ok to split brothers ?

gallowf

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HI.. first post.. new to the site - so hi


not sure if this is the right sub forum to use but it's about cat behaviour ultimately..

I'm looking to home a rescue cat - but the cat in question is currently still with his brother - they are both 3 years old.

the Cat Chairty and also the Foster home with whom the cats are with said that it would be ok to separate them (as really I'm only looking for one cat) - but I'm not convinced - i wouldn't personally like to be removed from my brother if you see what i mean.

Are cats of this age ok to separate ? - one person told me that they knew someone who's cat died and it's brother then got very depressd and was searching constantly for his friend for months.

Interested on your thoughts - I'm feeling a bit guilty if i decide to split these cats up.

could do with re-assuarance either way to help me make a decision on this.

thanks v v much
 

jennyr

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I would say it depends on the cats' personalities. But if they have been together all their lives and play and groom each other then I would not separate them. Also, will your cat be left alone during the day? If so I think it would be cruel to take a cat who has been used to company 24 hours a day. I would never separate my two boys now, and they are only 8 months old, as they really need each other. When Wellington got lost outside just for one night, Napoleon could not stop crying.
 
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gallowf

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thanks for the reply ... I'm not sure if they are particularly close - both teh Charity and the Foster home said they were pretty much independant - but maybe they just say that sort of thing as they would like to home one cat - one is better than not homing either of them - but then again I'm sure they would have the cat's best interests at heart .. wouldn;t they ?


to answer your other point - yes I would be out at work during the day - but it would have full run of the kitchen (large - well for the UK anyway
about 20feet by 15feet - also access via cat flap to a very secluded garden with no roads about at all.

thanks for any more info - (I'm going to see the cats tomorrow - so wil be able to see for myself in person what their behaviour is like towards each other - aswell as talking to the foster home woman face to face about it).

any more comments would be brilliant - thanks
 

tnr1

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Originally Posted by Gallowf

thanks for the reply ... I'm not sure if they are particularly close - both teh Charity and the Foster home said they were pretty much independant - but maybe they just say that sort of thing as they would like to home one cat - one is better than not homing either of them - but then again I'm sure they would have the cat's best interests at heart .. wouldn;t they ?


to answer your other point - yes I would be out at work during the day - but it would have full run of the kitchen (large - well for the UK anyway
about 20feet by 15feet - also access via cat flap to a very secluded garden with no roads about at all.

thanks for any more info - (I'm going to see the cats tomorrow - so wil be able to see for myself in person what their behaviour is like towards each other - aswell as talking to the foster home woman face to face about it).

any more comments would be brilliant - thanks
Our rescue tends not to want to split up siblings if they have come in together. Even if they do not show signs of "bonding" in a foster home....we don't know how the cats will react once apart from each other. That being said...if the foster thinks they would be ok apart...you could ask for a trial period. Watch to see how the cat does over the first few weeks...does he act independant or does he seem to need another cat? (Often cats can act one way when they have a companion....but act completely different on their own). Since you only want 1 cat.....if the one you choose acts like he really needs a "buddy"....then I would take him back to the foster and select a different cat. Until we develop a cat translator...we can only go on what the cat shows us in it's current situation.

Katie
 

kumbulu

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Hi Gallowf, welcome to TCS.


Would you possibly consider taking both cats? It's not very much more work than one. Then they could keep each other out of mischief and in company while you're at work.
 

maverick_kitten

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Originally Posted by Kumbulu

Hi Gallowf, welcome to TCS.


Would you possibly consider taking both cats? It's not very much more work than one. Then they could keep each other out of mischief and in company while you're at work.
to be honest, I have found that two cats are less trouble than one as they keep each othe rcompany and out of mischeif. And there is always someone around wanting to be petted!

more expense certainly, but less trouble.

oh- where in the uk are you from?
 

beckiboo

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My foster agency goes by the recommendation of the foster home. Certain cats are so closely bonded that they should not be separated. Others will do fine on their own.

Two kitties is really not much more bother than one, so it would be nice if you could take them both. And since they are 3 y/o, they are adults and will be much calmer than a 6 month old kitten.

Ask the foster mom about their behavior...do they often sleep together? Do they groom each other? If not, they may not be as close as some other kitties who have only been together for a few months.
 
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gallowf

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Thanks again for the further replies..


I sort of have considered taking both but to be honest I've never had a cat before (my ex girlfriend had 2 so that's what's got me missing them
) so don't know if it would be a bit too much to take on, having said that the previous cats i knew didn;t really get on - they were amicable at best, so when one was in the other was out


Also it sounds pretty silly but i had my heart set on a black cat with white feet and nose - obviously one of the brother's has these markings while the other is completely black - I woudn;t like to think I would favour one over the other - told you it sounded silly



Just to throw a spanner in the works - or maybe you'd be able to enlighten me - I did find another cat via a shelter - he has the same markings but is currently not well, they have not found a food that agrees with him after 2 months now
- been taken to the vets and given the all clear health wise - but he's 14 and I'm not sure what's up with him - the shelter are not being too forthcoming with info either - hence why i've had a cheeky look elsewhere and found these 2 brothers.

