One Kitten or two?

[esulerzy]

I adopted my first kitten three months ago (he is now 5 months). Friends have been insisting that I get a buddy for him. However, I'm hesitant. I only wanted one cat and he is very loving and seems content by himself. We have gotten into a nice routine; playing each evening together (when I get home from work) until he gets too sleepy, then he either goes off to entertain himself or goes "to bed". He has the run of the place (a 2-bedroom condo).

Friends say I'm being cruel not to get him a play mate - is that true? Anyone just have one, perfectly content, cat? I hate to get another cat just to get another cat?! And, frankly, I'm fine with one; we have become great buddies and I guess I'm being selfish in wanting to keep it that way - but I'm sure getting pressure to do otherwise......Thoughts?

 

[chrissyk]

I'd never have just 1 kitten again. It didn't work out for us at all. Ours was 18 months-old when we finally got him a buddy. If we ever go the kitten route again (doubtful), we're getting 2.

 

[Meezers]

I have always had two cats. When first got the babies my ex and I both worked full time. They were litter mates and literally slept wrapped around each other.

After Jadzia died....Mavric mourned. I now live on my own in a third floor apartment...I could hear Mavric crying from the parking lot. This is also a very Siamese trait....other cats might not mourn as much...Siamese cats have been known to mourn themselves to death after a loss of a sibling or owner.

Enter Hannah....retired show cat and breeding queen. Just a year younger than Mavric. Hannah and Mavric do not have the same closeness that Mavric and Jadzia had....but Mavric no longer cries.

Flip side....my mother has one cat who adopted her after Dad died....Sly seems to be just fine...he gets ALL the attention. Then my brother and his mixed breed Husky type dog moved in. Sly gets to play catch the dogs tail and the dog gets to lick the cat. Good times are had by all.

Guess the moral of the story is....do what YOU think is best...I am sure you are the best place to make the decision...if it makes you feel better...talk to the kitten about it

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We've always had more than one cat and they've been great company for each other. When we first got married we got 2 cats, each about 5-6 months old. Three years later we got another. After the first 2 cats got old and died we got 2 kittens, now 5yo. Our old cat loved having the kittens since he'd never been alone. He passed a couple of years later. We just got 2 kittens and they have so much fun together. We were just going to add one kitten to our household (took me awhile to convince my DH to get another one), but when my DH saw all the kittens that needed homes he wanted 3 kittens. I never thought I would tell him no to a cat, but we did get 2.

Two cats are wonderful. They play together and play and interact with you. When my DH and I had the first 2 cats our evening entertainment, every evening at 10PM, was to watch the cats chase through our little apartment. We were poor college students and they were cheap entertainment.

I vote to get another half grown kitty, assuming you can afford another one.

 

[alliecats]

I like having two cats. One cat is actually more work than two, as far as entertainment is concerned--you do it all! Plus I think one cat would be lonely left alone while you are on vacation. I don't think it's "cruel" not to get a second cat, I just think it is nicer for them to have a furry friend.

 

[nliedel]

If you are around all day then your kitten will be fine alone. If you are gone frequently you might want to consider two. My sons cat was very happy alone. We recently added a kitten and although initially mad as heck at me about it he is now merely irritated. They don't snuggle at all but will play together once a day. I think Darien could take or leave little Callie at this point.

 

[Virgo10]

For years all we ever had was one cat at a time. They all seemed very content, especially one of the Siamese cats that I had. She was my attack cat!

On the flip side, having multiple cats is also a lot of fun provided they get along. The two youngest cats that I have now (boys) love to play together and they will search each other out for game time rather than interact with another animal. Much like people, they prefer some over others.

Chester and Mollie. If cats got married, they'd be the ones.

I agree with the poster who said you should do whatever is right for you. Good luck!

 

[puffkin]

We got our cat for our dog because he needed a friend and we knew we couldn't handle another dog. They are now best buddies and play/sleep together quite a bit. I also love my cat to pieces now, but I am still not sure if I am a cat person.

If we didn't have the dog though, I would probably get another cat for Lilly. I think she would be horribly lonely without another animal to interact with. The animals are alone about 10 hours a day though while we are at work with run of the house. Maybe if we were home more, one cat would be enough, but I would definitely get another in our situation.

 

[corona]

When we got our first cat Otis, he was a "single" for a few years. He was such a mush with us, with my mom especially, but we heard from our vet and various friends how much cats really want to be around other cats, and how bored they get during the workday, so we ended up getting Samantha.

