To ask if anyone has non-related cats who get on?

[Shrunkenwasps]

It just seems impossible unless they came as a bonded pair/from the same litter?
Has anyone got cats who actually like each other and play together rather than just co exist?

My existing cat followed me around everywhere, even to the toilet, and seemed to want a lot of attention despite having outdoor access, toys, cat tv and a cat tree etc.
My boyfriend also gave her plenty of attention when he came over.
I thought about getting her a companion but sadly she isn't taking it well so far. They don't fight but they don't interact either, just avoid each other. They're OK being in the same room but that's all, even though I kept them apart initially.

I feel like I've let both cats down, I give them both equal attention, treats etc.
I thought a kitten might be less threatening to her but I ended up taking in an elderly cat with health problems, because I know they're harder to rehome and I wanted to give him a chance.

No fights between them, but looking back, she didn't need a companion. I'm not intending to rehome him, he deserves to be looked after.

Just curious to know if anyone's got non-related cats who are friendly together?

Yes, mine were best friends. Also with the dog! The 3 amigos

All 3 of mine are different ages and different litters. All from random places. Never separated any of them either, they were all brought home and immediately had access to whole house, same as the resident cats. Never any issues, and they all sleep in a big cat tangle. (Or on top of me)

Ditto (applies to both the children and the cats)

Hi so we have a mum and her two daughters. We did have her two sons too but sadly they passed away. Anyway mum and 1 of her daughters are close and sleep with each other. The other daughter is a loner. In the summer she has her spot in the garden and they don't go near her. We have a huge cat tree indoors that I spent a fortune on because I reaches floor to ceiling, has lots of lovely hammocks, thought all 3 girls would love it. Nope just the moody one has taken it over and hisses if her sister or mum comes near it. And to add to our madness we've adopted a 4 month old little boy! He's kept separated and we are doing a very very slow introduction. He's in a room with all his toys and litter tray and he comes out to socialise with us and we leave his door open so the girls can wander in. Basically it's called scent swap. So they know he's about and he knows they are about. He's being castrated next week so hopefully he'll be less hormonal! Although obviously all 3 girls are neutered. So it's all different for all cats. My sis in law has adopted 4 cats at different times all from different families and they are ok with each other. Cats can need a longer time than others xx

The baby! He is very very funny and full of confidence! X

These messages are lovely, thank you!

I have five, all rescues. Two came as a non-related bonded pair. Two came as brothers 18 months later. The fifth was an emergency adoption.

After 18 months as a tribe of five, the dynamics are like this:

Cats 1 and 2 are still bonded, but the female (cat 1) is shy and retiring whilst the male (cat 2) interacts with the others much more. They do spend time cuddling together.

Cats 3 and 4 are very close and play with each other a lot, but do not snuggle together. Instead, cat 3 and cat 5 chase and play together while cat 4 and 5 like to nap together. Cat 4 also wrestles with cat 2, which is hilarious because 2 lets him win even though one is half the size of the other.

Cat 5 is a fireball of energy and it's taken a lot of work to integrate him. He has beefed with cat 1 pretty much constantly, but in the last 6 weeks they have started to bond and now like to nap together.

It's taken a lot of work, scent swapping, interventions, treats and patience but yes, it can be done.

I have had various cats in and out. I used to look after my mother's cats over the summer, my old boy cat was fine. We got a kitten, and my cat would tolerate the kitten trying to suckle his teats! He was an amazingly tolerant cat. He lived so long, he had several other cats as additions to our family. Current cat I would not dream of getting an additional cat, or allowing a visitor

I think it is very down to personality.

Most cats tend to be fairly happy with their own company and just tolerate others. I've had a variety over the years: litter-mates, several all unrelated, currently a multi-generational family group. They co-habit, but hardly ever play together, sleep huddled up or wash each other. Occasionally they get on each other's nerves enough for one to swipe another round the head, but that's it.

Same here. Big cat lost his brother. He was distressed so I introduced a friend He despised the 7 week old kitten who arrived. Little cat persisted in making friends and now they roll around, play fight and groom each other. They pine for each other when they're separated. Big cat never played when his brother was alive but he does now, and he's much more affectionate with me too. Little cat is the boss though - they both know it.

Here they are together

The late Magic got on very well with Cheddar. Much better than with her own sister. When Magic died, Cheddar got on really well with my new cat. So I try ought She would be fine with a new cat. However both just wanted to play with her and she didn't. So they both had to be re homed. Had they left her alone, I think they'd have been ok.

I generally have 2 cats and adopt adults/ older cats. Mostly they don't seem to interact much, just cohabit peacefully occasionally sharing the couch or a window sill. I haven't any of them play together but they were all older adults and probably passed the playful kitten stage. There must be some attachment because I notice that when one dies, the other pines for a while, and seems to be looking for them.

We have 4 cats
Cat 1 & 2 male/female siblings get on pretty well don’t sleep together but don’t fight.
Cat 3 is a year younger, was immediately accepted by the others, he’s always been close to Cat 1 who is the most laid-back loving ginger boy. Cat 2 used to like him but is scared of him now. Which brings me onto Cat 4, again immediately accepted by Cat 1 and Cat 3. He really bullies Cat 2 who is twice his size and a tortie. He’s a horror to her, waits outside the litter tray to jump on her. He doesn’t hurt her just chase and annoy her. She now has her own little bed away from the rest of them and she seems to know their schedule as she comes out to play and for a fuss when Cat 4 is asleep.

