Adopt two kittens at once, or one by one?

abufish

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 11, 2005
Messages
38
Purraise
1
Location
NM, USA
I'm going to adopt two kittens from the same litter. Is it better to adopt one by one, or both at once?

They are about 10 weeks old right now... If I bring home both of them at once, I think they may be less scared and adapt to my home easier; but we also want the kittens to bond with US instead of only their siblings (according to some posts here, some cats won't bond to human so well if they are adopted together), to this concern, we kind of want to adopt them one by one, probably one month in between (we will definitely have two cats at last).

Is it quite possible that kittens adopted together won't bond to human so well? Please give me some ideas... Thanks!
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Keep them together please. Don't force yourself on them when they arrive, put them into a room by themselves with toys, food, water litter pans and let them adjust.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

abufish

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 11, 2005
Messages
38
Purraise
1
Location
NM, USA
Thanks... There are other people on the list waiting to adopt them, if the foster family allows, I will take two of them home together.

By the way, they are eating Purina Kitten Chow right now, is it necessary to switch gradually to some better brand like Nutro and Royal Canin?
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
RC BabyCat34 is good for that age. My kittens thrive on it.
 

larke

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Messages
2,278
Purraise
6
Location
SE Canada
If you were to take them separately, they'd have forgotten each other by the time they were back together and you'd have worse trouble! They may well become 'loners' anyway after a while - the family thing doesn't always last long with animals and they may start competing in future, but that's what cats do, so there isn't a magic answer.
 

kumbulu

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Aug 6, 2002
Messages
4,338
Purraise
3
Location
Perth, Western Australia
I think the thing about kittens who are adopted together only bonding with each other is a bit of a myth. The kittens will be already bonded with each other but will also bond with you, their new Mum and/or Dad.
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Yep I agree.There are a lot of cat myths out there that should be laid to rest.
 

cearbhaill

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
824
Purraise
6
Location
Podunk USA
I just adopted two at the same time and simply cannot imagine doing it any other way.

First- they entertain each other. If I had only one I would need to have a teaser grafted onto my hand and take a leave of absence from work just to keep him too tired to get into trouble. Their activity is astounding, and just trying to imagine keeping a single kitten amused and stimulated makes me tired.
Second- mine are brothers as well and I love the fact that they have always had each other and will continue to do so. Moving is stressful, and the comfort of having a bro' there to tough it out with you has to have a calming influence.
Third- they teach each other valuable lessons. One came out of the crate ready to use a scratching post but the other did not. It was only after watching his sibling that he decided that to scratch was fun. The brave one helps the cautious one try new things, and the mighty hunter of the two encourages the less stealthy one to improve his technique.

And last- they are bonding plenty to us. They are very different personalities but both have their individual rituals with us from play behaviors to which human they decide to sleep with. And while they do tend to do some things side-by-side they are often each off on their own little quest. We do give each one individual attention daily so that they learn to be handled/ examined/ groomed etc. but there are 24 hours in a day to fill up and a second kitten just plain keeps them occupied.

Heck- I wish there had been three siblings. I would have taken them all.
 

dicknleah

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
1,126
Purraise
1
Location
Western Washington
I adopted Emmie and Missy together as well. They both bonded in different ways but Emmie became my stalker kitty. Missy just likes to lay around all day and harrass repair men and Ashly.
 

beckiboo

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
7,382
Purraise
4
Location
Illinois, USA
In my experience the cats bond well with people, whether you have one or several. Dogs are very different, and I think you have to work harder if you have two dogs getting them to bond fully to the people. But cats can bond to each other and to us, too.

I have one kitty, Sugartoes, who is very standoffish with the other cats, and she is not overly affectionate and cuddly with us either. Jasmine (Red) and Blue were adopted as ferals together, and Blue has become very affectionate...and I think part of it is due to her first bonding with our resident kitty Festus, who taught her to love people. Neither Festus or Garfield have ever been a sole kitty, and they both love people dearly.