Those two are complete buddies. They sleep together, play together and generally keep each other occupied untill we get home. Then they come after us for attention x2

 

[LK03]

I was in your situation. I adopted my 8 month old kitten about five months ago. He was doing fine by himself. Had his own schedule, his toys, and loved to play with trash. DH and I had tossed around the idea of getting a dog but he thought since we live in a 2 bedroom condo we should go with a cat. We hadn't talked anymore about it and then we went to PetsMart to get our cat's weekly food and they have an adoption area there and he fell in love with a cat. Now these two are inseparable. They are not sleeping together yet, sometimes they will sleep next to each other but no arms around one another. They wrestly a lot and play ball by passing it back and forth. When our first cat loses the new cat he cries and starts looking for her, it's adorable

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We hadn't talked anymore about it and then we went to PetsMart to get our cat's weekly food and they have an adoption area there and he fell in love with a cat.

Petsmart is a DANGEROUS place!!! Now that we have 2 dogs and 4 cats, I'm staying away from that cat room and from the weekend pet adoptions. One of our dogs and both our kittens came from there. We didn't get any of our children from Petsmart, I'm happy to add.

 

[Saphire]

What a sweet picture of Chester and Mollie! If you are happy with your one kitten, esulerzy, you can keep things the way they are for now. You can always change your mind in the future. We are finally in the process of adopting a kitten, and my cat is six, but it was just the right time. Do what you feel is best.

Hey, puffkin, my cat's name is Lily, too!

 

[esulerzy]

for the replies. I am happy with one (for now). Perhaps that will change as Socrates gets older. I never expected, however, the constant inquiries from friends trying to get me to adopt another one. Seems no one gives you this much grief over one dog - why over one cat?

 

[smilie]

We have 2 kitties (almost 4 months) that are litter mates. I just wanted to get one but DH wanted to get 2 because we are gone a good bit of the day. Now that we have them I'm glad. They have someone to play/sleep with and they are hysterical to watch! If we were home more we would probably only have one, but for us 2 is better. aw: aw:

 

[chyam]

I have to agree with most of the other posters, I think having 2 is much better, especially if the household works. I have 6 and probably would have more, I love all the different personalities and who likes who and when! I too have to stay away from Petsmart......I adopted 2 last year......Sophie and Dude and I make a point to stay away from the adoption area! I just am to soft! There is nothing like a kitten!

 

[grinningghost]

We had our one cat (Chester) for several years before we adopted Jasmine. He was also quite content being alone (although the dog lives here too) - but since getting the second cat, he plays so much more and they really are buddies.

I think it can be fine either way - one, two or more! Kitties rock!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I have to agree with most of the other posters, I think having 2 is much better, especially if the household works. I have 6 and probably would have more, I love all the different personalities and who likes who and when!

How is it with 6 kitties? When I had our kittens at the vet on Monday for their first check-up the vet told me that from what she's heard, 5 or more cats in a household doesn't work and there's usually a lot of conflict unless they are not all kept together. We now have 2 5yo cats and the 2 kittens. My thought was that in about 5 years or so I'd end up with 2 more kitties, but the vets theory blew that out of the water. Just wondering your experience.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

My cat Garfield is enough for me. He is such a spoiled kitty that I couldn't see myself getting another cat. I'd be scared that he might hurt another cat if I got one.

 

[chyam]

How is it with 6 kitties? When I had our kittens at the vet on Monday for their first check-up the vet told me that from what she's heard, 5 or more cats in a household doesn't work and there's usually a lot of conflict unless they are not all kept together. We now have 2 5yo cats and the 2 kittens. My thought was that in about 5 years or so I'd end up with 2 more kitties, but the vets theory blew that out of the water. Just wondering your experience.

Actually I have a little problem with Elroy and Mouse those 2 hate one another, actually Mouse hates everyone so she is my porch kitty, she lives on the screen porch with the bird (I do spend a lot of time out there and it is covered and screened) You would think she would be more grateful since I rescued her from the K mart parking lot (believe me she is beautiful, pure white but a pure Bi***! Everyone else gets along, in fact at one time I had 9 cats, 4 dogs, 2 birds, a prairie dog and a man! The cats that are gone now all lived to be old, lost a 20 year old this past Feb. before that a 21 and 16 year old. Everyone before Mouse arrived got along fine. There is another poster on here I think (Virgo10) that has 16 cats. I was down to 4 last Fall and went to Petsmart before hurricane Charlie came through and adopted Sophie I didn't want her to be left while the hurricane was heading our way, it went in south of her, then last Christmas I was in Petsmart again and adopted Dude, nobody seemed to want him, and he was so sweet, just wasn't the best looking of the litter, didn't want him to spend Christmas alone there! I have found that in my experience it is easier adding a kitten to an adult cat household though.

 

[Meezers]

Who knew we SO many cat people!

Yeah for cat lovers!