Is it better to get one ot two cats from a litter? Will the cats bond closer to each other than to the owner?
2006-08-26 06:51:09 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
It depends.
I have had a solitary cat with whom I had an incredible bond. But bonding and affection are not quite the same.
If you are a busy person, or out from home a lot; the best thing you can do is to get two kittens, whether from the same litter or not. They will treat each other as siblings, but You will always come first, because You are "Mum - the Great Giver of Food and Security."
If you keep one kitten, you might have trouble sleeping because it will be attacking your hands with sharp little teeth and nibbling on your toes.
If you keep two kittens, you might have trouble sleeping because they will be playing about; but at least your body will be scarless and you will be grinning in delight as your sleepy eyelids slit open and you see what those kittens are up to! You'll get used to the pitter patter and purr yourself to sleep within days.
Yes, I think two is better than one. It is good for them to play with each other, learn from each other, be affectionate to each other. And it will never exclude you.
You will just get double the affection for half the work!
But you might consider the future. While all kittens will happily bond and play, when they grow up it is another story.
Spayed sisters will often have rivalry which verges on aggression. Neutered brothers get on a bit better, but occassionally might fight.
If they are not spayed nor neutered, the problems are so enormous.
In my experience the best combination is a brother and sister. Whether from the same litter or from elsewhere; it is a good choice and you have to look at it the same way you would with having kids - they entertain each other but that never stops them from loving their "Mum".
Go for it!
2006-08-26 07:54:27 · answer #1 · answered by kiteeze 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have six cats. Three brother/sister pairs from three separate litters. On the contrary, they will not get less affectionate, they will be MORE affectionate. We are strong believers in keeping littermates together because it's less stressful on them when taking them away from mama and moving to a new place. Our cats are extremely well-behaved and well-adjusted. They have never "gone" outside the litter boxes, and we have never had a single "real" fight among them.
I think it's harder on a cat to be by themselves because, as another answerer pointed out, cats are very social animals, they need to live in clearly defined social groups.
They won't bond closer to each other than the owner, they will bond to you and love you equally to their sibling. But actually over time, they will get less close to the sibling and more close to the human. Stop worrying about that, and just welcome a pair of siblings into your home. You will be so glad you did!
2006-08-26 15:47:24 · answer #2 · answered by gift_of_the_dragon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always advised people if they went to work to get two cats so they would be company for each other. I have had 2 sets of littermates (at different times) and they each loved their siblings totally and if people could see me at times trapped on the sofa when I had anything up to 4 cats trying for attention and to get on my lap for cuddles of an evening they would have laughed, and that included the siblings wanting cuddles from me plus other cats wanting cuddles and in the winter it could be known that I would have 6 out of 7 cats crowded around me even when the place was warm, I didnt need any extra blankets
2006-08-27 15:53:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No ! Coz like two cats would spend most of thier time together but if you only had one cat the cat would get more attention from you as an owner!
2006-08-26 13:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by § gαввαηα § 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This was certainly not my experience with my first two kittens. They were both responsive to me. One was more of a lap cat than another and I think that was just their natures. They were not littermates and had been fostered together since separation from their mothers.
Why would you want to have one cat who is dependent on you for all their love and companionship? Humans have lives that include many relationships, some close, some casual. If you have just one cat it has only you in all its world.
I love what Anitra Frazier has to say on this subject:
"What if you were owned by two of the most wonderful elephants in the world? You love them dearly and they dote on your every move. They give you the very best food, they give you everything that you want plus a few extra things you never thought of to surprise and delight you, In short, they give you everything your heart could possibly desire except...another human....Need I say more...."
2006-08-26 14:38:33 · answer #5 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would get two cats from the same litter because they will already know each other and therefore get along. They will not become less affectionate. They will still demand your attention.
2006-08-26 13:55:35 · answer #6 · answered by lakecity21 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats do tend to bond very closely with one another. They are social animals, and as people often leave cats to their own devices during the day, it is nice for them to have friends. I recommend against littermates with dogs, but it can work with cats because to an extent you want them to have a close bond with eachother. If you do get littermates, spend time playing with them together, and with each seperately, so they bond with you. It should be okay.
2006-08-26 13:55:27 · answer #7 · answered by big_fat_goth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its far better to take 2 from a litter; they love company, and are much more sociable if they havent been on their own. Your 2 cats will be much more loving to everyone around them. Solitary cats can become depressed and unhappy, and less loving, because they are lonelyfor company of their own kind; they are just like people!
2006-08-26 14:46:45 · answer #8 · answered by k0005kat@btinternet.com 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have two cats, brother and sister, and they hate each other. They compete for your affection, but strangely enough, the male cat always lets the female eat her share of food first, and patiently waits for her to finish. Your cats may bond together, but I think they will be more attached to you, as you are their owner and the one who feeds and looks after them. I reckon it is a great idea to have two cats, as it means they wont be lonely, but they will still come to you for love and comfort.
x
2006-08-26 14:01:38 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i find it is better to have two cats. my mum has 2 from different litters, but we got them at the same time so they were raised as brothers.
I find that cats who live without another cat tend to get rather lonely, and tend to go outside more looking for company. whereas if you have a pair of cats, they will happly entertain eachother if you are not in the house.
cats love people, so they will come running as soon as you set foot in the house!
2006-08-28 19:42:00 · answer #10 · answered by fifs_c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