Two cats in the house: will they get along together? Habituation and familiarity.

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.

Let's live peacefully

The range of emotions in cat relationships is very wide - from hatred to tenderness. But there are extremely rare cases when animals once and for all perceive each other with hostility, imbued with deep mutual hostility. Usually, the owner is quite capable of reconciling two pets on the same territory - he will need desire, patience and some knowledge of the nature of cats.

Why do cats fight?

Whether we like it or not, the cute furry creature did not lose the full set of instincts and reflexes of a predatory animal during domestication. Cats are self-centered owners, ready to protect their territory from the encroachments of strangers.

Cats are territorial animals, and each of them will not tolerate a competitor

When you try to move a newcomer into an apartment where an old-timer already lives, then at first there will definitely be, if not conflicts, then problems, the degree of which depends on the individual qualities of both animals:

gender and age;
psycho-emotional characteristics;
hormonal background.

If adult individuals are sterilized and, accordingly, their sexual instincts are dulled, then confrontation between them may not arise, but it will still take some time to adapt.

Sterilized animals behave much calmer

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.

What should you think about first?

Look, let’s take dogs as an example: they are in dire need of constant walking and communication. With cats everything is somewhat different, because they behave very independently. It is very rare that you can tell from your pet that he was toiling away from boredom while you were away at your favorite job. Carefully weigh all the pros and cons - after all, this will be a race for survival in your home every day. Plus, there is a double need for cleaning and feeding.

Please note that real hell will ensue if you fail to “make friends” between the cats. Constantly participating in cat conflicts and fights is very, very unpleasant. Scratched hands, floors, wallpaper, furniture are only part of the fun concert program. Focus on the behavior and temperament of your kitten No. 1: if he is peace-loving, affectionate and really gets bored alone, you can and should get a second cat. But if you are the “lucky” owner of a dragon that just didn’t breathe fire, it’s better not to.

And here’s another small feature of a cat’s character: if your cat is friendly, asks you for affection and tenderness, then it is likely that she will regard the appearance of a second pet as a threat. Do you want to watch the constant outbursts of jealousy and anger of your previously so cute cat? Then getting a second one is the best!

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.

Is it better to have two cats than one?

If you're thinking about getting a cat for the first time, you may have wondered whether it would be better to have two cats at once, or maybe you thought that cats are solitary animals that prefer to live on their own? In fact, cats, like their owners, prefer to live in the company of their own kind.

In purely practical terms, if you keep two cats that are on good terms with each other (all cats argue or fight from time to time), then they will be suitable company for each other when you are at work all day or go away for the weekend. Of course, this does not mean that they will sit together all day or even sleep in the same place, it means that they will not languish alone and will be able to play with each other if they stop by. Two cats will no longer be so demanding, and may not try to attract attention or meow loudly when they want something. But this also doesn't mean that they will be more dependent on each other than on you, they will most likely still sit next to you and expect you to fuss with them.

However, you should make your choice of cats that are right for you very carefully, as you don't want to end up with two unhappy cats who won't get along at all. As a rule, it is easiest to establish relationships between purebred cats or kittens, since you will have enough information about the breed you have chosen, including about their parents, and you will understand what behavior is typical for them. The situation is more complicated with non-pedigreed cats, since little is often known about them, including their pedigree. In general, of course, you can make friends with two ordinary cats, but it may take a little longer.

Different cat breeds have different characteristics and temperaments, and you will likely have success pairing two cats or kittens of the same or related breeds. For example, Siamese cats are known to not get along with the Rex and Sphynx breeds - they are all extroverts, but very different. The Siamese cat is suitable for proximity to such breeds as Oriental, Balinese, quiet Persian, and also British. Pedigree cats and kittens often live with breeders who have many cats in their household, and are therefore more socialized with other felines than many regular cats. However, despite this, an adult purebred cat may not get along quite well in its new house or apartment with its new feline companions; for such a cat, simply human society without other pets is more suitable.

