It is a well known fact among cat lovers that you can't own just one. After owning one cat, most people want another; and still then, others want even more than two! One of the biggest problems associated with owning two or more cats is the fact that cats, by their nature, are lone animals. They tend to appreciate their alone time and sometimes even see humans as unnecessary, but sometimes useful, landlords. Adding another cat to the mix takes some time and can be difficult for both the cats and you. Throughout the course of this brief article, you'll learn a few tips for adding a new cat to your household when you already own one.

Before You Begin

Before you even think about introducing two new cats to each other, you need to make sure that they are both healthy and have all their shots. There are many diseases that can be spread between cats. For example, if you introduce a cat with kennel cough to your healthy cat, your healthy cat can quickly become ill, as it is contagious. Before you begin, take both cats to the animal hospital or vet clinic. As soon as both cats are declared in good health, you may begin trying to introduce them.

Keep Them Separated

Of course, the cats won't be separated forever, but when first introducing cats to a new environment, it is important to keep the two beasts separated.

This should be done for two primary reasons. First, it gives the new cat time to adjust to his or her new environment. Dealing with a new house to live in can be difficult as it is, but dealing with a fellow cat in that environment, who already understands the place quite well, can be even more difficult.

Secondly, it gives your original cat an aloof stance to take in order to observe the new cat without directly interacting with him or her. A direct interaction can, in many cases, lead to violence. As such, the ability to watch this new beast from afar will allow your cat to better understand him or her without having to deal with them them in a direct confrontation.

Allow your cats to be able to smell, and sometimes see each other, from afar, but don't let them get too close. After 3 – 4 days of this living arrangement, switch up their locations so they can again become used to either this new environment or new tenant.

Slowly Introduce Them To One Another

After a week, or in some extreme cases, two weeks, you can allow the cats to slowly be introduced to one another. Allow them more visual contact, but still don't allow them to interact with one another face-to-face. A face-to-face introduction at this stage, while not the most disastrous phenomenon, is still not recommended.

It is recommended that you purchase a high baby gate and have the cats on either side of the gate. Make sure that there are humans on either side of the gate to keep the cats from interacting with each other in a direct manner.

Play and interact with each cat within the view of the other cat, so that they know that they are friendly and eventually get to a point where you place their food dishes on either side of the baby gate within just a few feet from one another. At this point, they should be ready for a face-to-face interaction.

Introduce Them To One Another

Once you believe that they have gotten adequately used to one another through the confines of the baby gate, open it up and allow them to interact with one another. If they ignore one another, this is not entirely unsuccessful. It will take some time for each cat to grow on the other one.

When it comes to cats, they can be fickle beasts. It takes a little time and effort to introduce cats to one another, but it is nothing too terribly taxing. Follow the steps listed in this brief guide, and your cats will be getting along in no time flat!