The Age Old Question

Hello everyone!!

As some of you may know i adopted a kitten about 2 weeks ago,, and I'm in love with her.. She's about 6 months old, and the best pet I've ever had... I'm so in love with her,, I'm thinking about getting another kitten or cat from a shelter.

The question I have is this,, one cat or two?? are their advantages to just having one,, or are their advantages to having two cats?? Will they get along, or is this a bad idea.

My outside dogs: I've got a puppy at home, I'm trying to find a home for,, becuase my older dog doesn't much care for the puppy, and my husband told me last night if I find a home for Kodi then I could get another cat.

So what do you think....

thanks for you advice!
Heather

When I've had older cats I prefer one. The older cat I have now is never thrilled with new arrivals. She just doesn't want to be bothered with kittens.

With kittens I prefer more than one. It gives them someone to play with, and I've found they usually always get along ultimately. Kittens are so much more social with each other.

I guess most of all it depends on your cats personality.

I am having this same question in my head. My concerns are -- what if kitty #2 doesn't turn out as nice as kitten #1? It seems that a lot of 2nd kittens or cats end up being really shy. I don't know if it is because of the dominance thing or what.

My other problem is my mother will gladly watch my one cat but I don't think she'd like taking two when I go out of town. Then again, I'd feel less guilty leaving two home alone then one.

Lastly, my opinion is that litterbox issues are always more likely to happen if you have more then one cat.

Still thinking about it.

Originally Posted by meow meow

I am having this same question in my head. My concerns are -- what if kitty #2 doesn't turn out as nice as kitten #1? It seems that a lot of 2nd kittens or cats end up being really shy. I don't know if it is because of the dominance thing or what.

My other problem is my mother will gladly watch my one cat but I don't think she'd like taking two when I go out of town. Then again, I'd feel less guilty leaving two home alone then one.

Lastly, my opinion is that litterbox issues are always more likely to happen if you have more then one cat.

Still thinking about it.

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See I'm torn too.. mostly about the kitty#2.. We're gone from Noon to 6. So she's alone,, though she sleeps during that time,, we're still gone.. I just don't know what to do.. I think two would be fun,, but then again,, would they pay attention more to each other,, versus me??? I just don't know. My 4 year old would be happier then pie if I got another one.. She loves the kitten we have now...

I really think having 2 is the way to go. Having only one cat will pretty much eliminate the addition of another cat as it gets older and used to living by himself later on. Plus they entertain each other so much. You are not gone that much of the day really.. Our cats, even with having play buddies, use our time at work to sleep so they can be wide awake and play when we are home. Kittens will play much of the day with all that energy. I still think 2 is better because when they are up and about they can chase each other and maybe become close enough to be grooming buddies (no guarantee on that). Our cats never get tired of playing chase, sometimes I join in with them but most of the time I leave that up to them .

As far as attention goes sometimes they seek out more attention because you are dividing your attentions. My cats are even more loving than when I had a solitary cat (Clover) growing up. Though he was a great cat, cats don't always like it when you shower them with attention non-stop. By having 2 you are spliting your time with that and they actually appreciate that and like you even more for it (the typical example - the person in a group that dosen't like cats is the one the cat is attracted too, less attention is sometimes considered more in the eyes of the cat).

We have two cats, and I can't even imagine life with only one. Spike is rambunctious and naturally playful, and quite frankly, he'd drive us insane if he was our only cat! We got Oz when both cats were young enough to bond easily -- as far as they're concerned, there was never a time when they didn't have each other. Spike drives Oz nuts, but it's pretty clear they both adore each other and are happiest being part of a multi-cat household. I find it's no more difficult to take care of two cats than it is to take care of one, and it's not much more expensive, either, but as we budgeted for two cats because we had always planned on having two.

As for them preferring each other's company over ours ... Definitely not the case! Now, we lucked out with ours: both Spike and Oz are complete cuddle-monsters when the mood strikes them, and Spike will follow us around like a puppy-dog most of the time. Sometimes they would rather play or cuddle with each other, but I think as far as they're concerned we're all kitties together.

Thanks for the reply.. I think Angel would be soo excited to have a friend to play with.. I really hope I can talk my husband into another kitty this weekend! That woudl be fantastic.. I'd like to go back up to Petco and adopt one from the same place as we got Angel....

I hope anyways..
Thanks
Heather

I started out with a single cat, because I didn't know any better. Shasta was my only baby for 14 years, and then we gave a home to a couple of 6 year olds who needed new digs. The introduction of two new cats into our home was interesting, and in retrospect probably went better than we had any right to hope for. Suffice to say, the integration did happen (though Shasta would never have admitted that publicly -- more than once I came upon her and Nibs grooming, and as soon as she was aware of my presence, it was like "Who me? I wasn't talking to him. Who would want to talk to HIM??"). And we learned how wonderful it is to live in a multi-cat household. Cats have come and gone since then, and we have never been down to one cat for more than three months since then.

