I frequently get questions from readers who are seeking to add a new cat to their family. how do I find a cat that will be a good match for my cat? must I get a cat who’s the same age as my citizen cat, or must I get a kitten? male or female? will the citizen cat accept the newcomer? I wish I could give definitive answers to all of these questions, but the reality is that while you can do some homework, ultimately, each cat’s special history and personality will figure out the outcome. and these questions are even harder to answer when it pertains to deciding whether to get a companion for a senior cat.
Are you projecting your own feelings onto your cat?
A frequent scenario I’m asked about is this: a senior cat recently lost his or her companion. The remaining cat appears to be grieving. No two cats react the same way to the loss of a companion, but there’s no doubt in my mind that cats grieve. and while cats may not show despair the same way as humans do, a 1996 ASPCA study fund that 46% of cats ate less than normal after the death of a companion cat, around 70% showed a change in vocalization pattern, a lot more than half of the cats became a lot more affectionate and “clingy” with their owners, and lots of of the cats slept more, and changed the location of where they normally slept. Overall, 65% of cats exhibited four or a lot more behavior changes after losing a pet companion.
Watching a cat grieve is hard, especially when the human is also grieving the loss of the companion cat. It’s only natural to want to help the surviving cat feel better.
Will bringing in a new cat help a grieving cat?
Cats are, by their nature, territorial animals, and while slow and gradual introductions are the best way to make sure that two cats get along, there’s never a guarantee. Additionally, a lot of cats are inherently wary of strangers, which also contributes to challenges with new cat introductions.
Accepting a new cat can be even a lot more tough for senior cats, especially when the new cat is a young cat or kitten. cat guardians typically think that bringing a kitten into the family will “make the old cat act young again.” However, from the senior cat’s perspective, the disruption of his familiar routine may create a significant amount of stress.
Make the ideal choice for your cat
If you’re considering adding a younger companion to your household, it’s imperative that you make sure that your older cat does not lose anything that he or she already has. senior cats must not have to compete for resources such as time with you, resting, checking out and hiding places, and food and water. “Your highest allegiance is to the cat who was there first,” says Dr. Andrea Tasi of Just Cats Naturally, a house-call based, feline-exclusive practice dedicated to a holistic, individualized technique to each cat. “Ask yourself: how do I preserve my older cat’s day-to-day resources as successfully as possible?”
Your senior cat’s health
Consider the impact of a new cat on your senior cat’s health. If you have an elderly cat who is ill, I do not recommend bringing another cat into the home until your citizen cat has passed. The anxiety of a new addition to the family may intensify your older cat’s condition, and could actually shorten his life. but even seemingly healthy senior cats may be taking care of underlying health issues that haven’t manifested yet. A 3-year study at the Ohio state university found that anxiety has a considerable impact on a cat’s health. “Many senior cats are what I call tightrope walkers,” says Dr. Tasi. “As long as the rope is taught and the cat’s environment is stable, they do just fine. but if even one thing changes, they may fall into catastrophe.”
How to choose a companion cat
If you genuinely feel that your cat would be happier with a younger companion, consider your citizen cat’s temperament when selecting a companion. If you have a timid cat, she would probably do better with a laid back, calm, mellow cat. A dominant cat will a lot of likely do better with a self-assured, calmer cat. If you’re fortunate enough to have one of those happy-go-lucky cats who loves everyone, she will probably get along with a cat from either end of the personality spectrum. “In my experience, cats who readily accept other cats easily are the exception rather than the rule,” says Dr. Tasi.
Keep in mind that temperament and personality can be hard to discover if you meet a cat in a shelter. a lot of cats are stressed in that setting and won’t show their true personality until they’ve been in a new home for several weeks and often even years.
Size can also make a difference, especially if you have a slightly dominant cat. The theory is that cats of similar size and build will accept each other a lot more quickly. try to choose a new cat who is the same size or slightly smaller than your citizen cat.
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