Interesting observation about my cat since his brother died

[OscarRIP]

I acquired two tabby brothers fifteen years ago from a lady who kept them in a flat since kittens. When she became pregnant she decided to find a more suitable home for them and I was lucky enough to see her advert in a local pet shop.

They have had a wonderful life since with full access to outdoors in a safe low-car area and, although litter brothers, were not affectionate with each other more like sibling rivals.

Osc died on 5th October after a short illness and he had been a noisy cat, miowing to us regularly. Jumps was the silent one.

Now Jumps is miowing more to me, particularly when he wants door open, or when he feels it is tea time, or when I am not sitting so he can sit with me. This is something Oscar did and Jumps was silent.

Does this resonate with any other cat owners?

@BrevilleTron

I have a mother and son from the cats protection and mum will put son in his place, but he does chase her sometimes. (She delivers pre-emptive slaps for behaviour he has yet to perform) but they do snuggle together (and team up to con their Slaves out of food)

Haha Breville, totally get what you mean about 'teaming up' against the 'staff' .

@Susiesue61

We got two beautiful ginger brothers. Steven died at a few months old, Fernando looked everywhere for him for a few days and then stole his bed 😂 He's still here 10 years later and completely spoilt 😊

Susie, hmm, Jumps doesn't seem to have been looking for Osc at all. Sorry to hear about Steven dying so young, did he have an illness or accident?

Yes, we had two from the same litter. The girl was a lap hog, very friendly and affectionate, boy cat was aloof. She sadly disappeared and like yours, he quickly became very friendly and affectionate, also very chatty, slept on our bed. We used to joke that he preferred life as an only child. He lived to be about 15.

My 2 were 8. One died in April, his db hasn't been the same since. Loud. Needy. Demanding.
And now fat.
Very sad..

@pandafunfactory

Cats are so fascinating. We just have the one and we know she's happiest like that.

Totally agree, Panda and I will not be getting a companion for Jumps, he is top cat now and forever. If I ever replace Jumps in future, it will be with a single cat not a pair.

@OpposableThumbs2

Mine is definitely more vocal since her brother died. I don't think she bothered though. She tolerated rather than loved him.

I think that Jumps didn't need to miow because Osc did it for the both of them .

@autumnboys

Yes, we had two from the same litter. The girl was a lap hog, very friendly and affectionate, boy cat was aloof. She sadly disappeared and like yours, he quickly became very friendly and affectionate, also very chatty, slept on our bed. We used to joke that he preferred life as an only child. He lived to be about 15.

How interesting, Autumn. "Only child" yes, I think most cats would probably like to be this.

One of ours was quite pleased her mum died, and positively delighted her brother died. There was a spring in her step after that.

Steven was born with feline leukaemia, so even though he had his vaccines, they didn't protect him
Fernando is asleep on my blanket now, he's definitely a happy only child

@Sunnydaysstillhere

My 2 were 8. One died in April, his db hasn't been the same since. Loud. Needy. Demanding. And now fat. Very sad..

Oh no, Sunny . Why has he got fat I wonder? What does vet say?

My two ate at my home then went to other homes to raid cat food bowls . Osc was particularly embarrassing, bringing back stolen pouches and biting them open in the garden. In summer (during lockdown) I witnessed him dragging in a packet of baby wipes obviously thinking it was a massive pouch. The shame!

The vet said that although they were not 'fat' they were a little overweight, so I did what I could to regulate their food intake. It was a bit of a waste of time because they were also prolific mousers...

Yes, we had two cats. One of them absolutely adored me and took much of my attention and the other was more aloof although still very sweet but just not as needy.

As soon as her brother died the "aloof" one because a total softie and demanded as much of my attention as her brother did. I missed her brother terribly but it really helped that she filled that hole and I do think it was nice for her to have a few years on her own as he was very dominant over her (although he was a big scaredy cat generally!)

@Susiesue61

We got two beautiful ginger brothers. Steven died at a few months old, Fernando looked everywhere for him for a few days and then stole his bed 😂 He's still here 10 years later and completely spoilt 😊

Steven 😂😂, great cat name.

Vet suggested not to test poorly dcat as his decline was so fast and due to Covid results would be a while back. Pts there and then . He would be too far gone... His db had his jabs as usual and vet had no concerns - he has approximately gained 50 % of his body weight in 6 months... Personally think they both battled 'something' and 1 lost and 1 won...

We had the opposite experience.

Tubby and Scrub weren't brothers, but had been kittens together and lived together for about 20 years (we only adopted them once they were older). Both very vocal and affectionate. Curled up together in the same bed. Sat together in the garden. Swapped back and forth between their food bowls without quarreling. Tubby would wash Scrub, but not vice versa (to be fair Scrub didn't even wash himself).