Regardless of the breed of cat, it is always easier to integrate a kitten into a family than an adult cat. Most adult cats won't hurt a defenseless kitten, they will understand that a small kitten shouldn't be hurt, even if some will hiss and growl at the newbie for days. Cats are quite friendly creatures, and you'll probably find that within a day or a little longer they've made peace and are eating out of the same bowl together, and one day you'll even see a kitten curled up sleeping with the big cat. The ideal situation would be when you get two kittens from the same breeder, where they are already accustomed to each other.

If you get a cat and a cat at the same time, then do not forget to take care of sterilization. It is important to perform the operation as soon as the kittens are old enough and the veterinarian says they are old enough - even if they are brother and sister, they can still mate. It is very undesirable for a young cat to have her own kittens, and besides, you are not going to care for a whole litter of kittens?

If you are considering getting an older cat in addition to your old one, it will be much more difficult and will require a lot of time and patience on your part, especially if your old cat was your only pet for some time. Your old cat will not want to have contact with an “invader” who will disrupt her routine too much, or, worse, will intimidate her. If your cat has a faint-hearted character, it will be better to make friends with a kitten, but in the case of a self-confident cat, it is better for her to choose a calmer and quieter cat as a mate, who can accept the authority of the “main” cat who has lived with you for some time. A castrated cat will not be suitable for another cat of the same type, and it will be better if you get him a sterilized girlfriend who will not challenge his authority. It's also important to make sure that each cat has their own space and place to sleep, unless they become bosom buddies. In any case, making two adult cats friends always takes longer than kittens, but even if they are different breeds, it is almost always possible.

Keeping two cats will of course not be as cheap as keeping one, and you should be aware of the additional costs you will have to incur. These costs may include equipment, litter box litter, vaccinations and insurance, and you will also need two cat carriers. However, this amount will not be doubled and you will be able to enjoy two cats at once. Two cats tend to cause less damage to the house - if a cat gets bored, he or she may start scratching furniture or curtains, but with two cats that get along well, they will chase each other and won't start breaking or scratching anything in the house!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rules of reconciliation

The appearance of a new animal in the house causes aggression and stress in the old-timer. He will protect his bowl and sleeping place in every possible way. The main goal of the owners is to maintain the measured lifestyle of their first pet. The fact whether two cats will get along in one apartment or not will largely depend on this.

Animal psychologists believe that two pets can become best friends if they are brought into the house at the same time. But this happens infrequently, only if the owners move to a new home and at the same time take a new animal for company to their former pet. Or they get two cats at once. In other cases, adult individuals will have to be controlled until they rub against each other.

Animal psychologists give the following advice on how to reconcile cats:

1) First meeting - a newcomer cannot be carried home in your arms. It's better to do it in a carrier. First, the second animal must be placed in a separate room with the door closed. And in the room where the old-timer lives, put some of the newcomer’s things. This way he will quickly get used to the smell of his future tenant. After a day, you can proceed to the next step.

2) Accustoming - during the grinding of animals, you need to pay more attention to the first cat, especially if he is already old. Pick him up more, stroke him, talk affectionately. This way he will understand that he was not exchanged for another. You can’t give a new pet the old-timer’s cat accessories. The bowl, tray, bed, toys are saturated with the cat’s own smell, for her this means that no one claims her territory. Until the animals become friends, each pet should have its own things.

After a couple of days, the newcomer in the carrier can be brought into the common area, which the animals will now have to share (kitchen, corridor) and the first animal can be brought there. They will sniff through the mesh of the carrier, begin to growl, hiss, and try to hit each other with their paws. This is absolutely normal, no need to interfere.

If one or both pets are showing aggression, it is useful to temporarily separate the room where they are located with a net through which the cats can sniff each other, but they will not be able to fight. You can sew a couple of double-sided mats. After both pets have slept for a day on “their” side of the bedding, they are swapped and placed on the other side so that the neighbor will choose it. Once the animals communicate calmly through the net, it can be removed.

3) Preventing conflicts - usually within a few days (maximum 10) the animals get used to each other. During this time, there will be “local fights” in the form of hissing, rumbling, and paw strikes. This is fine. If, during conflicts, cats begin to bite strongly, beat their tails, press their ears (signs of aggression), or extend their claws, you need to spray them with water or cover them with a blanket. Such actions will stop feline feuds for a while.

