Single cat owners support thread!

[lyrajean]

There can be only one....

How many of us TCSers have only one cat?

By design (yours or your cats). Circumstance (economic or living situation) or any other situation beyond your control.

I've been pming with Tico and we've noticed that many of the folks who post here have multiples. I wanted to start a chat thread for those with only one. And all the problems/issues/benefits that presents.

 

[belongstoevie]

I have only one!

Mostly by her choice.

I fostered for quite a while, and would like to again... But when doing so, I learned that she much prefers to be an only cat! It wouldn't be impossible to get her comfortable with a brother or sister... But, eh...

She doesn't want any other cat here, and I'm pretty happy with just one, too.

 

[nanner]

Me too!

It's just Larry and me. I fostered him with his sister, Lena, but Lena had to be put down 5 months later due to FIP. They were both from one colony....brother and sister, everyone assumed.

I learned fast about FIP - prevalent in colonies, or large communities of cats (shelters, etc.), and passed on through the feces. Most cats get it when they're really young and their immune systems haven't developed fully. Some are carriers and just pass it on and don't really get it. Some shed it in their feces in about a month and don't develop it.

I don't know why Larry didn't get it. The vet said possibly he's a carrier, but won't develop it. He said wait a couple of months before getting another cat, but I got paranoid, and time went on, and now, I'm pretty happy with just one cat.

He seems happy too. He decided to make me his companion.

 

[railntrailcwgrl]

I have one, I would love to have another but our land lord and DH say no.

Oh well, I don't think I could handle 2 Storm Cat's any how.

 

[allmycats]

HAHA, at first I wasn't sure if this thread was for people with only one cat, or people with cats, that are single <g>. Glad to see it's the former because I too have only ONE cat. I got Gigi last May and in hindsight I WISH I had adopted her brother Guy too....but at the time, he was "on hold"...the day we picked Gigi up I found out that his adoption fell through, but I hadn't had time to even consider getting him so I didn't act. I've thought now and then of getting another one, but at the cat show and at pet adoption days, Gigi hisses at the other cats and kittens that she sees. She is such a perfect pet that I am a little afraid that if I got another kitty I would rock her world so badly that she would lose housetraining and change too much

I dunno. I'm definitely a cat lady inside, but only one cat to show for it <g> but boy am I wacko over that ONE CAT!! So I guess that makes up for it. Another reason I have to give pause to the idea of adding more...is that I already have a number of dogs (five, meant to have only four, but one came back and stayed)....a part of me would love to have more kitty love in the house.....................but I guess if Gigi is all I ever have I will certainly be happy because she is wonderful

 

[penstemon]

Happy to see the is thread as I have only one cat. I have thought at times I would like another; but age and motor home & apartment living it is hard to have the second cat. Kato is almost 8 years and I doubt he would accept another cat. As a young cat several older males attacked him. His policy is to attack first now.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/ima...s/rolleyes.gif

 

[hosman]

Alley is my only(and first) cat. I would like to have a playmate for her but my place is too small.

 

[tico]

Lyra, what a brilliant idea!!!

Yes, its just me and Sophie. Sometimes I feel very responsible for her stimulation as I am her entire universe! I've only had her 2 months, and she's barely 5 months old, so we're both still figuring this out as we go... It's been a ride!!! lol I've noticed each week we get a little more settled together.

Luckily I have my parents who live in a "big house" (as opposed to a little apartment

) only 20 minutes away. So Soph and I go visit them a lot and get lots of excitement over there.

For those of you who DO happen to be single with a single cat, I'd love to know how you help your cat cope when you're out all day, and especially if you need to go out again in the evening (groceries, meetings, classes... whatever...) I'm not a socialite or anything, but evening responsibilities do come up sometimes, and I feel uber guilty for leaving her!

 

[nanner]

Originally Posted by Tico

...........
For those of you who DO happen to be single with a single cat, I'd love to know how you help your cat cope when you're out all day, and especially if you need to go out again in the evening (groceries, meetings, classes... whatever...) I'm not a socialite or anything, but evening responsibilities do come up sometimes, and I feel uber guilty for leaving her!

I just give Larry tons of lovin' when I get back. (Hugs, kisses, talk to him.) He's used to the routine now. Sometimes I come home and I find his toys in different places. He's very good at playing by himself.

What I feel really guilty about is leaving him when I go out of town. I just came back from being gone two weeks for Christmas. My neighbor comes in to feed him and scoop the poop, and she says she never sees him. He always hides. But, I feel it's better for him to be in familiar surroundings than going through trauma of going on a plane, and all sorts of people. He's very shy with other people.

I think he's getting used to my being out of town, though. The last time I went, it took him 5 hours before he came out of hiding. This time it was only 3!

 

[catfriend]

Danny is an only cat. He doesn't get along well with other kitties, so it is just the two of us!

 

[allmycats]

Some of you who leave your kitties at home, have you tried taking them out on a harness? Depending on their age..they might surprise you!

If I leave Gigi at home all day or part of a day, she's always got at least one dog with her

But if I am leaving for a longer time, she goes with.............on her harness and leash, etc......... it might take some training, depending too on your kitties' ages...but you might try it!

