Cat bored while gone? 2 cats better than 1?

carebare · Nov 17, 2005

After spending some time online (but not find a related thread) and talking to others, I am wondering if I should have 2 cats so that my baby is not lonely while I am absent. Or if you have any other ideas?

He is young, playful, and affectionate. He seems to get jealous when a cat gets near me even if he tolerates that cat otherwise. When I get home from work he is pretty anxious, and he is a clingy and playful cat. I don't have a yard so take him on walks on a leash. He has many toys. People tell me 2 cats aren't much more work than 1, but what if the other cat isn't happy because HE is possessive or dominant? What do you do to help keep your (indoor) cat happy and fit while you're gone? Thanks!!

P.S. Since I am a newbie here's a intro: Bezerk is a small, loving, smart, and hyperactive Bengal-mix cat that is very demanding and very spoiled. He loves walks, eating plants, trips in the car, sitting by the window, and playing fetch. A doglike cat it seems.

jen · Nov 17, 2005

You could always get a younger cat to keep him company. Cats are usually good in pairs. It isn't necessary to have two but it really isn't much more work. I have 7 and THAT is more work heh! If you don't get another one, he will get used to your routine and work schedule. Cat are usually happy and anxious when their owners return. Thats a good thing. He loves you.

stampit3d · Nov 17, 2005

Mine seem happier with there being the 2 of them. They both enjoy being best Buds with one another....and I feel less guilty leaving them alone, especially when I have to be outside a lot in the summertime.
Linda

mikenealis · Nov 17, 2005

I'm nearly 100% sure that Jameon is happy about Bast being around. I spent a spring quarter working on schoolwork and "real" work to the point where home was where I slept and showered. Jameson was not very happy about the arrangement. That summer, I was going to work a lot too, so I thought a friend was in order.

Now, when I take either of them for a walk, I can hear the other meowing this loud, sad meow that I interpret as "come back I miss you."

I hate thinking about it myself, but I know that when one cat dies, the other is going to be as devestated as I will be. Hell, I teared up a little just thinking about the eventuality that Jameson is going to die.

So, yeah, Jameson likes his roommate. The one that doesn't feed him.

carolpetunia · Nov 17, 2005

I sure think your little one would be happier with a companion. My Clyde was an only kitty for the first 18 months of his life, and he was so sad whenever I went out. He would follow me to the door and stand up and put his paws on my hip and BEG me not to go! It was so hard to leave him.

When I brought Pearl home and completed the introduction process, Clyde's spirits lifted in a big way! Sure, they tussle occasionally, because Clyde sometimes feels the need to assert his dominance -- but they're very close, very affectionate...such good company for each other.

Yes ma'am, I would highly recommend a second kitty!

gia_c · Nov 17, 2005

yea if you could find your kit a little friend that would probably (at least hopefully!) make him super happy!

i am going to get my boy river his new sister/girlfriend (they will both be fixed of course so i dont know..whether to make her a sister/girlfriend, lol) so i am soooooooo excited!!! im 100% positive they will love eachother (once they get used to eachother) and cant wait for a dainty little girl to be running around the house! (though i do call river pixie-paws, since he has this dainty little paws lol and hes like a little pixie or something haha) good luck!!!

yosemite · Nov 17, 2005

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

I sure think your little one would be happier with a companion. My Clyde was an only kitty for the first 18 months of his life, and he was so sad whenever I went out. He would follow me to the door and stand up and put his paws on my hip and BEG me not to go! It was so hard to leave him.

When I brought Pearl home and completed the introduction process, Clyde's spirits lifted in a big way! Sure, they tussle occasionally, because Clyde sometimes feels the need to assert his dominance -- but they're very close, very affectionate...such good company for each other.

Yes ma'am, I would highly recommend a second kitty!

We were always a single cat family until our daughter moved home with Mika. We separated and introduced them slowly for a month with supervised visits beginning in the evenings and on weekends after the first couple days. Now they are buddies. They sometimes play too rough and one will complain but the other will back off. They run and chase each other and then will curl up together for a nap - it's a beautiful sight.

Mika sleeps with our daughter and Bijou sleeps with us. They are both still very affectionate with us and that was one concern I had - I didn't want to love my loving, affectionate Bijou once he had his friend Mika. Fortunately that didn't happen and we feel blessed to be sharing our home with these two wonderful cats.

So, having said that, I agree, I also would highly recommend another kitty, but since your current kitty is a bengal mix, I would also suggest you get a high energy kitty to be able to keep up with your bengal.

horatio · Nov 18, 2005

in my opinion, it is always to hv cats to hv companions / friends n therefore i dun really like the idea of having 1 cat... how old is ur cat btw? introducing a 2nd cat is best to introduce a kitten since kitten wud be much easily adapt to new environment n other cats as well. ur cat wud show signs of rejection (n knowing u hv a mix Bengal), it might take sometime for ur existing cat accept the lil fellow. is ur cat neutered? if no, then he might b a bit territorial n shud there is another unneutered cat under the same roof... u might need more time for them getting along.

i m not discouraging u having a 2nd cat (or more) but i felt that it is best for u to know the facts / upcomings juz to prepare urself...

aries · Nov 18, 2005

I second the motion for a companion for your kitty! And I pray that you will find just right companion for it.

I can't tell you how much Peter improved after we got Snow. Peter was an absolute terror before Snow came along. But they are great buddies and Peter is a much more sane kitty now.

May God bless your search for the right addition to your little family!

semiferal · Nov 18, 2005

Definitely, 2 are better than one! Cats really are highly social animals and thrive on companionship.

Generally a cat who is younger than your cat will be a better match. If your cat is male then either a male or a female newcomer would do well. For a female cat, it is often better if the new cat is male.

laureen227 · Nov 18, 2005

Originally Posted by semiferal

Definitely, 2 are better than one! Cats really are highly social animals and thrive on companionship.

Generally a cat who is younger than your cat will be a better match. If your cat is male then either a male or a female newcomer would do well. For a female cat, it is often better if the new cat is male.

i vote for a 2nd - before he gets too old to accept one. i had a single cat for a long time, & when i got her a companion, she was NOT happy! but my younger 2, now, have accepted new cats very easily.

Cat bored while gone? 2 cats better than 1?

carebare

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jen

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stampit3d

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mikenealis

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carolpetunia

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gia_c

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yosemite

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horatio

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aries

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semiferal

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laureen227

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