Question:
I have one Siamese cat. I was wondering if it is better to have two cats so they don't get lonely.
E.S., Fargo, ND May 29, 2005
Answer:
I wish more people would ask questions like yours, which reflect concern for the well-being and best interests of their animal companions. So often the relationship is one-sided -- the animal being "loved" for how well he or she satisfies human needs and interests, often to the exclusion of the animal's best interests and ultimate happiness.Provided your cat isn't too set in his or her ways and exclusively bonded to you, introduce a healthy, spayed or neutered cat, ideally of a younger age, and checked over by a veterinarian and given a clean bill of health (especially free of feline AIDS and leukemia).Be prepared for a few days of hissing, fear and avoidance, and let the cats work things out. Placing the new cat in a cage for a half-hour in the same room with the resident cat will help take the edge off of their xenophobia (an irrational fear of strangers), so they can safely get each other's scent and begin the habituation process. Or put them in separate rooms with a door between them so they can sniff ea
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