I am currently toying with adding another and maybe thinking two little kittens would be better?

If there's no fighting and the hissing has calmed down then it sounds fine tbh at this stage. It takes time and it sounds pretty low conflict.

Make sure you have two or more litter boxes.

Feed them separately if she is off her food.

I had 3 unrelated cats until a few weeks ago when one died. Two boys and a girl (one boy one girl left now).

They were all very close, slept in a pile together, lots of cuddles and playing together. They'd work together to steal food and then split what they got between them.

When one the girl was attacked by a random other cat one day one boy instantly stepped in to protect her while the smaller one ran directly to me to make me come help.

The first couple of months was war between them all but they quickly started to tolerate each other and after a few months really bonded closely. I didn't get them all at the same time, the girl first, then a boy a few weeks later and the other boy a few weeks after that.

I feel you on the guilt! I TORTURED myself about my decision to get a companion for my rather pampered and lazy ginger! I was like you, disappointed that they weren't instantly besties. In truth tolerance at this stage is good! Ours fought a little at the start which made me feel terrible (new cat was desperate to play, existing cat simply didn't know how!) but we once we achieved peaceful coexistence (new cat stopped pouncing from behind doors!) I decided new cat was staying (extra marks awarded because he's a cuddle fiend!).

The thing with cats is that they take their time. The first 6 months I was still fairly tense. By the year mark I let them get on with it and accepted I'd probably see them cuddling and that sleeping on the same sofa without any conflict was good!

Just recently (18 month mark) old cat has worked out that new cat would like to play with him, not kill him and is learning to play back. Watching them playing together is a genuine joy- I never thought I'd see that kind of behaviour from old cat as he was poorly socialised as a kitten. And the perseverance and patience from new cat is incredibly touching, even if he did receive a few bops on the nose along the way! Now we have chaos hour every bedtime- we head to bed and they gallop around the house playing cat games.

They are both house cat rescues with health conditions so I actually believe them having each other lets them engage in more natural behaviours and that makes me happy!

I have 3 unrelated cats, two moggies and a Siamese. The mogs get on very nicely, one is a senior gentleman and the other is 6 & a girl. Siamese is a bit of a dick to the other cats, he’s only 2, but he gets put in his place by our OG cat. In the past, the only cats that have been friends with each other to the point of cuddling up together have been Siamese and Burmese, but never had siblings.
If no one has suggested it yet, try Feliway Friends, it’s a plug in thing that emits a scent that chills cats out (I think it might be like a mother cat so the cats smelling it relax and consider themselves brethren.
Also try scent swapping, stroke one cat then the other so they smell alike.
you did a really good thing to adopt an older cat, I’m sure they will both adapt and get used to each other, you sound like an excellent cat mum!

Not now but in the past we have had two that have got along really well.

I have 4 cat, 2 are brothers ( all males )

A is 11
B is 9
C & D are around 18 months old

A & B have always got on ( both rescues, didnt know each other beforehand )

When I got the kittens A absolutely loved them, still does. As kittens he would let them nurse off him 😭

B hated the kittens. Absolutely hated them. It's only since theyve grown up that hes started to get on with them. I love seeing them all cuddled up together especially B with them.

I think B is just that way out though as we've had our dog for over 2 years and he still hates him 😅

My current 2 mostly just co-exist, though sometimes they nap together and sometimes senior girl reprimands the youngster for being hyper. I'd describe them as mildly friendly - they do give each other the odd lick and nose bump and I've seen senior girl blink her eyes at the young one a few times, so she does feel some affection - I think she sees her as "my silly annoying little sister, sometimes needs a slap, but I like her really". However, the one I had before her and my senior girl really loved each other. They always lay together and shared a carrier when they had to travel. It was pure luck really - they were a similar age and their personalities just meshed perfectly. You can't really make cats be a bonded pair, though its lovely if you get one. I think if your cats are fine together that's success really. My friend has had the same two for over ten years and the girl still doesn't like the boy and will hiss at him for absolutely no reason - but she is a diva!

ETA: It absolutely does take time, and Feliway helps. I thought I'd made a mistake when I first brought the young one home, she's very, very confident, and senior girl was not happy. Even when senior girl was young, she wasn't into "let's chase each other and wrestle" kind of play, which is what the young one likes. But now I sometimes walk in to find them napping with their bodies touchng.

He just sat right in front of her and she growled at him, so he walked off. He doesn't initiate any of the hissing or growling, and doesn't react. It seems that she is feeling more threatened than he is and trying to assert her dominance more.

I have six. They get on great. Often curl up together and groom each other.

Ours love each other. The black one is much needier, and the ginger one more aloof, but they happily snuggle and play.

They’ve been together since they were both very young though. Black one originally belonged to our neighbour but attached himself to our ginger boy when his littermate died.

If I had more space and money I'd consider a third but sadly couldn't afford vet fees for 3