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Are 2 cats better than 1

16 replies

als30 · 04/10/2016 08:13

Ive always had a pet growing up we have had fish gerbils guinea pigs and cats.
When i first moved out i wanted a pet for my daughter but didnt go through with just as well only lasted 10 months in the place (the joys of private letting) now ive got a flat (not private rented) and ive always said to my daughter now 12 years we will get a pet.
Ive been looking about for indoor cats abs came across a cat protection website and they had a few indoor cats looking for forever homes and after a assessment yesterday to see if im suitable i pick them up on Saturday
Ive always had the 1 cat but is 2 better than 1?
And any tips from people who have 2 indoor cats
Im excited and nervous lol

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LittleCandle · 04/10/2016 08:16

I have 2 cats, but they come and go as they please. The thing about having 2 is that they are company for each other and if you do let them out, they are less likely to stray as far away. I have had a couple of single cats who roamed far and wide. Of the two I have just now, one of them is always outside unless the weather is truly vile, and the other is more inclined to stay closer to home, but the roamer does tend to come back several times during the day just to 'check in'. I'd go for the two cats personally.

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als30 · 04/10/2016 08:20

Iam excited at the thought of the two only nervous cause ive never had two at the one time plus they need to be indoor 2nd floor top flat lol

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YesItsMeIDontCare · 04/10/2016 08:25

I'd look at space. Is the flat big enough for them to have their own personal space when the other one is pissing them off?

One reception room + 2 bedrooms I think probably not? 2 reception rooms + 3 bedrooms probably yes.

Says the person currently freezing her ass off in the garden with a cat on a lead!!!

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ChocolateWombat · 04/10/2016 08:28

I think it's us humans who think 2 is better than one and they will enjoy the company etc etc. Cats are by nature solitary creatures and spend their time avoiding each other.

If you watch the programme The Secret Life Of Cats you'll see how much effort they go to to avoid each other, even the ones they live with.

The only time I ever saw our 2 pleased to see each other was when a local bully cat came into our house to eat their food...then there were 2 of them to stand up against it (or run away together, which was more likely TBH)

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als30 · 04/10/2016 08:30

The flat is bigger than most flats 2 decent sized bedrooms a rather big hall big living room i sometimes feel its like a house but with no stairs as all the flats i seen before this were small
I was going to get a few toys and have some in the living room and hall
The woman who are looking after them just now seemed happy that its big enough even have good sized livingroom window's they can sit and look out of

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MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly · 04/10/2016 08:33

It's difficult because it depends upon the personalities of the cats. If you are going to rehome then an advantage is that they can let you know if cats should go together as a pair or should be an only pet.

Our two were from the same litter and were inseparable. They still sleep curled up together and I'll often see them in the garden sitting together. Splitting them up would not have been right, but putting two cats from separate litters can be the wrong thing too sometimes. Hopefully cats protection will advise you.

Don't forget to post pics!!

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YesItsMeIDontCare · 04/10/2016 08:37

MyDarlindWhatIfYouFly - I had siblings and they hated each other 99% of the time! I used to have to break fights up at 3am 😿

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Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016 · 04/10/2016 08:41

We have 2 tabby brothers. They are 4 and a half. And still as a close as ever. Still play like kittens tho one is monster size!! Def saves your house and furniture when they have each other to tear chunks out of!! They never fight and are always together!! I used to work for an animal charity and we actively encouraged them rehoused in pairs.

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MycatsaPirate · 04/10/2016 08:44

We have four so I'm probably not the best person to ask.

Go to your local rehoming centre. You are almost certainly to find a pair of older cats who need to be kept inside for one reason or another. If they've always been together then they will be absolutely fine.

Please look at older cats, they are less likely to trash your house, more likely to want lap time and will be extremely grateful for the chance of a forever home.

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Maxwellthecat · 04/10/2016 08:44

We have two cats that we got as kittens from the same litter. They are indoor cats and we live in a two bed semi. I don't think I'd be able to keep them as indoor cats if there was only one of them, they get so much entertainment from each other. They play together all the time and they snuggle up with each other when they are tired, they do have separate spaces for when they need their alone time but they've only ever had one 'proper' fight and that was when they were playfighting and my bigger cat played a bit too rough and my smaller cat went completely crazy at him, it's never happened again.
I love having two, it's so much fun and I don't worry so much about them getting bored.
I wouldn't introduce another cat in now though as they HATE other cats.

How exciting! Get two you won't regret it.

X

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JeepersMcoy · 04/10/2016 08:46

We have two brothers and they absolutely love each other to bits and hang out together a lot. However I know other people who have two cats that the really do not get on at all. It is rather like children I think and will just depend on the personalities of the cats.

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Maxwellthecat · 04/10/2016 08:47

I agree with Mycatsapirate, if I was to get new ones id rehome older cats it was only because my dh was desperate for kittens just once that we got our two.

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JazzTheDog · 04/10/2016 08:54

We have 4. We have a set of female siblings (age 7) who tolerate each other but aren't loving toward each other and a set of male siblings (age 1) who love each other and sleep cuddled together and are very loving toward the girls too. Ours all have free access to the outdoors.

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als30 · 04/10/2016 09:03

Ive went to cats protection and they told you how old the cats are if they are suitable for family's etc can be indoor or outdoors and if they can live with cats or dogs
Pretty much tick all the boxes apart from the going outside as thats what i needed

Both are quite young less than a year old went into care when they were pregnant and now just looking for a forever home

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PollyCazaletWannabe · 04/10/2016 09:04

We have just got two sisters and they are inseparable! They are indoor cats but seem very contented keeping each other company.

Are 2 cats better than 1
Are 2 cats better than 1
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als30 · 08/10/2016 22:13

Got the 2 cats this morning and only just came out of hideing lol
Ones more shy than the other so far good though did have a few growls coming from one of them towards the other cat not sure if its just cause one wants space while the other one wants to explore
Ill keep a eye on the both but i was told any problems i was too phone pics up soon

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