Shall I get another cat?

[TreeOfCats]

Hi there,

We rescued a 13 month old cat a few months ago, we know very little about her history, only that she was found abandoned in a cardboard box, covered in fleas and scabs.

When we got her the shelter specified that she is an indoor cat, due to how timid and spooky she was and also due to our house, we live on a 20mph road (but do have fields and lodges round the back of the house)

She has now massively come out of her shell and is a bold, playful little thing.

I'm wondering whether to get another cat for company for her, since she is a house cat? We play with her loads, she has her own space, a cat tree, masses of toys, im training her to do tricks so she is mentally stimulated etc, but obviously I can't replicate her playing with her own species!

What do people think?

Thank you!

@jessieminto What a fab photo!

Just wanted to update and say that I changed my mind and we ended up getting a kitten. Well, he is amazing and they are best friends, I have been so lucky. Pixel (the girl) has become so much more playful and she adores her little brother Milo. There was some hissing the first few days but now they sleep together, eat together and play together. We are having to split them up when we feed them because Milo eats her big sisters food, and she lets him! Milo is a very needy cat (he sits on my shoulder while I'm in the bath) and it has made Pixel more loving, which is lovely.

Very glad I went against my initial thoughts!

Here they are!

Super cute! I'm glad you changed your mind 🥰 they'll love each other!

Super adorable x

Lovely!
Have you made up your mind about letting them out? It seems a shame not to!

awww hes super cute and glad it all worked out right

@NotABeliever Not fully, no! I'm thinking a catio may be a good compromise. I'm on a local FB group and at least 2 cats a week are pictured missing or dead, I think I must live in a bad area for drivers! My worry is that our road and behind our house are fine, but two streets away round the front there is a main road, it's only a 30mph road but it does get busy. Really not fully decided.

Do you think it's best to let them out? We got Milo from another shelter, they didn't do a home visit but checked our street on Google maps and said they'd be happy to let him out, whereas the first shelter said not to, so I'm not sure what to do for the best!

He hasn't yet got the memo that cats don't like water. Tonight he jumped up and clung onto the side meowing for attention. He looks like a little old man!

Most cats do prefer to be on their own. In fact most cats feel stressed with another one because it's competition for them in terms of food and shelter etc, plus they will want your undecided attention.
Only get a second cat if you want one and not for the sake of your cat as it might turn out to be the opposite of what you wanted..

Sorry OP I see you did get another one and oh my what a beautiful little guy.
Ignore what I said if it's working for you all x

He’s adorable!
So pleased it's going well.

On letting them out.... I let my indoor cat out earlier this year and he was killed as he had no road sense. He was so curious and headstrong, the harness did NOT work, he hated it, and for ages he was amazing and I adored seeing him fulfil himself and be happy, bound up to me from outside, just so adorable. But he was killed very quickly. I do not know how it would have been to have kept such a headstrong little boy animal inside for his entire life, and would I change what I did and cope with him, and make him cope with just looking at life through the window? I think maybe I would. Depending on how much he hated staying in. Just think it through as mine is gone now.

Love the pic where Pixel is 'totally' ignoring her new younger brother but loving the fact she knows he is copying her every move behind her

HRTFT but cats are cool so yes.

The answer to this question is always YES!

My cats were litter mates and got along fine together for 16 years - so I thought - but the remaining one was SO much happier when the other one died. I always thought cats should come in pairs but now I really don't.

Sorry, just passing by again....in haste. Get two. We did. Bye.....

@something2say I'm so sorry to hear about your boy 😔You did what was best for him at the time.

I got Milo a harness last night, he isn't overly keen but let's me put it on him. Will try and get him used to wearing it in the house! He's hiding his face in shame!