4) Reconciliation - if cats eat from each other's bowls, do not disturb them. This is how they learn to trust, because sharing food is the main sign of a cat family. If, after a joint meal, the cats lay down on the same bedding, it means that they will get along together.

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.

Does a cat get bored when alone?

Often, owners feel guilty before their pet, who has to while away the days alone. Owners may be away from home for days at a time. At this time, the animal is left to its own devices and, as it seems to people, may suffer. It is difficult to answer unequivocally how true this is in reality.

However, some try to diversify the life of their pets and make it more interesting, so they buy companions for them . They believe that the two tailed creatures will not be bored together. At the same time, they often forget that they must certainly find a common language with each other.

In practice, it turns out that it can be difficult for two pets to exist together. This is due to the fact that a cat that has lived in a house for a certain amount of time considers its territory as its own. Consequently, she may treat her other relatives with suspicion and even hostility, considering them enemies.

A cat can greet a new family member quite aggressively. She can extend her claws, attack and injure another animal. Of course, this is far from the result that the owners expected. Nevertheless, the initial stage of acquaintance between two animals suggests this scenario. There is nothing unusual or scary here, but it is almost impossible to predict the behavior of cats in the future. They may well become friends, but they are also capable of long-term confrontation.

The owner should think carefully about whether such an experiment is worth undertaking. After all, he is not interested in the aggressive behavior of either his usual pet or a recently arrived one. The absence of a second animal in the house does not mean that the four-legged creature will experience suffering. The cat becomes attached to its territory and to its owners. If she is properly cared for and constantly feels loved, there is no cause for concern.

It is not recommended to have a second pet if living conditions do not allow . In other words, there is no need to bring another animal into a small apartment. The cats will be cramped, so conflicts between them are possible. A cat that has lived in an apartment or house for a long time will most likely not like the appearance of a neighbor. Much also depends on its character and relationship with its owner.

However, two cats of approximately the same age can get along very well and often remain best friends. They happily play with each other, having fun and delighting their owners.

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.

Acquaintance

Open the door and leave it open at all times. At first, the cats will communicate through sounds, each of them should have the opportunity to escape. Your cat may chase your new neighbor, don't worry about this - give them the opportunity to get to know each other on their own. Over time, their quarrels will turn into games. You can relieve the atmosphere by playing with them, throwing a ball, etc. For the first two weeks, you should not remove the kitten’s tray and bowl from the room in which it was originally located. Then place both trays at a sufficient distance from each other. Cats can drink from the same bowl, but food should be in different bowls. The bowls should also be kept at a considerable distance from each other. Adaptation can take place over several days or several weeks - it all depends on the nature of the animals. Treat them with patience!

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.

Are they fighting or grinding?

Don't confuse fighting with building a hierarchy. Accept that one of your cats will be alpha. The older member of the pack can growl at the younger one, hit him with his paw, demonstrate his superiority in every possible way, and this is not a conflict, but a form of communication.

Don't get involved in cat fights unless they are threatening. When a kitten appears in the house, the older cat accepts it almost immediately. You may not know this because the alpha will act very strict and distant. The kitten will pester the cat, bother her and eventually receive a well-deserved slap with her paw. In most cases, an older cat will not even use her claws because she needs a reason to use force.

If you see that there is going to be a fight, you can do the following:

Stomp or clap loudly - fear changes priorities.
Throwing a towel towards the cats is a sudden switch of attention.
Throw a blanket over both cats - when a cat suddenly finds itself in the dark, it instinctively presses itself to the floor.
Throwing water at cats is a distraction factor.

There is another method that owners do not use due to ignorance. Seeing that cats are going into conflict, freeze, stare at the aggressor and start hissing. Make sounds that are as close as possible to the hissing of your pets, usually a combination of “kh” and low “y” sounds, do not hesitate, growl and even scream like a cat.

What will you achieve? First, you will show who the main “cat” is in this house, and this is important. Secondly, even if the demonstration of your feline importance seems unconvincing to your pets, they will definitely be surprised by the screams. Take advantage of the surprise and stupor to isolate the new cat. This method should not be used on hybrid breeds, since the cat may become confused and attack you.