Establishing Social Relationships

Observations of cats in catteries show that it takes  a cat from two to five weeks to adapt to its new territory.

It is likely that it takes as long or longer for a cat to adapt to a new cat on its home territory. Early learning has great impact; kittens under seven weeks old bond to new companions better than do older individuals.

Forging social bonds is more difficult later in life, and depends in part upon natural characteristics: one study reported that Persians adjusted to a new cat in their home more easily than Siamese.

Even a short break in social bonds, such as when one cat is hospitalized for a few days, may affect social structures, with the returning cat being viciously attacked by its fellow cats.
 
In most circumstances, however, social bonds remain strong once established, and anxiety occurs if they are broken.

An American study of pet cats living together in indoor households found that when one died, its survivor showed "mourning" behavior: over half the survivors ate less than before, they became more vocal, and they demanded more affection from people in the household.

Over 40 percent of surviving cats sought out the deceased cat's favorite spot and spent more time there for a period of up to six months after the death of the other cat.

Conversely although it has not been, formally studied, veterinarians are frequently told by cat owners how much "happier" the survivor is now that it has the house to itself.

When these cats are medically examined, they appear to be both more robust and more relaxed than they were previously. Author Rudyard Kipling was lucid and eloquently observant in his creation of "the cat who walks by himself''.

While feline social behavior may sometimes mimic ours, cats often remain social loners through to the depths of their being.