Are Two Cats Better Than One?

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

There can be benefits to having two cats -- IF the two cats are well matched in personality and have enough space to live together comfortably.

The positives:

• A pair of cats provide each other with exercise
• Two cats provide each other with social interaction
• Cats can provide each other with mental stimulation
• Cats may groom each other's ears and coat
• Kittens or adolescents paired together can satisfy needs for play
• An adult female paired with a kitten or adolescent can teach the youngster better behavior

The negatives:

• Cats can take a very long time -- as much as a year -- to start getting along
• Adult cats need plenty of space -- adults with a history of living alone will need a space where the other cat cannot bother them
• Two or more cats will need multiple litterboxes, which means more litter to buy and more cleaning to do -- you should have one litterbox for each cat, plus one extra
• Timid cats may need to be fed separately from other cats
• A more aggressive personality may harass or stalk a more timid personality

Tips for helping your cats get along:

• Make sure each cat has a safe space to hide if they need to
• Make sure there are enough litterboxes
• Keep the cats in separate rooms and only let them interact at playtime and meal time -- the cats will begin to associate positive things like treats and toys with being together
• Rub tuna juice on each cat's head to encourage them to groom each other
• Be patient! It may take up to a year for them to work out their differences.
• Allow your cats to lead separate lives; don't force them to interact if they want to be apart
• Your aggressive cat may need a mild sedative to help her calm down

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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