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Many people think that cats are solitary animals and prefer to be alone, but this is simply a common misunderstanding. Cats may be independent creatures, but this doesn't make them solitary. In truth, when it comes to cats, two (or more) is better than one. Cats are extremely social and, even if they have human caretakers or canine buddies, nothing can replace the companionship of another feline friend, especially when they are young.

This idea is supported by many cat experts. For example, cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy often suggests adopting a second cat to help with common behavioral issues such as hyperactivity or human-oriented aggression. Highly experienced cat rescuer Hannah Shaw, AKA the Kitten Lady also believes in adopting out kittens in pairs or to homes with preexisting cats so they can "have a rich social life and a lifelong friend."

Having feline companionship is especially critical for young kittens. A kitten's first few months in life are when they learn things like bite/play inhibition, social cues, and other cat behavior. They're also extra energetic at this stage, and letting a pair of kittens wrestle with each other is much easier than having to entertain one kitten on your own for hours each day. Cats that originally grew up alone tend to display unwanted behaviors such as hard biting, scratching, and redirected aggression, which should not be ignored since they can be major health and safety issues to their owners once the kitten grows bigger and stronger.

We at the JCN have also witnessed how difficult it can be to introduce new cats to cats that never grew up with a feline companion. Due to their lack of cat-to-cat interaction and socialization, they can react negatively or even aggressively toward a new cat. Sometimes, this makes integration a very lengthy process or even fail completely.

Though some may worry that having two cats means twice as much work, this isn't the case at all. Having two cats actually means less work because they'll have a constant companion, so they'll never be lonely even if you’re busy or not home. Cats in pairs are less likely to constantly seek your attention as well since they have someone else to hang out with when you’re otherwise preoccupied.

Another concern for people is the cost of keeping two cats. Though owning two cats certainly costs more than having one in financial terms, the emotional and physical benefits that your cat can reap simply by having a feline friend are more than worth it.

Adopting two cats can be hard in Japan, especially with single pet policies, but we at JCN will always recommend adopters to take in two kitties if possible. If you have a single cat at home, consider adopting another that is similar in energy level so they can have an extra friend. Not only will you be doing them a favor, sometimes, behaviors such as high anxiety, excessive vocalization, and destructiveness (due to too much energy) can be solved or mitigated by getting your cat a kitty companion.