives.
By the way, the most effective way to separate fighting cats is to pour water on them. If this does not work, then you can throw a thick blanket over them; the darkness should scare the animals. If this does not work, then try to pull them apart in different directions using any long stick, for example, a mop. Act firmly, but carefully so as not to injure the animals.
Most often, people at home prefer to have cats of such breeds as: Sphynx, Scottish Fold, Munchkin, Burmese, Persian, Siamese, British, Burmese, Ragdoll, American Curl, American and Masquerade.
Often the cause of aggressive behavior is the sexual instincts of cats. In this case, if it is impossible to reconcile them, the only option is sterilization.
How to organize your first meeting
There are several recommendations on how the first meeting of two cats should go, provided that one already lives in an apartment. Open all the doors to the rooms in advance so that the animals can run to different corners.
Procedure:
- bring the carrier with the second cat into the hallway and wait for the first cat to sniff it;
- open the door and wait until the animal comes out on its own, do not force it out;
- Observe the behavior of animals, with a willingness to intervene if necessary.
It is impossible to predict in advance how cats will behave. Perhaps the newcomer will immediately run into the nearest room and hide under the sofa as soon as the carrier opens. If this happens, do not get the animal. He needs time to settle in and reduce stress.
What the owner should not do:
- Do not push cats together; Animals will defend their boundaries, and aggression is inevitable. With such a beginning, it is more difficult to make friends with cats.
- Don't lock yourself in a room together; There is no point in hoping that they will become friends once they are in the same room. You will provoke aggression. The second cat has not adjusted to the new place, and the old-timer intends to defend his territory. Fights cannot be avoided.
- Don't lock yourself in different rooms Experts say this is the wrong approach. Both animals sense the smell and presence of each other, but do not see. Be sure to let the cats get to know each other first. Everything unknown scares them, as it can threaten them and friendships will not work out.
For the first time after meeting, keep both cats under supervision - yours or other family members. Leave your pets alone only after successful adaptation.
Fear
If cats do not react and do not contact each other, then there is a possibility that this is a manifestation of fear. They may become tense in each other's presence, hiss, run away, hide under furniture, lose their appetite, and even become aggressive.
This can happen for several reasons. Firstly, if the domestic cat has never communicated with its relatives before. Secondly, perhaps you were too hasty with the first acquaintance, tried to force the animals together, and this caused fear in them.
In any case, you must remember that your pet also has its own character and inclinations, and if it is timid in everyday life, then it is unlikely that it will be pleased with the appearance of a second four-legged family member. But this does not mean that such animals cannot be made friends. It just may take longer.
Important! You need to be prepared for the fact that two cats will never be reconciled with each other. And being in constant stress, they can begin to get seriously ill. Then there is only one way out: to find a good family for the newcomer.
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.
How to make neighbors friends
To make cats friends with each other, you first need to properly prepare the space by defining two separate areas where the animals will sleep, go to the toilet and eat. In addition, before introducing each other, both animals need to trim their claws and file sharp edges.
It is better to bring a beginner in a carrier and give him the opportunity to decide for himself when to get out of it. Do not force animals to communicate; let them first get used to the new situation.
Possible problems
When trying to make friends with cats, many owners encounter the following problems:
- Sexual conflicts. They occur between females in heat or two males. If the animals are breeding, they are temporarily isolated from each other. If cats do not take part in breeding, they are sterilized.
- Upholding your own interests. The reason for a fight can be food, toys, a house, or even a tray. To correct the situation and make friends with cats, they need to buy similar accessories and give them the same food.
- Fights between animals. If cats are clinging to each other, you can separate them by pouring water on them or covering them with a blanket. Then they need to be isolated for a while and try to get acquainted again a little later.
- If cats are injured during a fight, they are treated with an antiseptic. If necessary, victims are taken to a veterinarian.
You can make friends between cats by showing maximum patience and perseverance. But if after a while all attempts end in failure, then it is much more humane to find new owners for one of them.
When purchasing at the same time
If you buy two pets at the same time, then the question of how to make friends between two cats or male cats in the same apartment is practically not worth it, especially if they are still kittens. The animals find themselves in a new home for both of them, with unfamiliar things and smells, and the owners have a good opportunity to set the necessary rules of residence.
When buying a cat, you need to pay attention to choosing a pet house.
At the same time, try not to single out anyone and treat both pets gently and patiently. In addition, at this young age, kittens find a common language well and easily get used to their personalities.
