People tend to think of cats as loners that don't spend a lot of time around others of their kind and therefore wouldn't welcome sharing their home with another cat.
However, this isn't completely the case.
There are distinct benefits to having two or more cats sharing the same house but also some words of caution too.
Balancing it up The first thing to consider if thinking about getting a second cat is that it needs to be compatible with your existing cat.
There needs to be enough space in the house for both to run around and play as well as have their own 'space' when they want some alone time.
The cats should be well matched physically - so both of a similar size to avoid potential bullying issues.
There are clear benefits from the social interaction available when a cat shares the house with another.
They can play with each other and the mental stimulation of another cat is better than anything offered from toys or cat furniture.
Nothing is more fun than a game of chase around the house! It can also reduce their dependence on their humans owners somewhat because they can turn to each other for attention when you aren't around, such as in the middle of the night.
It can even mean that the cat will be cleaner than before, though cats are instinctively very clean animals.
Cats will sometimes groom each other in those hard to reach spots such as the ears and help each other out.
Problems There are a couple of potential issues to consider when getting a second cat.
There is such a thing as 'cohabitation anxiety' that is possible if the cats don't get along, especially if they are very different physically or in personality.
It can also be an issue if the first cat is older and has lived alone for a long time then suddenly has a younger cat thrust onto them.
It can take as much as a year for cats to decide if they like each other or not.
For an older female cat, a kitten is a good match, as she will often take on the mothering role.
For an older cat that is calm, sometimes they can learn a younger cat how to behave and act so this can also work.
The ideal pairing is two cats of a similar age who will play together and grow up together.
Introductions Introducing the new cat to the old cat can be tricky and shouldn't be rushed.
There are various articles with different methods concerning how to do this but whatever method you use, remember to allow the cats space to get away from each other.
You will also need two of everything essential such as litter boxes and food bowls to stop the sense that the stuff belongs to one cat and not the other.
Finally, don't expect them to adore each other instantly - it may be that they never become friends and merely learn to tolerate each other with the occasional fight because this is simply cat behaviour.