can two male cats live together?

Question

I have a 3 and 1/2 year old Male Himalayan and am thinking about introducing another male cat to the household. I am considering either rescueing an adult male or getting a male kitten. Is this OK? Which would be the better scenario? I also have a small dog (8 lbs) and they get along great. My current male cat is happy and I dont want to disrupt his happiness if another cat were introduced. Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

Two male cats can live together, although it is better to introduce them to each other as kittens. You should very slowly introduce them to each other. I know most shelters let you bring in your current pet to see if they will be ok together. Being both males I would recommend getting them fixed or they may try marking their territory by spraying and then you will have a different problem.

Answer 2

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RE:
can two male cats live together?
I have a 3 and 1/2 year old Male Himalayan and am thinking about introducing another male cat to the household. I am considering either rescueing an adult male or getting a male kitten. Is this OK? Which would be the better scenario? I also have a small dog (8 lbs) and they get along great. My...

Answer 3

You should introduce the two cats slowly - and make sure both are neutered. Two non-neutered cats can be mean to each other (mostly about their territory).

Place the new cat in a small room (like a bathroom) and keep the door closed (make sure the new cat has a litter box, something to sleep on, a window (if possible) to look out of and some toys to play with when you aren't there! The cats will be able to smell each other from under the door.

After a week or so of this, bring the new cat out in a large room in a cat carrier. This will give each cat protection if one cat gets a little too interested and slashes out. Make sure you supervise so you can move cats if need be.

After both cats are comfortable being in the same room as each other this way you can then take the new cat out of the carrier and see how they interact face to face. If it becomes a cat fight remove the cat and start the introduction all over again.

It is important to NOT RUSH this - you have to go with how fast or how slow your resident cat is comfortable with.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I had two male cats. The elder one was about 2 1/2 (MEEKO) and the younger one when i introduced him was about 1 1/2 (GIZMO). At first i thought they would fight because they both seemed to hate any other cat but they liked eachother almost instantly. Apart from a new intial hisses they were instant friends. I think an adult cat is better, also if they are desexed that helps take away the testosterone and male dominance. Try to get a cat kind of like the one you have in terms of its personality, if your cat is playful get a playful cat so they can play together and vice versa, altough i once had an older cat who was in no way playful and i introduced him to a younger cat and he made him playful! It all depends on your cat, try introducing him to a cat before you buy it if you can to see if he responds.
Good Luck!

Answer 5

I can give you this answer from my personal experience.
I had adopted a male cat Felix when he was 7 months old,
when he was 14 months old we found a very sick, kitten that at
3 months old weighed only 3 pounds. We did worry about how Felix would take to this kitten. We kept them separated because
the kitten was ill and we had to take it to the vet the next day.
Felix jumped over the barrier, picked the kitten up by the neck
and cared for it like he was it's mother. We named the kitten
Shadow because he and Felix were like brothers and love each
other to this day, they are 11 years old now. I think a kitten would
be better than a full grown cat because most animals will not
hurt a kitten or a puppy. They seem to know that it is a baby.
Maybe before you get the kitten, pick one out from a shelter, rub
a baby blanket over the kitten and give it to your cat and see how
it reacts. This is also how people introduce babies to other
animals in the home before they come home from the hospital.

Answer 6

Of course it's possible. But, it all depends on the personality of the current cat. I lived happily with two male cats for 9+ years. They brawled every once in awhile - but it wasn't hate, it was playing that got out of hand. And, they only usually got into it when they were hungry.

The good thing about rescuing is that you can ask them to hold your check for a few days while you assess the situation. They will certainly hiss and be unsure of each other for awhile, but if there is serious agression or other bothersome behaviour, you may be able to return the cat for another one that may work better.

Congrats on wanting to save a life by adopting and I hope it works out well!!! : )

Answer 7

Letting them fight is just not a good idea - the vet bills get quite big with cat fights! The answer is to lock the newest cat up in a room like a laundry room or bathroom with a litter box, food and water. This enables the cats to smell each other through the bottom of the door. Be sure to go give the new cat loving every now and then and pet Rufus before going in. This will have Rufus's smell on you and help the new one get used to his smell. After leaving the new cat, let Rufus come to you to be pet and he will smell the new cat. Also, get the new cat neutered. He is probably spraying which could be pissing Rufus off. It takes time, but eventually they will get used to each other.

Answer 8

I have 3 male cats and they are a blast; so funny and fun. Each was a stray or shelter animal, but one by one they have gotten used to each other. They will probably dislike each other at first but if you are patient and don't favor the new cat too much --- cuz that creates jealousy --- most likely they will adapt.

Age of cat doesn't matter, but a more friendly, domesticated personality will be easier to introduce to your family of pets. My shelter did allow me the option of bringing them back if things didn't work out well.

Answer 9

That's hard to say. I had a cat that I had rescued and she was fine being an indoors cat until my neighbors moved and gave us their female cat. My first cat wouldn't accept the new cat, and decided she wanted to live outside, so she did. Every time I try to introduce a new pet, the previous one isn't having it and moves outside, lol.

Answer 10

I suggest rescueing another cat maybe a kitten because It will grow with the older cat and get more attached while the older cat might not like it at first he will get use to it, If you get another older cat they might fight badly and your older cat might get jelourse and run away, but If you get a kitten your older cat won't hurt it because it knows he/she's only a baby, the most your cat will do Is smack at it if it gets annoying.
Goodluck