Many female cats get along well together. After all, feral cat colonies are matriarchal societies where several female cats live together and occasionally tolerate the presence of adult males. Male cats, particularly unneutered animals, are more likely to become territorial than female kitties.
I am considering adopting a cat, but was told I should adopt two cats. Why?
Cats are family-oriented and usually live with their relatives. Within family groups, cats will share bedding, eat in the same areas, and groom each other. For this reason, cats often do well adopted in pairs.
However, there is a caveat to this statement. According to studies, adopting two kittens from the same litter increases the likelihood that a family will keep the cats in the house for the long term significantly more than adopting just one.
In contrast, the majority of adult cats do not get along well with other adult cats who are not in their family group. One adult cat may be the ideal addition to the family when adopting one.
If I already have a single cat, should I consider getting another cat to keep it company?
You should give it some thought before bringing another cat into your home if your current cat is an adult and has established himself as the only pet there. It should eventually be possible to bring a new cat into an established home, but a successful gradual introduction may require several days, weeks, or months. Certain adult cats will never allow another adult cat into their home, not even with extreme care.
All of this being said, whether a cat prefers to live alone in a home setting or to live with other cats depends ultimately on their personality and genetic predisposition toward or away from sociability with other cats. As such, the choice must be made on an individual basis. It could be feasible to incorporate a new cat into the home if your current cat gets along with other cats without showing signs of extreme fear or aggression. Getting another cat is probably not a good idea, though, if your cat is aggressive toward other cats and hisses, growls, or marks territory if it enters your yard or garden.
Remember that cat relationships typically occur between cat pairs. It’s possible that your cat won’t tolerate another cat just because he liked the first one. While some cats are inherently gregarious and easygoing, others are bashful and timid, and still others are highly assertive and energetic The degree to which two cats get along can be significantly impacted by those personality differences. Depending on the new cat’s personality, an outgoing cat might welcome most other cats, but a timid or shy cat might be hesitant to accept another cat. It can be challenging to introduce quieter, more timid cats to an assertive, energetic cat. Even though the new cat may initially cause issues for the existing housecat(s), in some households the new cat may be the most aggressive while the existing cat tries to start play. While looking for a new cat friend, it may be helpful to try to match personality types.
Female Cats: Final Thoughts
Female cats can and will get along, but there are a few key factors that need to be considered. Typically, kittens from the same litter or two from different litters get along if they are introduced at a young age. Spayed females usually get long better than two unspayed females. If two adult females are introduced appropriately and given the freedom to create their own hierarchy, they can coexist peacefully.
It also depends on how they’ve interacted with other cats in the past. The dynamic can alter if one cat is more submissive and the other more dominant. It is essential that each cat has a place of their own where they can go when necessary. You have a very good chance of having two female cats living together in harmony if you follow this advice and are patient.
FAQ
Can you have two female cats together?
How long does it take for two female cats to get along?
Will 2 female cats in heat fight?
Can two female cats become friends?