Maybe Pumpkin has been acting bored and lethargic, and you think she needs a playmate. Perhaps your sister’s cat had kittens, or you have fallen in love with the stray that lives behind the dumpster. Whatever the reason, you’ve decided to bring home another cat. But wait! Cats are territorial animals, and if you just bring home another cat and plop it down in Pumpkin’s bed, you’re asking for trouble. A little advance planning is critical to smoothly adding this new addition to your family.

Is This Home Big Enough for the Both of Them?

You know you have room in your heart for another cat, but do you have room in your home? Most people think space isn’t an important consideration when getting a cat. But if you plan to have more than one, you need to have two of almost everything, because cats rarely like to share. Do you have a place for two litter boxes, beds, scratching posts, and window perches? You must also consider the possibility that your beloved pets might not love each other. Try to picture your home divided into two kitty territories, with plenty of places for each cat to hide or get away.

Plan Ahead

Before you rush out and bring home your new cat, it pays to get set up ahead of time. The minimum new supplies you will need to buy are:

• Litter box
• Cat bed
• Scratching post
• Food and water dish
• Cat toys

Choose a room that you can keep closed off for a few days, and set up your new cat’s temporary digs. Sure, in a crunch you could just throw the two cats together and hope for the best, but why take the chance? Let your current kitty get used to this room being off limits for a day or so before she has to get used to the new kid on the block.

The First Day

The day you bring your new addition home will be stressful enough for her. There is no need to compound this stress by forcing her to confront her hissing new roommate. Bring the new cat in her carrier straight into the room you have set aside and keep the door closed. Allow her time to explore the room and get used to your scent. Place an old towel in the cat bed or carrier. You will use it to help introduce the two cats later. Visit whenever you get a chance, and don’t forget to keep up her food, water, and litter. Give her a full day (or preferably more) to settle down.

Introducing the Cats

The first step in the introduction is to take the towel that your new cat has been sleeping on and put it where the other cat usually sleeps. At the same time, take something that has your first cat’s scent on it, like a pillow or a toy she plays with a lot, and put it in the new cat’s room. Cats identify each other by smell, and this step allows them to get used to each other without actually having to come face to face. Next, try opening the door a little so the cats can get a peek at each other. If you happen to have a childproof gate, you can open the door and gate the room so that they can interact safely. Don’t force them together though! Cats refuse to be forced to do anything, and that can only make them more wary of each other.

The next step is to allow your new kitty to explore your entire home. If you just let her out of the room, chances are she will be more concerned with her new roommate than with discovering where everything is. So put the other cat in her carrier and let the new guy poke around. Once she has had a chance to see everything, you have arrived at the moment of truth. Open the carrier and let the two cats meet face to face. There may be some hissing or swatting, and one of them might make a mad dash under the bed. The unfortunate truth is that there is a distinct hierarchy in feline society. Unless your cats are both kittens, chances are good that there will be some posturing and mean behavior while they figure out who the boss is. You may feel bad for the cat that comes out on the bottom, but there is little you can do to change it. At this point you have to let them figure it out for themselves. Just make sure no one is getting physically injured. If that is the case, put the new cat back in its room and try again later. If after several attempts at introducing your cats, they are still fighting to the extent that one is getting injured, you should consider consulting a veterinarian, and as a last resort, finding another home for your new cat.

Tips for the Long Run

Your cats may end up being the best of friends, or they may just barely tolerate each other. Here are some final tips to keep the peace between your cats:

• Make sure there are always enough food, litter, and toys available for everyone. Why give your cats something to compete over?
• Split your time and attention between the cats as evenly as possible. There is much debate over whether animals truly experience emotions, but any pet owner will swear that animals are capable of being jealous, and it’s not pretty.
• If you keep only one litter box, and one of the cats seems to prefer using the carpet behind the couch, consider setting up a second box. It’s possible one of the cats has "claimed" the box as her own and won’t let the other cat use it. Cats can also be shy when it comes to this area, and they may simply be uncomfortable sharing it.
• Try to involve your new cat in some of the games or activities you have always done with your first cat. Playing with and grooming both cats together can help them to feel that they don’t have to compete for your attention, and you are all one big happy family.
• If the cats simply won’t get along, they may split your home into two separate territories. Don’t try to force them to share; it will only make things worse. Again, just make sure both cats have access to everything that they need.
• As if there weren’t already enough good reasons, have your cats spayed or neutered. Cats that are fixed are less territorial and aggressive.

Of course you don’t need to follow all of these suggestions to be successful, but cats can be unpredictable and stubborn, so anything you can do to make the process easier for them is worth it. With a little effort and patience, you can bring another cat into your home without upsetting your relationship with the feline who is already the center of your attention.