I'd like some advice. My only "cat" experience was 18 years with a beautiful female stray who quite literally adopted "me." Two months after I lost her, I knew I wanted another cat, and I adopted a 5-year-old male from the local shelter. I had intended to get a cat that needed to be an "only," as I am disabled and find caring for one cat enough of a challenge. However, I fell in love with this guy, and now I'm concerned that he may want a feline companion.
He's very, very social--loves everyone who comes in the door, and is extremely affectionate. I noticed at the shelter that when they let him out of the cage for me to hold, when I put him down, he immediately went to other cats in their cages--not at all aggressively; in a friendly manner. He was picked up as a stray, so I know nothing about his past life, although it's obvious that he was raised in a home.
He's very attached to me and would prefer that I be home 24/7. Some of that may be due to his past, as he may have been abandoned. I noticed that after a month here, he would go into other rooms to nap while I was at home rather than having to be with me all the time.
As a matter of fact, I am practically home all the time. I'm retired and actually prefer being at home. So he's rarely left alone. In fact, if I have to be out for more than four hours, there's a teen in my neighborhood who comes in to play with him and give him the "loving" he craves for at least an hour (I pay her). I also have regular play sessions with him every day.
Are there any "signs" that he needs a feline companion? Although I'd prefer to have only one cat, I don't want to deprive him if he'd be happier.
When I worried about my former cat (who would not tolerate other cats), my vet told me that cats are solitary animals and if provided with enough human companionship, they're just as happy alone.
Advice?
He's very, very social--loves everyone who comes in the door, and is extremely affectionate. I noticed at the shelter that when they let him out of the cage for me to hold, when I put him down, he immediately went to other cats in their cages--not at all aggressively; in a friendly manner. He was picked up as a stray, so I know nothing about his past life, although it's obvious that he was raised in a home.
He's very attached to me and would prefer that I be home 24/7. Some of that may be due to his past, as he may have been abandoned. I noticed that after a month here, he would go into other rooms to nap while I was at home rather than having to be with me all the time.
As a matter of fact, I am practically home all the time. I'm retired and actually prefer being at home. So he's rarely left alone. In fact, if I have to be out for more than four hours, there's a teen in my neighborhood who comes in to play with him and give him the "loving" he craves for at least an hour (I pay her). I also have regular play sessions with him every day.
Are there any "signs" that he needs a feline companion? Although I'd prefer to have only one cat, I don't want to deprive him if he'd be happier.
When I worried about my former cat (who would not tolerate other cats), my vet told me that cats are solitary animals and if provided with enough human companionship, they're just as happy alone.
Advice?