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My cat nips and knocks things. Will another cat or dog help?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | British Shorthair | Male | neutered | 1 year and 2 months old | 11 lbs

Hi, I have one year old British shorthair male cat. We live in an apartment. I’m home most of the day, and I play with him for at least 20 minutes per day and he goes on walks outside. No matter what I do, he gets bored and nips my feet and knocks things over. I’ve tried everything from treat balls to feather toys. Would getting another cat help him curve some of this negative behavior? He likes other cats. Would a small cat friendly dog work? Thanks for your time.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on October 4th, 2021

Romeo sounds like quite a sociable little guy! Since he seems to enjoy a good bit of interaction, it sounds as though he would enjoy the company of another four-legged friend. However, bringing another animal into any home is always a bit of a gamble, as there's never a guarantee that the two animals will get along or have similar socialization needs. If you decide to bring home another pet (cat or small dog), it might be worth investigating if you can have a trial week with the prospective new pet to be sure that Romeo gets along with his new companion. A younger cat or dog (under 2 years) would likely suit Romeo's desire for companionship better than an older animal due to their higher energy levels. Expending extra energy typically does help to minimize some attention-seeking behavior, which is likely why Romeo knocks things over and nips at your feet. While the day to day tasks of caring for cats versus dogs differs a bit, I don't think there would be a big difference with respect to companionship for Romeo if you opt for a cat-friendly dog rather than another cat. I hope this helps and that everything works out!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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