Should you add another pet to your family?
They say you can never have too much of a good thing. But where do you stop when it comes to pets? One cat? Two cats? Ten cats? What about mixing species? Traditionally dogs and cats were never seen to get along, but in many households, the two can end up being the best of friends. Before you add another pet to your family, though, there are multiple factors you need to consider.
Logistical factors
No matter the species, there are always logistical factors to take into consideration when looking to take on another pet. Do you have the space for another animal? This isn’t so much of an issue with cats (to a point), but with dogs, and certainly with the larger breeds, you need to make sure that you physically have the space, inside or outside, to house them comfortably and safely. Is the car big enough to take them both (or all!) on walks, on holiday, or to the vets? Each pet should also have a safe area to go to, so they can get away from the others if required.
These days, owning a pet doesn’t come cheap, and with more than one, you will have a higher food bill, higher vet bill, higher kennel bill etc. In data gathered in 2018, the estimated lifetime cost of owning a dog or cat in the UK averaged nearly £12,000, and for rabbits, the figure was £7750¹.
Time is also a factor to think about. Again, cats can be quite self-sufficient and don’t necessarily require a lot of human time, but with dogs you need to consider playing time, walk time (especially if the dogs have different exercise requirements) and training time.
Benefits of multi-pet households
Owning more than one pet can have huge benefits for both owners and the animals themselves. It is a well-known fact that interacting with pets can lower human stress levels and provide improved mental health – stroking cats, walking dogs and simply having another living thing to take care of can all help towards a positive mindset.
Owners can rarely be at home with their pets the whole time, so having more than one cat or dog means they will have a companion at all times.
Cat psychology
There is one major difference to consider when thinking about getting another cat vs getting another dog – cats tend to be typically solitary and territorial animals, whereas dogs are famously sociable. This a very general overview and certainly doesn’t apply in every situation, but ordinarily, introducing another dog to the house is generally straight forward, as long as they are given adequate time and space to adjust to each other.
Multi-cat households can be quite a different kettle of fish. Again, many cats can happily live alongside others of their species without too much negative fallout, but as vets, we do often see issues associated with the stress involved between multiple felines.
The main thing to remember to encourage happy relationships in a multi-cat household is to ensure that there are the right number of resources in the right places within the house, so that no individual has to share with another if they don’t want to. These resources include food bowls, water bowls, scratching posts, litter trays, beds and toys.
When feeding multiple cats, ensure that the food bowls are not all lined up together – space them out at opposite ends of the room, or on different levels. Some cats are more than happy to share (or steal!) but it’s important to give them the option to eat alone.
Litter trays can be a big source of stress, so owners must abide by the rule of one tray per cat, plus one. Cats typically do not like toileting where another cat has been and if they are forced to do so, it can cause physical issues with cystitis, urinary tract infections or constipation as well as elevated stress levels. Litter trays must also be cleaned out regularly as lingering smells can upset them.
Scratching posts and toys are used for scent marking, so ensuring you have plenty scattered around the home can help solidify each cat’s territory.
In case the cats don’t get on within the house, it is vital that they each have an area such as a room, floor, or outside space they can escape to.
Reducing the risk of conflict
As well as physically providing the correct resources for each cat within the household, many social issues can be prevented by thorough preparation and careful introductions.
The main thing to remember is not to rush. Building a relationship between two or more cats can take time and if it’s done incorrectly, it can lead to irreparable rivalry.
- Initially, designate a quiet room as the new cat’s room and keep them confined to that space. This room needs to have all the resources they will need and not be an area of high footfall. This will become their territory and an area they will feel safe in, evidenced by them showing relaxed behaviour, playing, eating, drinking and toileting normally.
- Once they are settled and content, the next step is to ‘scent-swap’. Cats use scent a huge amount and it’s vital that each cat is used to the other’s scent before actually physically meeting. This is best done by exchanging toys or blankets or through the owner stroking one cat then the other.
- When each cat seems content to be around the other’s scent, it is safe to allow each one access to the other’s area. Initially confine the resident cat and allow the new cat to explore their area, then do the opposite. This may need to be done multiple times over different days.
- Once both cats are relaxed in these different areas, you can start to allow visual contact through a barrier such as a door open only enough to allow them to see each other. Encourage positive responses by playing with each cat or giving treats and distract them from any negative behaviour rather than punishing them for it.
- Finally, they can start being allowed short periods of supervised physical access, whilst still allowing escape routes and never forcing them together. Over time, this can progress to spending time together unsupervised and allowing them to come and go as they please. All the while, you are ensuring they remain comfortable in each other’s company – they don’t have to be playing together, but any negative behaviours should be taken as a sign you may need to go back a step.
Throughout the whole introductory process, using feline pheromone plug-ins or sprays can help to keep them calm and be more accepting of the new situation.
No matter how many pets you choose to have, it is important to keep each animal’s mental well-being at the forefront of your mind. Our team are always happy to help with advice and tips about either introducing a new pet or how to deal with potential conflicts in the home.
References
- Estimated minimum lifetime cost of keeping pet dogs, cats and rabbits in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018. Statistica.com
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