Of course, if the animals are already quite old, then everything is unlikely to go smoothly, so in order for the cats to get used to each other as quickly as possible, you should:
- divide their territory into two halves with a metal mesh;
- swap animals twice a day so that they quickly get used to each other’s smells;
- place bowls with food and water near the mesh on both sides, and they should always be full;
- an aggressive cat must be stopped by splashing water on it or making a loud sound;
- a couple of days after the pets begin to be friendly towards each other, remove the net;
- observe the cats for two to three weeks: if everything is in order, then they can be left unattended.
Important! It would be great if, even before a new pet arrives in the house, it is possible to create a mixture of animal odors. To do this, you need to wipe two cats one by one with a dry terry towel, paying special attention to the cheeks, paws and genitals of the animals. And leave this towel in their shared home.
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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For different purchases
Often, already having an adult animal, owners decide to get another one. And then they must understand how two cats get along in an apartment. The most important rule: for an “old” animal, everything should be as unchanged as possible; the cat should not feel disadvantaged in any way due to the appearance of a second pet in the house.
To begin with, the resting place of an old-timer should be a complete taboo for a newcomer. In general, it is better to have a door between the animals’ resting areas that can be locked at night. At least at first.
Be sure to provide your new pet with a personal toilet. Once the animals become friends, you can use one tray.
The new pet should be fed from a separate bowl and preferably not in the same room where the old-timer usually eats. After a while, the bowls can be moved to one place and even moved close to each other. But at the same time, you should always give food to cats at the same time so that they do not have the desire to take food from each other.
At first, you should not leave the animals alone; let them be under the constant supervision of someone at home. And only when you are sure that the adaptation was successful, you can leave them unattended.
Useful tips and nuances
Here are some tips to help make friends with animals:
- At first, do not let the new cat use the “old” cat’s things. For each animal you need to allocate its own area and its own personal items (toilet, bowl, toys, bed). Ideally, each cat should have its own room.
- When the animals get used to each other, you can gradually put things of the other animal on each one, swap their bedding, or comb them with the same brush.
- Set up a sleeping area for the new animal as far as possible from the sleeping area for the old-timer cat. at the greatest possible distance from the old-timer’s resting place. The same goes for food space and litter tray space. At first, you shouldn’t put them next to each other. Feed the animals at the same time, but in different places.
- Involve both cats in playing together.
- Treat both cats equally, do not give reasons for jealousy, pet them as often as possible. It is acceptable to pay a little more attention to the older cat at first, since he usually experiences more stress.
Despite the fact that cats are very capricious and do not like competition, in most cases two animals can be friends or at least peacefully coexist in the same territory. Much depends on the breed, sex and age of the animals. The easiest way is to make friends between two individuals of different sexes at a young age. In any case, the owner needs to be vigilant, monitor the behavior of the animals in the first days after meeting them and provide them with the most comfortable conditions.
Prohibited actions
What is prohibited to do if two animals live in the same apartment at once - a cat and a female cat:
- to get acquainted, lock them in one room or forcefully bring them nose to nose;
- take them to different places, not allowing them to get to know each other at all;
- from the first day, arrange a common toilet, sleeping area and food bowls;
- give food alternately, while being in the same room;
- allow the “new” tenant to use the things of the “old”;
- leave them alone until cats get used to each other;
- give one of your pets more love, affection and attention.
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.
Two cats (cats) in the house: pros and cons
So, there are now two cats living in your house. What are the pros and cons of such a situation? First, let's talk about the disadvantages:
- if your pets remain full-fledged cats, then during the mating season you will be threatened with “fights” of local significance, in addition, the animals will actively mark their territory;
- The consumption of cat food and litter doubles.
Did you know? In the second half of the 19th century, English scientists, after conducting a series of experiments, proved that feline therapy - therapy with the help of a domestic cat - is not a fantasy, but a proven fact. A cat provides significant assistance for diseases of the nerves, heart, and will even help cure a cold.
And the positive points:
- despite prejudices, cats are emotional animals, and having a friend or girlfriend will make their life much more active and fun;
- your home will receive twice as much fluffy happiness!
If you are mentally and financially ready to have another pet in your home, then do not be afraid of possible problems. Your patience, consistency and perseverance will certainly yield results, and the animals will become friends. And after a while, they will give you many funny and warm stories together.
