Do Cats Get Lonely for Other Cats, Or are They Fine by Themselves?
Posted by Andrea on 28th Feb 2021
Many people think that cats are best left to themselves like their solitary hunter image suggests. Well, the truth is that each cat is his own unique little being and each has his own unique personality to match. Depending on the cat’s situation, age, and character type, he may or may not get lonely for other cats.
Since the cat authorities and scientists are always examining such topics, let’s see what they have to say in this instance. First, it is important to know that in spite of their reputation to the contrary, cats are actually sociable creatures--even though they prefer to hunt and eat as solitary predators. These instincts predate our domestic cats and goes back to their days in the jungle when hunting was necessary for their very survival.
If your house cat likes to eat alone, this comes from her background in the wild. But when they are not eating, they often want to socialize with other cats. Though some cats are not interested in sharing their territory, there are just as many cats, usually in multi-cat households, who befriend each other. You can take note of the feral cats who generally live in colonies. They raise their young together and display complex social and cooperative behaviors.
Though cats can survive just fine as solo creatures, their territoriality does not arise until the become adults. As kittens, they bond with their litter mates who quickly become their playmates. This is the time they learn social skills. They interact and play together to learn. Even if you adopt kittens from different litters, they will usually become fast friends at this young age. As with any other species, some are more prone to socializing than others who maintain a shy, cautious demeanor. This can happen when a kitten is separated from her littermates at too young of an age.
Introducing a Second Cat: Having been brought up with others is not always the recipe for success when trying to introduce a second cat into the home. Even if your cat is clingy with her humans, that doesn’t necessarily indicate she will do well with another cat. It helps to know the history of each cat to predict if they might thrive together. Cats that are generally playful, have been socialized with other cats, and do not show much fear or anxiety seem to have the best chance of adapting to others. When choosing a second cat, you are best to choose one close in age and temperament to the primary cat. This way, they will be at similar life stages and energy levels.
When you first bring home a new cat, it is best to keep her separated from the primary cat. Before they meet face-to-face, they will grow curious about each other as they become accustomed to the new sounds and smells in the house. It will also give them time to get over any initial stress response. Provide each with their own food dish and litter area. When you finally feel confident enough that the introduction will go well, make sure you have plenty of treats on hand to ease any social distancing that could arise! Hopefully, you will see that once the cats form bonds with each other, they will become extremely close. If you introduce them properly, they will be friends for life.
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