by: Gabrielle LaFrank 10.08.24

Ultimate Guide to Bringing Home a Second Cat

tips, essentials

Nothing can top the joy of a kitty’s first few months at home, but before you can bring home your second cat, you’ll need to read up and think carefully about whether this is the right move for you and your current cat. Handling feline introductions isn’t always straightforward when one of them is new to the family, so it’s essential that their humans know how to guide interactions along. It may be a slow and steady transition, but many cats learn to be friendly and accepting of new fur siblings. However, keeping yourself informed is the best thing you can do before bringing a new cat home when you already have a cat. Let’s get started!

Why bring home a new cat?

The feline distribution system works in mysterious ways, but it’s important to think things through before making any long-term decisions. Consider the pros and cons of this significant commitment for the well-being of your current cat–and yourself.

• Cats are family-oriented animals
  Some pet cats prefer to be the only animal in the home, while others coexist and even get along with a number of other pets. This is because cats are family-oriented and will stay with those they deem ‘family’ for as long as they live. Even in feral cat colonies, ‘families’ comprise several mother cats and their offspring until those offspring begin their own families.

Living in a group can feel natural to many cats, so some thrive with another feline in the home. However, a cat who’s been around other animals at a young age is much more likely to enjoy the company of other animals as an adult. They may also be open to new furry friends, but some social kitties don’t want to meet anyone new after adolescence. It’s nothing personal! If your adult cat has been solitary since kittenhood, however, it may not be the best idea to bring a new cat home when you already have a cat.

• You want to bring a new cat home!
  You wouldn’t be considering bringing a new cat home if you didn’t like the idea at least a little bit. Life with your four-legged friend is full of so many sweet and silly moments; why wouldn’t you want to add to the family?

While it’s normal and very smart to consider your cat’s feelings before bringing home a second cat, it’s also important to realize that you might be the only one wanting an additional pet. Do you see signs that your cat would live a better life with a fur sibling? Or do you simply see what you’re hoping to see? Only you can decide!

If you don’t know what to look for, that’s OK. Keep reading to discover what signs from your current cat can be interpreted as a green light.

Is it the right time to bring home a second cat?

Thinking about bringing home a new cat is a huge decision, regardless of the other pets in your home, so it’s essential to think through every factor in your decision. When you’re already a cat parent, however, your choice affects both you and your current feline friend. How can you be sure that you’re making the right choice?

• Twice as nice…and twice the cost
  First and foremost, are you ready for twice the spending? While you may not need to purchase a duplicate of every cat item in your home, you’ll need to ensure that both cats have their own fresh food, water, and space–not to mention toys and treats! Vet care can be expensive, too, and bringing any new pet in for a check-up is important.

You may not be able to get your new cat on your current cat’s routine right away, so be prepared to tackle feeding, playtime, and litter box cleaning twice as often. If you can’t commit to this, it may not be the right time to bring a new cat home when you already have a cat.

• Consider your cat’s age
  While every cat parent wants to believe that their fur baby is friendly and accepting, feline behavior experts have found that age may play a role in a cat’s openness to new friends. According to the feline experts at VCA, because cats are extremely family-oriented from a very young age, they can be naturally suspicious and territorial toward cats who aren’t part of their established family.

If you have a younger cat at home, they may be more receptive to a new family member than an adult cat would. However, keep in mind that your new cat could feel hesitant, fearful, or territorial, too, which is why an introduction won’t happen all at once. No two cats will react the same toward a new roommate, regardless of either cat’s age, so you need to make this choice on a case-by-case basis.

• Use caution before bringing home a new cat after one of your cats passes away
  Saying goodbye is the hardest thing any pet parent will ever have to do, and it’s normal for a monumental loss like this to leave a cat-shaped hole in your heart. Bringing home a second cat may seem like the right thing to do after saying goodbye to a longtime friend, notes the VCA behavior experts, but this will most likely cause more stress than peace during this trying time. Your surviving kitty is already going through so much, and they may be unaccepting of a friend who isn’t the one they’re missing dearly.

How to bring a new cat home when you already have a cat

Once you’ve found the feline who’s meant to be yours, you can bring your new cat home. However, it’s important not to set your expectations too high, as your new pal could be much more reserved at home than at the shelter. This is normal!

• 1. Take things slowly:
  It takes time for any new pet to familiarize themselves with a new home, so you can set them (and your current cat) up for success by taking your time with each step of the process. Going too fast could cause more stress than progress!

