Raising Multiple Cats in One Household: Introducing a New Cat into Your Home

Getting two or more cats to live under the same roof peacefully is not always easy. I have two cats, one is two years old and the other is 7 months, male and female. After living together all this time they still have their spats but it is much better than it was 6 months ago. When raising multiple cats in a single household it is important to remember that it takes time. Although cats enjoy each others company they are still individuals who value their privacy and territory. Explore what it takes for multiple cats to live together without day to day scuffles and fights.

If you already have a cat in your home it is important to remember that it is his or her home first. If you plan on binging another cat in prepare ahead of time by setting up a spare room or bathroom with all the necessities that your new cat will need. This includes a litter box, somewhere soft and warm to sleep, food and water dishes, and last but not least some toys. The toys will help the new cat not feel entrapped or jailed and gives them something entertaining to do. When cats grow up together they are more likely to be able to get along from the get go so a spare room may not be necessary. But, as in most cases it seems you will be introducing a new cat into your household.

First you must know a cat that is socially isolated or been living alone for a year or more is likely to have problems adjusting. They are used to being "alpha cat" and not having to share anything, including you. Jealousy was one of the main problems that I had with my older cat. He would be angry with me for petting and kissing the new kitten in his sight. If you already have a cat and you are thinking of getting another one try to do it before the cat is solo for more than 8 months and you will find the process much easier.

When bringing home the new cat use the spare room or other space that you have already established. It is wise to keep the cats separated for a period of 1-2 weeks but it varies in each household. Do what you feel is right at the proper time. The first week the new cat spends in the room will mostly be spent sleeping and sniffing the other cat from under the door. Growling, crying, and hissing is a cats natural way of talking to each other and it is fine, from opposite sides of the door. Hissing with teeth showing should not be permitted at any time though.

After the first two weeks it is okay to let the cats interact face to face while supervising. Any bad behavior on either cat's part should not be tolerated. If fighting ensues break it up by separating the cats once again. Repeat as many times as necessary until peace is achieved. In some situations this can take a couple of weeks, to several months, or well over a year. Be prepared by knowing that each cat has a different personality and it's going to take time to adjust. It all depends on both cat's attitudes and the temperament of you and your home.

You should also let each cat explore each others space. Cats are by nature curious and you won't be able to hide anything from them. You may as well let them have a look around at least. It is okay if they urinate or defecate in each others litter boxes as well. If helps them get used to the smell of each other and prepares them for sharing a litter box. I don't recommend having more than two cats per litter box because it can get pretty messy. When my cats first started exploring each other they traded litter boxes daily until I combined them about a week later, and they share now without problems. It's funny, but when I change the litter they wait in line. The kitten goes first while my older cat waits, and then he takes his turn. They love to have a clean litter box and use it right away.

Gradually, with some time and patience your cats should get along just fine. But, this is not the case with all cats, or all animals for that matter. Like people some cats just do not get along well with others. If this is the case you will need to make sure they are separated while you are at work, out running errands, or away. Make sure both cats have access to food, water, and litter at all times. If one cat is constantly scared and hiding it is not helping the situation. When socializing the cats at first, it is best to use a room where there are no hiding spaces. We use the living room because the only place to hide is under the couch, but we roll up towels and put them around the edges so they can't hide underneath.

When it comes to meals, snacks, and water it is best to play it fair. Don't favor one cat over another. If one cat is bullying the other cat at the food bowl and eating up all the food you will have to separate them. Sometimes it requires serving meals in separate rooms or just giving them two separate dishes. My kitten actually would bully the older cat for food. She would eat hers as fast as possible and then shove him away from his dish so she could finish that food too! I had to separate them in different rooms at meal time for about a month and that seemed to cure the problem. Today, the cats share water and have separate food dishes.

If you just take the time to look at the situation from your pet's point of view you will find the process of socialization to be easier and faster. Young cats often do much better at assimilating new behaviors than older cats that have been solitary for most of their lives. Keep this in mind when introducing a new cat to your home. Remember to have patience, praise good behavior, and never tolerate aggression, violence, or fighting.