Single Kitten Syndrome?

grove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
2
Purraise
0
Location
Brick, NJ
Yo. I adopted a bottle fed kitten stray from work about three months ago. He's doing very well. Sometimes very loving and at others very erratic and aggressive. He treats everything as prey. I was warned at work about how interesting bottle fed cats are and how painful. Heh. My girlfriend is cut head to toe. He's being a bit better now (not using his claws as much), but he still bites pretty hard. I pinch him slightly and scruff him when he is bad. My girlfriend and I work very hard and during the day he is alone in our bedroom. When he come home, we've been feeling as though he is lonely and could use another cat for company and that they'll teach each other. She is a 3 month old female (spayed, shots, microchip) up for adoption. Pretty sweet. Would it be a good idea? Help them both? Thanks. Whaddaya think?
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,836
Purraise
13,144
Location
Columbus OH
My first cat was an orphan kitten and I had the same problem with him. When he was about 5 months old I got a 2 month old female kitten and it made a huge positive difference. He was much calmer when I got home from work and I think he was much happier. He was so happy to have the company he accepted her right away.
 

studio224

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 7, 2001
Messages
342
Purraise
1
Location
Portugal
I think it's a great idea and this should solve your problem. The problem with kittens that are hand raisen is that that lack all the education part of growing up with mom and siblings. Your kitten hasn't learned yet "cat social skills". He doesn't know that he shouldn't bite. Siblings bite and role play together and they soon learn that if they hurt, they will be hurt also. That's how they learn.

Adopting another kitten, your cat will learn his limits and will have a companion to play and spend his energy before you two get home. If you have the means to have 2 cats, I think you should go for it.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
Bottle fed and possible orphaned kittens with no mom/siblings have more social/emotional problems then other kittens. They don't have the skills that being with mom/siblings bring. It would be wise to adopt a 2nd kitten so this one learns "cat behavior". I'd get a neutered male a few months older then her.

Otherwise you will have a lot of social problems like you are seeing now.
 

kalikat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
2,057
Purraise
1
Location
Sydney N.S.W
Blossom was found at 3 weeks, was very wild for the 1st 6-8 mths before settling down. Her only other animal contact is our 2 dogs.
 

catsknowme

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
11,458
Purraise
6,679
Location
Eastern California,USA
Yes, another cat should really help out! I have had similar situations with stray kittens (one just showed up, a starving & dehydrated 7 or 8 week old who followed my cats in thru the window and the other was rescued off the side of a highway) - it's alot easier for the older cats to teach the cat manners! Sounds like a great idea for both cats! Please keep us posted - and, BTW, we love to see pics
 

sadieandziggy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Messages
1,364
Purraise
1
Location
Exeter, South West, UK
I think its a really great idea to get another. I think animals always need another for company, and as your kitten is an orphan, another feline would be ideal for you. I think you should go for that female you have seen.

How old is your kitten?
 
Top