I say get two if you can...you will be very pleased with the result. And when you see them cuddle and snuggle together, it will make your heart melt.
 

angelicmorgan

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 6, 2006
Messages
22
Purraise
1
Location
ILLINOIS
I agree with Cearbhaill. My mom had two kittens from the same litter and they go off to play together but they still feel connected to the other members of the household. They cuddle and are corky. Even tho they are very close to each other they still feel the need to be close to the rest of the family. Like we are part of their pride. I would take both kittens.
 

jeanor

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 15, 2005
Messages
1,687
Purraise
3
Location
According to my husband... the zoo
We rescued Boogs in September, she was 4-5 weeks old and probalby just a day or two away from death. Anywho... We got her healthy and she was bonding to us tremendously. Then... about a month later, someone dumped Gracie off at our house she looked about a month older than Boogs, and immediately it was as if Boogs said "YAY, one of my kind" and they bonded as if they were long lost relatives.

Not only will the transistion be easier for them, but two are SO much fun to watch.


I think the thing about getting one then another later is true more for puppies than kittens.
 

semiferal

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
1,890
Purraise
9
Location
in my apartment
Two at once. They will play with each other but will also bond to you. If you have them one by one, they will want to spend more time with you but only because they are frightened and lonely. That's not fair to them. You and they will be better off in the long run if they are happy, confident kittens who are used to having all their needs (physical as well as social and emotional) met on a daily basis.
 

valanhb

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
32,530
Purraise
100
Location
Lakewood (Denver suburb), Colorado
Originally Posted by Abufish

By the way, they are eating Purina Kitten Chow right now, is it necessary to switch gradually to some better brand like Nutro and Royal Canin?
Yes, they should be gradually switched to a new food so their tummies don't get upset. Especially with the new home and upheaval of their entire little worlds, it would probably be best to keep them on the food they are used to for a few days at least, and then start gradually switching to the food you prefer for them.
Luckily, kitten food does come in small bags.
 

alessandra

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Dec 9, 2004
Messages
141
Purraise
1
Location
Mexico NY
Pooh and Tigger came to us together and I think they are happier for it. Sparkles was our first cat and she isn't close to any of the other 3. Princess came next and she isn't close to any of the other 3 either. Pooh and Tigger are sisters and came home together and are very close. They're always snoozing
together and they play all the time. They are also very loving girls.
 

laureen227

Darksome Duo!
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 3, 2003
Messages
19,260
Purraise
387
Location
Denton TX
Originally Posted by semiferal

Two at once. They will play with each other but will also bond to you. If you have them one by one, they will want to spend more time with you but only because they are frightened and lonely. That's not fair to them. You and they will be better off in the long run if they are happy, confident kittens who are used to having all their needs (physical as well as social and emotional) met on a daily basis.
i adopted a pair, as well - much the best thing, IMO...i had previously adopted a single kitten, & she never got along well with other cats. Pixel, the one i still have from my pari, has been able to accept other cats because she was never an 'only' cat. both she & Mouse bonded to me, but kept each other company during the day while i was at work & played with & groomed each other.
 

zak&rocky

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2004
Messages
1,597
Purraise
1
Location
Connecticut
I have two littermates, age 6 months. One of them is very shy, but I think she would be even if she was an only cat. The other cat is soo affectionate and snuggly. He even comes when he is called! These are my 3rd and 4th cats. I think it is also good to adopt a pair if you can b/c they are more accepting of other cats as they were never the "only child".
When I adopted cat number #2, Rocky it helped with some of the behavior problems with Zakk- destructiveness, and loud mouth behavior in the morning. Zakk was almost 1 when Rocky came home. Zakk is still the most independent though.
 

MoochNNoodles

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
36,646
Purraise
23,468
Location
Where my cats are
Mooch and Noodles are sisters. They were the last 2 from thier litter. They did recieve comfort from one another when we brought them home. They would start crying if they looked up and the other wasn't in the same room. We let them adjust to us and come to us when they wanted. My cats love me to death, they always insist on sitting on me for love and cuddles. I think it was deffinatley best. Plus they always play together so they never cried at night when we went to bed or left them. Because I don't have a room I could put them in when they were small while we weren't around, I had a big dog pen with thier things in it they stayed in for a bit. They never minded at all. As long as the other was with them, they were happy! I highly recommend adopting this way!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #19

abufish

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 11, 2005
Messages
38
Purraise
1
Location
NM, USA
WOW! So many replies! Thank you all!!! YES I will definitely adopt two at once if the foster family allows :-D Even if they less bond to us, it will be ok since they will be happier!


They might be home tomorrow...... I just can't wait!

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20

abufish

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 11, 2005
Messages
38
Purraise
1
Location
NM, USA
Update... I adopted two at once
, they are both sweet kittens, get adapted quickly and slept with us on the first night... I will post in a new thread about some of my questions...
 
Top