Cats have a reputation as solitary animals, yet there are also plenty of owners who believe the companionship of another cat is beneficial for their pets. There’s no general consensus as to whether multi-cat households are a good thing, but the truth is, it’s likely to depend on the cats involved.
“Cats are not naturally a social species compared with, say, rabbits or guinea pigs – they don’t need to have other cats in their lives,” explains Nicky Trevorrow, Behaviour Manager at leading feline welfare charity Cats Protection. “Some cats are more sociable and will live happily alongside other cats, but it’s hard to predict. Even if a cat has lived with others in the past, it’s not a given that they’ll take to a new cat in future – few cats are ‘social butterflies’.”