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How social are they?
It can be tough to tell with a single cat. We might have gotten them as kittens and they have lived their lives without other cats to this point. We can’t go by how they might bristle at another cat seen from the window. These are interlopers. We are bringing in a friend.
Test their openness by bringing home a paper towel that has been rubbed on another cat. If they are more curious than cautious, if they show no signs of fear or anger, they will be likely to keep an open mind.
Cats have certain instinctive moves they use to greet another cat, with momentum according to their cat type. A cat or kitten who responds the way our cat is expecting will cement friendships.
How confident are they?
A cat who is curious about new things, who fearlessly explores, who feels capable of handling most of what comes along, will be a cat who will find a new cat more interesting than not. We need to get them a companion who is similarly confident.
If we have a timid cat, that’s okay. We can get them a timid friend.
The worse mismatches are getting cats who vary too widely in their reactions. The confident cat will be offended and disturbed by another cat who creeps around the house, broadcasting distress and uncertainty. Likewise, the timid cat will be completely overwhelmed by the highly friendly cat who will then get their feelings hurt by the timid cat’s rejection.
How lonely are they?
Bored cats will have things rearranged for us when we come home. Clingy cats will keep demanding attention. Rowdy cats will try to play with us as though we are cats, with a lot of pouncing and overuse of their claws.
These are all cats who are begging for more activities, more company, more cat play. They are excellent candidates to have these needs met with another cat or cats.
The cautious Gamma would appreciate a friend who understands the need for delicate handling. The social Beta would love a like-minded buddy. The exploring Alpha would be eager to take it to the next level with a lab partner.
Mismatched cats can be disasters. We have to understand the signals our cat sends out. The laidback cat is not timid; they are confident. The quiet cat is not necessarily lonely; they are content.
The Minion is not a move to change our cat’s personality; we will not liven up a sedate cat with a lively one. We will not bring a shy cat out of their shell if we get an assertive, friendly cat who insists they play when they are frightened and demands response when they don’t know how.
The appeal of the Minion is that they are like the present cat, and they want to be more like the present cat.
We can have a bigger, happier, cat family. See the whole series, as I explain how to convince them they want their Minion.
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There’s more about multiple cats in The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See more posts on the MULTIPLE CAT ADVANTAGE.
