do we get two cats or one?
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Anonymous
| We've basically decided to adopt an adult cat. We met one who comes in a pair. Will this be considerably more work/cost for us (I'm thinking about vet bills), or is it nice for them to keep each other company? |
Anonymous
| Two, they can keep each other company and play with each other. I didn't find two was any more effort than one, though vet bill if older cats may be a consideration. |
Anonymous
| Two is better for the cats but it's so much more urine in the litter box than one. Don't underestimate that. Most cats are fine solo, with plenty of attention from their human family. I really want another but after having two for most of my life, I'm done with that level of litter maintenance. Sigh. |
Anonymous
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We adopted 2 together (they hadn't known each other previously) and it's been great. Vet bills are basically twice what you would otherwise have, so plan for that. Our cats seem to enjoy each other in many ways--looking out the window together, sleeping together in wintertime, playing, "glaring" at each other on occasion over a perceived slight--and their relationship is a source of great interest/amusement for our kids. I'm really glad we have both cats.
Contrary to the previous poster, we don't find that taking care of 2 litter boxes is much more work than taking care of 1. (Litter boxes are a pain any way you slice it.) If the 2 cats come in a pair already, they are really bonded and may not react well to being separated. If you have any inclination to take them both, I encourage you to do so! |
Anonymous
+1 If they are bonded, I would encourage you to take both, b/c it may cause emotional upset (and then misbehavior) if you try to separate them. Just take both. |
Anonymous
| Zero |
Anonymous
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I would not split a bonded pair. To me, it is not a nice thing to do. If you decide against two you can look elsewhere. There are plenty of solo cats who need homes too.
But if you think you really want two eventually it's much smarter to take an already bonded pair rather than try to add another cat later. |
Anonymous
+1 Better to get two at the same time. Ideally bonded pair, but even if they aren't bonded, you can work with the shelter and see if they are okay being in the same space. |
Anonymous
| Two are really entertaining and will keep each other company. I wish I had gotten two from the start - we just have one and I want another but I'm concerned with how they'd get along. |
Anonymous
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We had one for years and fostered for a rescue. One kept coming back as no one wanted to adopt her (she's a not hands on kind of cat, but smart as a whip and funny as heck).
Our resident cat became so enamoured with her, we decided she could stay. Watching how they've become best friends through the years makes my heart melt- wish wed done it sooner as he's getting older now but she's still very young. Rule of thumb for litter boxes is one for each cat plus one- this helps stop a lot of elimination problems that people often have with cats. I don't find having two much more work than one - but we fostered before and that was a lot more work than having residents, so my view might be skewed. |
Anonymous
PP again. I want to add that I would not break up a bonded pair either. I would go for a solo cat. |
Anonymous
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I would definitely not break up a bonded pair.
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Anonymous
So you don't like cats. Then leave this thread alone. |
Anonymous
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Two. And if they are bonded, then yes, two for sure.
Lots of advantages. When you go out somewhere you will not feel very guilty as they will have company for each other. They can play and groom each other - this keeps them happy. A year or so ago, I was a new pet owner trying to find an answer like you, OP. Whether 1 or 2 - since we didn't have experience, we thought we would go with 1 first. But we found a bonded pair at a rescue organization. We didn't want to separate them and adopted both. We are SO happy we did that! |
Anonymous
| Definitely two! |