To get two cats instead of one?

[FlowersAndShit]

Landlord has changed his mind and said I can have a cat! I've had my eye on an elderly cat at a rescue who has been there for 2 years, but i'd also like to get a Ragdoll kitten. I'm thinking of getting both, but do I get the kitten first or the elderly cat? Or do I get one and not the other?

[ValiantMouse]

My half Ragdoll kitten is currently running laps around my bedroom, pausing only to jump all over me. I love her to bits, but Christ, she's hard work.

[iwantbrewstersmillions]

I do think older cats are better as indoor cats. Mine also had the condition of staying inside although they do from time to time go into our secure garden but never for very long.

They also tend to wreck furniture less.

I adore my older cats and they are so so hard to rehome as people want kittens that I always try and get people to take older cats

[FlowersAndShit]

Morgan and Midnight They are so beautiful!

[RhiWrites]

Kittens are cute but they are not cuddly. They want to explore and play - they often want to escape and get outside.

An elderly cat is more sedate, more likely to be cuddly and less likely to insist on going out. Get the rescue cat. I say this as someone who got kittens (not from a breeder) 18 years ago and one is now sleeping on me now. I'll get a rescue next time.

[Ericaequites]

In the States, bonded pairs of cars are common in shelters. Often, only one rescue fee is charged. That's one good way to acquire two cats. Taking two kittens from the same litter works well also.
I adopted a fat black older ex tomcat from a pound. He is very sweet, even if he looks like a meatloaf.

[MidnightVelvetthe4th]

There are about 6 Ragdoll specific breed rescues in the uk where you can get an adult Ragdoll and sometimes kittens.

Keeping my rescue Ragdoll inside was a condition of the adoption so my girl is an indoor cat but she's extremely dim so it's probably for the best. Get a rescue Ragdoll and get the best of both worlds

Here's my girl, she's 6

[givemushypeasachance]

You don't know what sort of a cat a kitten is going to mature into temperament-wise; will they be hyper or anxious or chilled or very adventurous. That's a definite plus of getting an adult cat from a rescue centre where they may have details of their previous home, or will have at least been able to assess how they behave being in the centre.

Several rescues around near me will rehome some cats as indoor-only; it all depends on their individual circumstances. Some cats have health issues which mean they have to be kept in (FIV, or blind/deaf and at greater risk going out) or they may have lived indoors all their lives and are older so less likely to adapt well to suddenly being given outdoor access.

[Cnmorgan13]

I have 2 ragdoll cats (one bought, one rehomed with us) and we lived in a flat. Both indoors. They get on ok so it is doable. Here's my 2 rags

[piglover]

Kittens are charming and lovely but it takes a lot of work to socialise them so that they aren't complete pills when they become adults. Another vote for the older one (and if s/he's black, so much the better. I have 3 wonderful black rescue cats who are great companions.)

[iwantbrewstersmillions]

I've found these 2ragdolls that need a new home.

If you don't live up north they can help get the cats to you.

www.chapelhouse-persians.co.uk/apps/webstore/products/show/6318313

[munkisocks]

I don't agree with rescues saying no so much. Surely a cat just needs a loving home and plenty of cuddles. So what if you live in a flat, have kids, work full time. I'm sure it's better being there a couple of hours with it then it living in a cage in a rescue. If it's your first cat then maybe a rescue cat. If you work full time, sorry I haven't rtft, then a kitten will be hard to train. Two are better than one in my opinion though as it gives a cat company especially if it's a house cat.

I have 4 cats in a 2 bed bungalow and they are very friendly to the point they groom each other. I got them all as kittens.

[maybebabybee]

we tried about 10 shelters, all said the same thing - we live in a flat, both work, and they thought we might have kids soon, so all said no.

I have to disagree on having two in a small space based on personal experience. we have two indoor girls in a two bedroom flat and they won't be without each other....they don't even like being in separate rooms.

[pictish]

Not saying you should get a kitten btw, or saying you shouldn't, it's up to you.
I'm just clarifying that rescue cats aren't always the easiest to come by.