But how can you know how slowly to go? Feline behaviorist Matt Wildman recommends keeping cats separated for at least a week or two while everyone gets used to the new situation. Try moving “at the pace of the cat who is showing the most signs of stress.” It could be either cat who takes the lead! Your more confident kitty will need to practice patience while their shier sibling learns to feel comfortable with the new home dynamic.

Another reason why your cats will need to be separated for the first week or two is that you can’t trust your new cat’s clean bill of health until a veterinarian gives you the thumbs up. A number of illnesses, most minor in intensity, can be passed from cat to cat after a long stay in a kennel, so this decompression time is also a quarantine period.

• 2. Set up a small, secluded space for your new friend:
  As excited as you may be to introduce your current cat to their new fur sibling, both cats need time to adjust individually before they meet face to face. Remember, a new setting can be stressful for a cat! Select a small, enclosed space for your new cat’s temporary home, like a bathroom or walk-in closet. A larger space may take longer for a cat to get used to.

The San Francisco SPCA recommends taking this a step further and keeping your new kitty in their carrier when you first arrive home. This will allow them to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the home from the safety of their shelter, but it will also give you time to set up their temporary sleeping space. Make sure that your new cat has everything they need! Fresh cat food, water, and a litter box are a must, but they’ll also appreciate having toys and a scratching post for when they’re ready to explore.

• 3. Open the carrier and check back often:
  When your cat’s decompression space is ready, gently place their carrier inside and open it. However, don’t force or even encourage them to come out! Let them leave the carrier and explore their new space on their own time, though don’t take it personally if they wait until you’re gone. Be sure to check in frequently to make sure they’re safe, clean, and fed, but don’t force your cat to interact with you. Let them take the lead!

• 4. Let your cats swap scents:
  After a day or two, both cats have likely discovered that they’re not the only pets in the house. To help their eventual face-to-face introduction go as smoothly as possible, the veterinary team at VCA Hospitals recommends swapping your cat’s bedding so they can become familiar with each other’s scent. Once your new pal is comfortably exploring their entire space after a few days, you can even try helping your cats swap locations to get to know one another’s scent even further.

• 5. Create positive associations as your cats get closer:
  They can’t jump straight from separation to meeting, so it’s up to you to create positive experiences while they get closer and closer. Many cats naturally begin sniffing each other at the crack beneath the door. You can also manufacture moments like these by building positive associations while guiding the cats closer to one another.

Try feeding them on opposite sides of a door or investing in a pet gate that allows both cats to peek at their neighbor without crossing the barrier. Food-motivated cats may feel enticed by treats, but you can also use cat toys on a stick to play with both kitties simultaneously on opposite sides of the pet gate. To them, it’s almost like playing together!

• 6. Take steps back if needed:
  If you notice any stress from either of your cats, remember that it’s perfectly fine to take a step back and separate your cats by a greater distance. Common signs of stress in felines include pinned back ears, a swishing tail, or a low, crouched body language. Some hissing and growling can be fine when cats first interact, but excessive confrontation may be a sign they’re not ready to meet.

If it’s your new addition who’s feeling shy, try opening the door to your new cat’s room while putting the gate a few steps down the hallway. This way, your cat can decide when they’re ready to come closer. Remember–your more reserved cat is in the lead!

• 7. Supervise your cats’ interactions:
  Once both cats are comfortable with their new roommate on the other side of the gate, you can try removing it. Be sure to stay close by while your cats meet face-to-face, and don’t try to stop them if they run back to their safe spaces. As we mentioned, some hissing, swatting, and tension are normal initially, but be sure to interrupt the interaction as soon as they show signs of a potential fight. Your goal is to give your cats as many positive short meetings as possible before allowing them to stay together for a longer period of time. The Humane Society of the United States recommends observing your cats’ behavior while together until they’ve gone at least a week with only positive (or neutral) interactions. At that point, you can begin giving them unsupervised time together.

Bringing a new cat home when you already have a cat can take more time and effort than you thought, but seeing how your furry friends get along will be worth it when all is said and done. Prepare yourself for a few weeks, or even months, of adjustments, and keep an open mind when searching for the right cat for your family. Remember, you’re not only looking for a friend for you, but you’re also looking for your cat’s fur sibling!

Once your new pal is home, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll be ready to meet their brother or sister.