Eventually poor old Scrub had to be put to sleep. Tubby suddenly became almost silent and much more clingy. He also suddenly lost a lot of physical strength and could no longer jump onto the stool he used to sit on without slipping and scrabbling. This sudden loss of strength was very noticeable and started the day after Scrub was put to sleep.They had probably never been separated before.

Basically poor Tubby was grieving for his lifelong friend

Ha ha @maddiemookins16mum named after footballers

@idril

Yes, we had two cats. One of them absolutely adored me and took much of my attention and the other was more aloof although still very sweet but just not as needy.

As soon as her brother died the "aloof" one because a total softie and demanded as much of my attention as her brother did. I missed her brother terribly but it really helped that she filled that hole and I do think it was nice for her to have a few years on her own as he was very dominant over her (although he was a big scaredy cat generally!)

Idril, after reading these comments I am realising that most cats prefer to be single owned not one of x number in a home. Your experience is lovely and I am so pleased that your other cat got to be top cat for a few years .

@Toscata

We had the opposite experience.

Tubby and Scrub weren't brothers, but had been kittens together and lived together for about 20 years (we only adopted them once they were older). Both very vocal and affectionate. Curled up together in the same bed. Sat together in the garden. Swapped back and forth between their food bowls without quarreling. Tubby would wash Scrub, but not vice versa (to be fair Scrub didn't even wash himself).

Eventually poor old Scrub had to be put to sleep. Tubby suddenly became almost silent and much more clingy. He also suddenly lost a lot of physical strength and could no longer jump onto the stool he used to sit on without slipping and scrabbling. This sudden loss of strength was very noticeable and started the day after Scrub was put to sleep.They had probably never been separated before.

Basically poor Tubby was grieving for his lifelong friend

Oh goodness, Toscata, I am torn with smiling at your fabulous cats' names and being sad at what happened to Tubby .

@Susiesue61

Ha ha *@maddiemookins16mum* named after footballers

Susie Steve Heighway? Steven Gerrard? Steve Harkness?

my rescue boy was initially Cat Four in my old house. he settled well, but there was a bit of food bullying going on so all mealtimes had to be supervised.

he’s such a lovely cat, very sweet but he was totally silent. he spent a lot of time up on top of wardrobes etc. no conflict with the others at all, he was just a bit of a loner. he was 7 months when we brought him home.

i split up with my ex last year and brought boy cat with me when i moved. now he’s the only cat, he’s a totally different personality. he shouts, chirps, sits on my lap, is always next to me. he is way, way happier as a single cat. he doesn’t go out as he has no smarts, but honestly he’s the most contented cat i’ve ever had.

he’ll be 4 in february and he’s the best cat in the world. i’m very glad we found each other, and i’m very glad he’s so happy here.

OscarRIP Thank you ❤️. Tubby luckily had 4 humans dancing attendance on him full-time and spent most of his days being cuddled and petted. So hopefully he wasn't too lonely!

@OscarRIP Stevie G and Mr Torres I let my children name them!!

@fucknuckle

my rescue boy was initially Cat Four in my old house. he settled well, but there was a bit of food bullying going on so all mealtimes had to be supervised.

he’s such a lovely cat, very sweet but he was totally silent. he spent a lot of time up on top of wardrobes etc. no conflict with the others at all, he was just a bit of a loner. he was 7 months when we brought him home.

i split up with my ex last year and brought boy cat with me when i moved. now he’s the only cat, he’s a totally different personality. he shouts, chirps, sits on my lap, is always next to me. he is way, way happier as a single cat. he doesn’t go out as he has no smarts, but honestly he’s the most contented cat i’ve ever had.

he’ll be 4 in february and he’s the best cat in the world. i’m very glad we found each other, and i’m very glad he’s so happy here.

That's very cute 😊

Interesting post.
I have experienced this, but put it down to the 'not vocal at all cat' now having to speak up as the one with ' the voice' had gone.

@fucknuckle

my rescue boy was initially Cat Four in my old house. he settled well, but there was a bit of food bullying going on so all mealtimes had to be supervised.

he’s such a lovely cat, very sweet but he was totally silent. he spent a lot of time up on top of wardrobes etc. no conflict with the others at all, he was just a bit of a loner. he was 7 months when we brought him home.

i split up with my ex last year and brought boy cat with me when i moved. now he’s the only cat, he’s a totally different personality. he shouts, chirps, sits on my lap, is always next to me. he is way, way happier as a single cat. he doesn’t go out as he has no smarts, but honestly he’s the most contented cat i’ve ever had.

he’ll be 4 in february and he’s the best cat in the world. i’m very glad we found each other, and i’m very glad he’s so happy here.

Ah fucknuckle what a lovely story and I love it when my cats chirruped, so sweet and a real expression of happiness.

@crimsonlake

Interesting post. I have experienced this, but put it down to the 'not vocal at all cat' now having to speak up as the one with ' the voice' had gone.

Makes sense, I wondered that, too. Sort of like when an older sibling speaks for the toddler so that they end up slower talking because they don't need to.