Should You Adopt More Than One Cat?

This question comes up frequently and like many things in life, the answer is not black and white. Cats are complex creatures, just as we are, but in their own ways. Their behaviour can be somewhat anticipated, but never truly predicted. Some cats get along great, and others struggle with it. Does that mean you shouldn’t adopt another cat? Not necessarily. Let’s take a look.  

More Cats, More Fun!

Owning a single cat can still be incredibly rewarding. Some prefer not to live around other cats, they love their owners deeply and are perfectly happy not to have to share their territory. It works for them, and it works for their owners.

However, having multiple cats is usually a blast! Their different personalities and silly antics only get more fun with more in the home. We believe in multi-cat households here at The Hervey Foundation for Cats, but there are some caveats. We don’t encourage people to have high numbers of animals. Most cities and towns have a legal limit as to how many pets of different types can live in a household at any given time, and anything beyond two or three gets to be hard to provide each of them with what they need to be happy and healthy.

More Cats, More Responsibility

One cat can be quite easy to manage. Two cats are a lot more work, and three and above require true dedication to the animals.

If you are doing things correctly, you will need to have roughly 1.5 litter boxes per cat, rounded down. With three cats, a total of four litter boxes are recommended to keep them all happy.

With more cats, more food is required. This may seem obvious, but mealtime becomes a bit more hectic. When one of them gets a sense you are about to feed them, the others will pick up on that and surround you while prepping their food. If they each require different foods, it can be hard to keep them from eating them, and you’ll go through it quickly.  

Cats also need love and attention. This usually happens through play, and even though they will sometimes play with each other, they still need attention from their humans. Sometimes you will adopt two cats who do not like to play with each other, and in that case, you are responsible for most of their play time.

That doesn’t mean it’s not worth it though. Cats are very rewarding animals!

More Cats, More Personalities

As mentioned at the start, all cats are a bit different. These differences are usually a mix of genetics and experience. Some cats are braver than others. If we go back to when they are kittens, some like to tumble around and play, while others are more shy and reserved. Some cats are worriers. Some cats are confident. Some are comfortable around other cats while not around humans, and others are the opposite.

Regardless of genetics, most cats are loving, curious animals who just want to enjoy their lives alongside a human companion. Feral cats are the exception as they are raised completely outside of human interaction, and they are not dependent on them for resources. They also tend to trust humans far less, and in many cases, this cannot be undone.

For whatever reason, there are many people in the world who are not kind to kitties. We do not understand why, and we have seen lots of cats who showed symptoms of victims of abuse at the hands of humans. These cats have a much harder time recovering mentally from their issues, sometimes they never truly do.

Where are we going with this? Some cats may be more difficult to manage in larger numbers. A cat who has lived much of their life in fear might have a difficult time adjusting to another cat entering the house or themselves entering a house with cats already living there.

If you end up with cats who have a hard time being in the same room, you may need to work harder with them, and with your vet, to find a solution that keeps them happy. Remember: when you adopt a pet, it is forever, so in these instances, you do need to work to find a solution.

Final Advice

So, is it worth having more than one cat? Absolutely, yes! It all boils down to your situation and what you are looking for. If you want two cats who are likely going to be best buddies, adopt them while young. This is not a rule, but the odds of them bonding early on are a lot higher than when two older cats are brought together.

Cats are creatures of routine and an animal who has lived on its own for a long time might struggle living in a multi-cat atmosphere. Luckily, in most cases, this is only temporary as lots of cats learn to adapt and live together peacefully. Some of the grouchy ones might hiss here and there when they feel their personal space is being invaded, but the fighting does subside.

At the end of the day, you know your cat best. If they seem like they need more stimulation, another cat might be just what the doctor ordered. Just be sure that you are ready for the responsibility of owning more than one cat. It is totally worth it!