 

[nanner]

Originally Posted by Allmycats

Some of you who leave your kitties at home, have you tried taking them out on a harness? Depending on their age..they might surprise you!

If I leave Gigi at home all day or part of a day, she's always got at least one dog with her

But if I am leaving for a longer time, she goes with.............on her harness and leash, etc......... it might take some training, depending too on your kitties' ages...but you might try it!

I don't even want to think of putting Larry through that. He seems perfectly content with the routine we have. He was born on the streets, spending almost a year there, so he's familiar with outside. People freak him out. I'd rather he stay calm, without any trauma going on in his life.

 

[natalie_ca]

I've always only ever had 1 cat until 1998 when I changed my shifts at work from 8 hours to 12 hours. I thought it was too long to leave Chynna home alone, especially because on the days I was working all I did was work and sleep. So I got her Abby as a companion.

Chynna to this day would prefer to be an only kitty. She only tolerates Abby adn won't have anything to do with her even after all this time. And when Chynna was in the Vet hospital for a few days, Abby was in her glory not having to share me with anyone else. She didn't even seem to miss Chynna being around.

So I have 2 cats that love me to pieces, but can't stand one another, and both would love to be an only kitty.

 

[cococat]

I only have one. And that is all I want. Dogs are a different story, love multiple dogs!

She is a very outgoing and friendly happy kitty, she probably thinks she is a dog at times but is very much a kitty. She is best friends forever with a Dobe.

 

[darkmavis]

Me too!

I got Genever almost a year ago, after living with BF for a year and a half. He never liked cats but kind of gave in to me wanting one, since I am a cat person and had 2 when i was at home with my mom. His rationalization was that he travels for work a lot so it could help to keep me company.

After we adopted her, BF fell in love with her instantly and it's just so cute to see them playing and cuddling!

Anyway, single cat. We're thinking of getting another at some point, because I don't think Genever likes to be alone. I'm out of work since 12/31 so I am home a lot now, but before I would come home for lunch so I'd hang out with her then. I do feel bad leaving her even if we just go out for an afternoon.. Maybe I'm a worry-wort. OK, I know I am.

Right now though we have basically a 2 room apartment, and we're trying to get to the bottom of G-cat's puking issues, whether it's stress or something wrong with her insides.. we debate whether another cat friend might help her or upset the balance more. She is so easy-going though, I think she'd enjoy some more company. We might just stop by the spca some weekend and just have to take one home!! And then I'll have to uninvite myself from this thread, but for now, count me in for 1 happy cat!

 

[nekomania]

I only have one right now and I think he likes it that way.

Unfortunately my grandfather is law around here and with me even having one cat is pushing it. Although he probably wouldn't do much if I got another one, that would be really disrespectful on my part.

But my Fiance has already promised me that we will look into adopting a retired Bengal someday after we have a house!!

It's definately less expensive to only have one cat, but it is that much more lonely for him while we are gone... So that's why we've adopted some fish and a 10 gallon fish tank so he can sit and watch and wonder why his food is moving.

 

[tico]

Originally Posted by Allmycats

Some of you who leave your kitties at home, have you tried taking them out on a harness? Depending on their age..they might surprise you!

If I leave Gigi at home all day or part of a day, she's always got at least one dog with her

But if I am leaving for a longer time, she goes with.............on her harness and leash, etc......... it might take some training, depending too on your kitties' ages...but you might try it!

Oh I am! I think Sophie will do well with leash-walking. She's making loads of progress, although takes a lot of patience. I'm hoping to take her outside in a couple weeks.

I don't think I'll be taking her when I have to go out to do things, just for neighbourhood walks... otherwise she'll just be causing mischief. Where do you take her??

 

[penstemon]

We have thought about getting another cat. Usually we are here and not gone very long. We have never left him alone over night. He goes with us, food & litter box go along in the car. Kato doesn't like heat

So on short trips he is alone. We are not sure he would tolerate another cat. if we knew a Bengal needed a home near us, we might try.

He was about 5 months old when he taught himself to climb trees, afterall that is where birds are found.

I guess I should think about getting a signature.

 

[nekochan]

Originally Posted by Allmycats

Some of you who leave your kitties at home, have you tried taking them out on a harness? Depending on their age..they might surprise you!

If I leave Gigi at home all day or part of a day, she's always got at least one dog with her

But if I am leaving for a longer time, she goes with.............on her harness and leash, etc......... it might take some training, depending too on your kitties' ages...but you might try it!

Where do you take her along with you? Into stores and things?

 

[penstemon]

Not into stores or in the car on short trips; but if we are going to be gone overnight she goes with us. We would find a motel that will allow us to bring our pets inside. We turned down a motel that after saying we could have a pet. Just before I paid him, he said the pet had to stay in the car. I put the money in my purse and walk out. I still remember the look on his face. This was with our dogs. DH refuses to to go that part of Oregon because of the motel & hotel mind set on pets. There is enough business that they don't have to take pets. The area is Central Oregon. We lived there for a few years.