Cool for a second cat?

We have a two-year-old female tortoiseshell cat and we thought it would be nice for her to have a companion, especially as she is left on her own for a few hours during the day.

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We are thinking of getting her a companion in the new year, and not sure of how best to go about this to avoid conflict. Any advice would be appreciated.

In the long-term, companionship could hopefully be beneficial for both cats.

Introducing a new cat to a resident cat can be very challenging, however, and the process is best done gradually as problems will arise if introductions are rushed.

It's also a good idea to wait until the new year, when all the festive excitement will have died down.

Some problems that often occur include aggression, such as hissing, growling and fighting. Both cats may exhibit stress by hiding, inappropriate toileting, or over grooming.

If cats don't grow to like each other after the initial period a limited truce may result, with long term stress a distinct possibility.

To minimise problems, take things slowly at first.

Take things slowly at first