Cats learn how to socialize with other cats from their mother and littermates. Human contact before kittens reach 10 to 12 weeks of age is usually required for cats to become good pets. Cats that have not had this initial socialization will likely always fear and avoid human contact. This makes it difficult to turn older feral (wild) cats into household pets. Playing with your cat and providing interactive toys can help develop a close bond, as well as decrease destructive behaviors.

Introducing cats to other pets, including—and sometimes especially—other cats, can take additional socialization regardless of age. Some cats can be territorial and view a new cat as an intruder. This can lead to undesirable behaviors such as urine marking, soiling outside the litter box, or fighting with the newcomer. Cats should be introduced to any new animal gradually. For example, the cat and the new animal should be allowed to first smell each other through a gate separating rooms, then each animal should be held while allowed to investigate each other more thoroughly. After a day or two, if both animals appear calm in each other’s presence, they can be allowed together while supervised for short periods, gradually leading to longer times. Patience is often necessary while animals are adjusting to one another in multi-pet households. It can take 6 months or more to completely integrate a new cat into a household with other cats.