Ok as a previous reply said i could take one brother on a trial period and see how he reacts - BUT... my one could be fine.. what about the other left behind???? I'd never know - unless the foster home then got back in contact and said no the other bother is missing him too much - either take both
or give him back to them


I guess I will know better by meeting the cats in person tomorrow afternoon , to see if they are best buddies or just happen to reside at the same loacation - along with the foster "mum" ... and see if i can do a "trial" run.

thanks for the warm welcome by the way
and oh I live in Essex - which for the people "abroad" (from me anyway lol) is a county just outside of London.

thanks for the replies - more welcome
 

maverick_kitten

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older black male cats are the ones that find it hardest to find homes


why not offer to foster both and see how it goes? you can always return the brother at a later date.

I really wouldnt take in a sick cat if you havent really had cats before.
 

larke

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Oh, just take them both. You'll find that their intercat games will leave you in stitches sometimes, and you won't feel guilty leaving them for a wknd, or work, and their different personalities will make them that much more interesting. We've always had more than 2 (never mind how many) and they're never enough! Plus when you see them sleeping together, and washing each other, you'll just melt into the floor!
 

eilcon

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Another vote for taking them both!
I adopted my male cat Peter almost a year ago, separating him from his sister, Claire. They both adjusted fine in separate homes, but when Claire's owner died a few months ago, I adopted her too. Seeing them play together, groom each other and just hang-out, makes me wish I would have adopted them both in the first place. They really seem to enjoy and love each other.
 

white cat lover

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I have two favorite kittens(brothers) at the HS I volunteer at. They are in a cage with another kitten. The third kitten went to get neutered & the entire time he was gone the two brothers didn't eat or drink anything. These three don't seem to be overly affectionate towards each other, but when the third kitten returned all three ate & drank to their heats content. Now the HS has to find a home where someone is looking for three kittens.

I would take both brothers. If you can afford two cats, they really are much more fun than one. They never get lonely as they always have each other. I know that you were looking for a specific color, but for my second cat I wanted another white kitty & I got a tabby. I love Lily despite the fact that she isn't white. I would say I love her more than I could love another white cat(sorry Rigel
). Everytime I see a white kitty I wish I could adopt it, but I know I didnt he right thing keeping Lily.

Good Luck!
 

vibiana

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Essex? I have a friend in Kelvedon, I tease her by calling her an Essex Girl, drives her crazy ... LMAO

I vote for taking both cats. Even if they'd be okay apart, two cats are easier than one, particularly if you're out at work all day and the one cat would be alone. They're marvelous company in pairs! (I should know, I have three. lol)
 

sandtigress

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I got two cats recently, and never had indoor cats before. Honestly, I would say its hardly different from owning just one cat. My boys eat the same food, and they're willing to share from a dish, so its one dish of food, one bowl of water, and no more litter boxes to clean than if there was just one cat. I laugh all the time when they wrestle and play with each other, and its sweet to watch them groom and snuggle. I don't think you need to worry about at least trying to adopt both, and I think you'll quickly grow to love it!
 

rang_27

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Just to add my 2 cents. Our shelter tends to keep adult pairs together. We have split up a couple because they would fight & never really laid together, but we would never separate a pair that is constantly on top of each other. I know that once when a pair of kittens were separated we ended up getting the adopter to agree to take the 2nd kitten because she had stopped eating. (I believe the 2nd one was at a very reduced cost). I would lean towards no after 3 years, but I would want to know more about their personalities & how they interact. Often if one is more shy that one is very dependent on the other.
 
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gallowf

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Just wanted to say thanks for all the suggestions, and advice...
bit of an update as i was asked in a previous reply ..


.... well... i decided i couldn't split the brothers - they looked too cute sitting next to each other in their heated box at the bottom of the garden at the foster home..

You may remember that the only reason I went to see these brothers is becuase the cat i had "reserved" for me at a different Shelter was poorly (the 13 year old tom.)
He was only fed on scraps / human food like chicken, rice and baby food would you beleive !
.. so the donated cat food at the shelter was not agreeing with him..


he's now been on "hypoalergenic" cat food obtained in bulk from a vet and he's been fine for the last and a bit week


So tomorrow I've been invited to come and collect "Golly" (short for GOLIATH) - he's a black Moggy with a white nose and white feet - and weighs 15lb !!! - but not an ounce of fat on him ! - just "big boned"
(hence the name !) - he was homed originally by this shelter to the previous owners 11 years ago - but they have recently gone into rented and can;t take Golly with them - so he, in his old age, found himslef back at the shelter where he was aged 2



(feeling pleased with myself as I have helped a 13 year old moggy find a nice warm home with a beautiful country garden to lounge about in for his twighlight years
)

I'll post up some photos after the happy day tomorrow !

thanks again to those that replied - great forum !
thanks
Frank. (Essex, UK)
 

pui hang

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Glad that things worked out for the best
Good on you Frank and big kudos for taking in an older cat! They are just as rewarding as kittens and as they are older, they will already know not to do things like jump onto work surfaces etc. Congratulations
 

sandtigress

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How wonderful! I'm sure Golly will be so happy in his new home, and bless your wonderful heart for taking him in!
 

rang_27

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Good for you
I'm sure the young brothers will find a home much more easily than your 13 year old cat would have. It's so wonderful when people give the older cats good homes!!
 
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