How can two cats live together?

Cats are territorial animals, it can be difficult and stressful for them to accept other cats in their environment. However, it can be beneficial for them to have a companion to play with on a daily basis. Valérie Mounier, professional breeder of British Shorthair, shares her best advice for cohabitation to go well.

Breeder Valérie Mounier’s 8 tips for getting 2 cats to live together

1. The younger your adult cat is, the better they adapt to the arrival of a new inhabitant. If your cat is less than 4 years old, they will more easily adapt when the new cat arrives. A cat over 4 years old may be more difficult. In order to optimize your chances of them getting on well, it is better to adopt a kitten than another adult because the rivalry will be less important.

2. We advise you to have both felines sterilized to avoid conflicts related to hormones. It is also important to check the vaccinations of your two cats and to make sure that they are both in perfect health.

3. Before the first contact with your current animal, you must check the health of your new furry friend. For this, a trip to the veterinarian and a short period of isolation are recommended.

4. For the first few hours, it is important to isolate your newcomer in a closed room. They will thus be able to explore and quietly discover the space and the smells.

5. You can start with an indirect encounter thanks to the smells of your two felines. To do this, simply rub a sock on the kitten's cheeks and side and then give this sock to your adult cat to get used to it. At the same time, you can offer them a treat so that they associate this smell with a positive feeling. Then do the reverse to accustom the kitten to the smell of the adult cat. You can repeat this exercise several j times in order to best prepare your two four-legged friends.

6. It is essential that you are patient when letting your cats meet. If they don't get along at first, let them get to know each other at their own pace and don't interfere. However, at first, their contact must always be done under your supervision.

7. If your adult cat disagrees, don't scold them as this will make them more stressed and fussy. It is totally normal to feel disoriented by this newcomer, but don't panic, it will take them several days or even weeks to adapt. Above all, you must show them as much or even more affection than you usually do because they must not feel detachment and jealousy.

8. Felines are territorial animals, which is why we advise you to organize a space for each of your cats. They can have a common litter box but they will feel better if they each have a dedicated scratching post or cat bed. In addition to being able to isolate themselves when they need it, they will be able to relax and feel more peaceful.

What if your cats still don't get along after a few days?

It's been a few days since your cats had their first encounter and their connection still doesn't seem to bloom. Do not panic ! Take the time to repeat the process from the beginning because time and patience are really necessary.

In case of incompatibility and persistent mood, we advise you first to talk about it with your veterinarian who can give you other tips. Then you can try using pheromone diffusers, which mimic a soothing substance passed down from mothers to their kittens. This will soothe your felines and bring them a feeling of well-being and harmony.