[TheNoodlesIncident]

Don't have two. They really don't want other cats around, especially if your accommodation is on the small side. We have a 2 rescue cats in a 3 bed semi with biggish garden, and one cat still growls and hisses at the other.

They are mother and daughter too, so not like they don't know each other.
Cats are much happier as singletons, really. They are very much about territory...

[NameChange30]

Btw this book, The Cat Expert has lots of great advice about how to choose and look after your cat, including the different breeds, kitten v older cat, indoor v outdoor, etc.

[pictish]

My old work place often stipulated no young children/children at all, no other pets, must have garden, must not work full time, must not live near main road. They did home visits too.
There was sound reasoning behind all those things - a shy cat is no use with kids, for example...but it's not always that easy to match the right cat to the right owner with the right set of circumstances. It's not the case that there are rakes of rescue cats to pick from, that will suit you. I waited about a year for the right cat for our family circumstances to come up.
It's easier getting a kitten. Much.

[iwantbrewstersmillions]

There are rescues that work with just these and other specific types of cats. I got my Persians from a Persian rescue.

Do you have Facebook? Look up strawberry Persian rescue as think they have a rag doll at the moment.

Please try and rescue if you can.

These are my two rescue cats. They were 10 when they came to us :)

[Birdsgottafly]

I've, or rather my DD has got a kitten and we haven't slept for two nights. She's gorgeous and my older cat likes her, but she's hard work.

She was feral and abandoned, though.

I think the elderly cat would be a good option for now. There won't be any damage for your LL to complain about and charge you for.

See how you go and there will be lots of young cats available in the New year.

[19lottie82]

OP there are plenty of rescue cats that are already indoor only cats. Why not visit your local shelter and have a chat about your situation and see if they have any cats that would suit?

[anotherbloomingusername]

Re: the elderly cat with a cold/runny nose, it isn't necessarily an ongoing health issue. However, it can often be a result of FCV or FHV, both of which remain latent in the cat's system. What that means is that if the cat goes through a period of stress, the virus can become active and the cat will show symptoms again. During those times, the cat will be contagious.

[MoriartyIsMyAngel]

I think it's really for the best that you don't adopt the needy cat.

Get the pretty Ragdoll. And how about accessorizing with some of those super cute kittens that look blue, lilac and peeeenk?

[19lottie82]

Zoe....... i got a cat recently from the Cats Protection Society, and each cat avaluable for adoption has a "profile", which details if they are suitable to be re homed with children dogs, and / or other cats. The majority are not suitable for being reformed with other cats (although a few are).

The CPS advise that this is because they are already under the stress of entering a new environment, so adding another cat into the mix would increase that already huge stress enormously, so it's not recommended.

If you do want to get another cat in the future then they advise that you wait until your rescue cat is 100% settled in their new environment, before introducing another cat.

As I was told this by the CPS less than 6 weeks ago, I can pass that information on that it isn't a "stupid myth", as you so put it!

[FluffyPersian]

Could you consider an FIV positive kitten? You shouldn't let them outside and there are loads of FIV cats just looking for love / a home - My parents have a 3 legged one and despite what people think, he's not had any additional health issues and he's been with them for over 6 years :)

[NameChange30]

"they have to be indoor cats because I live in a flat."

That was a bit of a drip feed. Based on that I would like to change my advice and say DON'T get two cats. Cats are territorial and a flat with no outside access will not provide enough territory for two cats to live happily together. I sometimes worry about our two (siblings from the same litter) and we have a 3-bed semi with cat flap access to a big garden.

I also think it's cruel to keep a young cat indoors, when their nature is to go out to explore and play. It depends on their temperament of course but a rescue will be able to advise you about the cat's temperament and whether it's likely to be happy indoors.

If you must get a ragdoll kitten please get it from a rescue if you can, and get just one.

[ZoeTurtle]

The majority of rescue cats shouldn't be introduced to homes with other cats

Where did you get that from? This kind of stupid myth puts people off adopting.