So, you have decided to get a second cat. Or maybe a third? Or even a fourth? Who could understand you better than me! There's no such thing as too many cats, especially Maine Coons. Let us have a look at different scenarios when a new member of the family comes to join the ruling owner of the house. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work the way we want it to or the way we imagine. Cats don't always get along well.
I often have people come and get a second cat to join the first one they already have from my cattery. In this case, knowing the personality of the parents and the kittens, I can predict how things will develop. And as a rule, the cats will get along. But if you think that you get a second kitten so that the first one isn't so bored and alone, for some time they will occupy each other. But human attention is still very important for Maine Coons. They are very human oriented, so sooner or later they will demand your attention. Only now instead of one cat there are two. Two cats will demand games, belly scratches, pets and lounging around you.
In cases when the first cat isn't from my cattery and the reason for the second pet is that the first one spends all day at home alone, I ask you to make sure your lonely cat truly feels anxious because of loneliness. And this is the reason I recommend considering a slightly older cat or even a retired one – you will be aware of their already formed personality.
A lot of cats simply sleep when their owners go to work. And they wake up when the owner gets back home. But there are also cats that express anxiety, wander around the house, mew and do unwanted things like scratching, peeing, knocking things over, etc. Of course, such anxious cats will feel better having a company, as long as they are friendly enough.
When you shouldn't get a new pet
How to lower the risk when introducing two cats
You can buy a cat of the opposite gender. Most often male cats are the ones who don't get along. And it often happens that while the younger cat is still a kitten, the older cat accepts them. But as soon as the kitten grows up, they start having conflicts. A perfect option is a male and a female cat or two females. People often get a brother and a sister.
Introduction
You need to settle a new pet in a separate room, with their food bowls and litter box. When the cat gets used to you, you can offer them a bed (I provide one in the baby box) where they will sleep. Or you will play with them on these things. It's necessary to exchange smells. After a day or two you will bring that object to your first cat so that they could get familiar with the newbie's smell. Usually, animals get curious about what is there behind the closed door and they slowly get accustomed to communicating through that door. After the quarantine you just simply open all doors (without actually carrying anything or anyone in or out) and observe your cats' behavior. It's normal for cats to hiss at each other during the introduction period. So if no one is trying to be truly aggressive, leave the cats alone. Collective games can help your cats bond. For some time keep the cats separate when you are not at home. But they should always be together in your presence. I still recommend feeding them separately. When you notice that cats communicate or fall asleep in each other's presence, it means they are comfortable, and the adaptation has been successful. You can leave them together alone.
Maine Coons are sociable creatures (in a sort of cat-and-dog way), they don't compete for their owner's attention with other pets and love to communicate with them. So most likely with time your first cat and the second kitten with become excellent companions.
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