two cats in one small room

abnihon

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I'd like to get another cat, but in my new apt, where I'll have roommates, my cat will basically live in my bedroom and her food, litter, scratching post etc will be in there. Occassionaly she'll wander the apt to play, but I don't want to annoy my roommates, so while we're at work, and while we're sleeping, my cat will be in my room with the door shut.

Is that too close quarters to have TWO cats? Wouldn't my cat be very territorial of my bedroom and not happy about a feline intruder? And what if the cats just hate each other, but are trapped in this room together for 16 hours a day?

But then again they could love each other and be so happy to have the company while I'm at work.

Tough decision....
 

StefanZ

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If they are friends this should be possible, yes. You can always make them possible to climb the shelves and so on. Build in 3D for them.

I know one breeder who had hers 4-5 cats in her student room during a period in her live. All were healthy and well.
 

semiferal

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I agree with StefanZ. For cats, 3 dimensional space counts too! Build some sturdy shelving and give them places to climb and play and they will do just fine.
 

musicteacher

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I keep my two in my bedroom when I'm not home or when I'm sleeping. They are too naughty to be trusted unsupervised in the apartment. Plus, it prevents them from running out of the door when I come in or go out. I have a cat condo and some tall dressers for them to climb on, and the bed is within safe jumping distance of all three. Of course, my two get along fine because they are littermates. When introducing a new cat to a resident, you will have to find a way to keep them separated for the first week or two, and gradually introduce them. There are several excellent threads on this board for cat introductions, but you will have to be creative about how you will keep them separated. Do you have your own bathroom that one cat can stay in?
 

rosiemac

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Rosie and Sophie have to stay in the guest room while i'm at work, but theres plenty of space for them to have a chase about, plus they have shelves to climb and a guest bed to jump all over and a window to look out of
 
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abnihon

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I've heard that if you already have an adult cat, getting a new kitten is safer as far as territorial issues. (as opposed to another adult) Is this true? What counts as a "kitten" ?
 

ryn

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Originally Posted by abnihon

I've heard that if you already have an adult cat, getting a new kitten is safer as far as territorial issues. (as opposed to another adult) Is this true? What counts as a "kitten" ?
I think in many cases it's easier for the adult to adapt to a kitten. However, sometimes an elderly cat can get stressed because of an overly energetic kitten constantly wanting to play. So IMO: yes and no, depends on the cat. But at the end of the day, I think personal chemistry is what matters the most, some cats like each other, others don't.

I would consider a cat less than one year old as a possible kitten "stress factor" and a kittenish looking (small) cat as most likely "non threatening", just a gut feeling, no science. Please, don't take a kitten less than 12 weeks old, they still need their siblings and mom.
 

StefanZ

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Originally Posted by Ryn

. Please, don't take a kitten less than 12 weeks old, they still need their siblings and mom.
Besides, quite common some cats are afraid of small kittens - they dont know what it is and how behave.

BUT. Exception:
If you sure your cat is friendly to kittens and may be a foster-parent (yes, some castrat-males* are such), you may also do the opposite: taking in a little orphan from a shelter, perhaps homeless, and give him/her home and a foster-parent.
This is the only but important exception to the rule above as stated by Ryn.


If you take in a grown up cat, perhaps from a shelter or some who needs a new home - take some you do know is social and easygoing with other cats.
And who dont mind to be a inside-cat. As you dont have place to have them in each own room in the first weeks.
This is the extra possibility with growns up - you know some of the answer beforehand.

*Edit: I know we are talking about a female cat. But this answer stands also in many other cases, this is why I do mention many males - usually castrates, are very friendly to kittens, yes sometimes being even extra moms. I know even examples of fertile sirs being good extra moms to kittens - not their own. But they were of course all domestic - and the mom good friend to the tom.
But this is domestic cats and kittens brough up home - the tom apparently feeling them all as part of family.

But Ferale males, especielly fertile - MAY be dangerous to kittens.
 

sims2fan

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Please, don't take a kitten less than 12 weeks old, they still need their siblings and mom.
[/quote]

I had a question about this. Does it depend on the type of Kitten pure-bred or moggy? I had a bad experience and adopted a Siamese kitten that turned out to be 6 weeks old who subsequently died (her breeder told me she was 10 weeks old and I was inexperienced), Mica was 14 weeks old when I adopted her. However, Rocket a moggy was 10 weeks old and all his siblings had already been adopted and he was completely weaned. He did not cry (Mica did) the first night here and seemed to adapt very quickly.
 

ryn

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Originally Posted by Sims2fan

I had a question about this. Does it depend on the type of Kitten pure-bred or moggy? I had a bad experience and adopted a Siamese kitten that turned out to be 6 weeks old who subsequently died (her breeder told me she was 10 weeks old and I was inexperienced), Mica was 14 weeks old when I adopted her. However, Rocket a moggy was 10 weeks old and all his siblings had already been adopted and he was completely weaned. He did not cry (Mica did) the first night here and seemed to adapt very quickly.
Pure-breds and moggies are the exact same species, cat, absolutely no difference there. However, there are of course individual differences. I'm not saying all kittens adopted under 12wks are going to have problems, my Usva for example is more or less fine despite being abandoned in a forest as a baby. I'm just saying baby cuteness isn't a good enough reason to take the risk unneccessarily. Cases like StefanZ mentioned are exceptions to the rule of course.
 

sims2fan

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I have heard though that Siamese are more likely to mature slower. That they should be kept with their mothers for longer. Aren't moggies supposed to stronger due to their mixed gene pool?
 

shiari

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They're stronger mostly in regards to being less prone to genetic diseases that often plague purebred cats.
 
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