As kittens, they do help each other burn off energy. As for being away all day, they do sleep 18 hours or so out of 24, and are nocturnal, so it's natural for them to sleep during the day. So normal workday absences aren't a problem -- even if they do give you the long sad face, like Cindy does me, when I tell her it's time for Mum to "go catch mousies".

Originally Posted by meow meow

I am having this same question in my head. My concerns are -- what if kitty #2 doesn't turn out as nice as kitten #1? It seems that a lot of 2nd kittens or cats end up being really shy.

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Ive wondered about the same thing. I got two kittens (two different litters) at around the same age. Mikey turned out to be a wonderful lap cat while the other was very vocal, moody and didnt like people all that much.

I now have a 5 week old kitten who Im hoping turns into another mikey(who i still have). He does like to cuddle and I give him the same love and discipline as i gave mikey.

mikes at the right age where hes not an old fart and he still has some spunk in him. For a while he seemed just flat out bored at home, this was one fo the main reasons I wanted to keep this foster kitty.

only time will tell.

Hi Angel, It is great that you want to give a home to another kitty.
But if you don't mind my asking, what is up with the puppy and the older dog? It sounds like the puppy is going to be the loser because the older dog is not good about accepting other animals(?). Does your dog accept your first kitty ok? How long have you had Kodi? I can't help worrying about the puppy....and whether this older dog is going to veto the second kitty.

Originally Posted by 2dogmom

Hi Angel, It is great that you want to give a home to another kitty.
But if you don't mind my asking, what is up with the puppy and the older dog? It sounds like the puppy is going to be the loser because the older dog is not good about accepting other animals(?).

Does your dog accept your first kitty ok? How long have you had Kodi? I can't help worrying about the puppy....and whether this older dog is going to veto the second kitty.

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The older dog, Sheba is mostly outside.. She doesn't really come inside,,, we've done some introductions, but Angel doesn't really care for Sheba. Sheba is just scared of Angel (kitty). So we've given them sometime to allow them to bond later.

As for Kodi and Sheba. Sheba was abused really bad before we got her, so she doesn't have any front teeth. So she can't really check Kodi when he's being mean to her. She'll sit on him or roll him and everything else, but Kodi doesn't get the hint. He keeps nipping at her, and biting at her,, and she's growls and everything. Sheba is really outgoing,, but Kodi just is causing her all kinds of grief. Kodi just thinks Sheba is his mommy, because he used to nip at his mom, and then she'd check him and he'd leave her alone.. Well Sheba doesn't do that,, she can't. She's tried to grab him by the legs to make him stop,, but he keeps getting more agreesvie the older they get. It's just time for us to find Kodi a new home,, with someone who doesn't have like dogs... The fighting is just getting ruthless now,, I'm scared there gonna hurt each other. and I don't want to be in the middle of it or my 4 year old.

Yikes, sounds like you have your hands full.
Sorry to hear about Sheba but what you say makes sense. Hopefully both cats will leave Sheba alone. I've seen a couple of cats that were able to terrorize a much bigger dog, but maybe if the kitties are small Sheba will be able to teach them not to bug her if they try.
Good luck!

I would definetely vote for two!!! The cats we had while I was living with my parents were littermates... my mom thought we should get two so they could entertain each other while we were gone during the day at school &/or work. They don't really play together much but sometimes they sleep together! They're weirdo's anyway

Now with Maui, he's 6 months old and I plan on getting a Bengal in the late fall/ early winter so they can play together! I'd actually like to take in this stray we have around our house too- I've never had 3 cats!

Right now I just have one kitten. But I used to have an adult cat that I picked up from the shelter. After a couple of years, another adult stray showed up on my doorstep and I decided to take it in which became a long and involved process because the established cat just did not want this new cat in the house. I began by keeping them separated and letting them together for short durations during the day. After a few weeks everything became OK and they lived together in harmony for about ten years.

Personally I will always have at least 2 cats. I have found that by having at least 2 they are able to keep each other company while I am at work. And, there is always one cat willing to snuggle up with a good book. If you only have one then you are subject to her mood swings and could be left without feline company. Just my opinion.

If another cat shows up on my doorstep, I will take it in, but right now I am going to try and make it with just one cat because we still travel a lot and I can get a good catsitter for one cat that needs brushed every day (Persian) but am very concerned over finding somebody to take care of more than one.

I vote for two also. When we adopted in December, we got two at the same time (not related in any way). It's worked out beautifully. I think as long as you introduce them the right way, they love having a friend to hang out with and wash those places they just can't reach