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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

One rescue cat or two?

37 replies

CurrerBell · 22/06/2014 21:58

We're about to adopt a cat from the RSPCA - a lovely one year old ginger boy. We were only planning to get one cat, but he's been a bit ill so we've had a few visits to the rescue centre whilst waiting to adopt him. Today we visited and saw a slightly older fluffy three legged cat who was very friendly... The two cats seemed to get on. He came up to us to be petted and was really lovely with our kids. He's been at the rescue centre since March.

I always believed cats were solitary creatures, but the rescue centre suggested they could work as a pair? My husband isn't sure about taking on the second cat as he is long haired and we're not sure about all the grooming / fur balls involved (we haven't had a cat before). Also, is it fair to take on a cat with three legs as a companion to one which is more energetic/agile? We want to be sure we're making the right decision either way (it was hard to leave him behind!). Any advice would be appreciated!

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TitsCrossed · 22/06/2014 22:03

We adopted 2 litter mates as kittens and they adore each other sometimes, chase each other and hiss sometimes and other times they ignore each other!

They mostly get on. Girl Titcat will go hunting and bring back rodents for boy Titcat to eat and it is lovely when they snuggle up together.

TitsCrossed · 22/06/2014 22:06

In fact thinking about it, I can only think of 1 one cat family, most folks with cats I know have multiples.

cozietoesie · 22/06/2014 22:11

What evidence do you/the rescue have that they might work as a pair or 'get on'? They might well, after all, in which case it would be a lovely thing to give an additional home to a tripod.

(I'll leave the long hair issue to other posters with more experience of that. It wouldn't worry me because I usually groom all my cats anyway.)

Original poster

CurrerBell · 22/06/2014 23:51

When the three legged cat was allowed out of his pen he wandered straight into our ginger cat's pen and they seemed fine together. I would want to see them together again before making a final decision I guess...

It would be lovely to give him a home, if it could work (and I can convince DH...). Just a bit daunted by the idea of caring for two cats when I've never had one.

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cozietoesie · 23/06/2014 06:58

Well that does sounds promising.

I'd hesitate to ascribe personalities to colouring but as it happens, all of the ginger toms I've known have been extremely laid back indinviduals who got on well with other cats after just a little care in the introduction. Not every tom is an alpha male and maybe your tripod is a natural wingman? Some of them are - and are delightful cats to have around.

By the way, what was the illness that has prevented you taking the first boy home for a bit?

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/06/2014 07:09

If you buy a furminator from amazon you will not regret it, you'd need a long hair version though.

I'd get them both if they are friendly already. Twice the love.

Poor little mite, I bet everyone's overlooked him because he's three legged.

kinkytoes · 23/06/2014 07:14

Two fewer homeless cats are better than one! If the rescue are happy for them to go together, then I hope you will have them both. The centre should continue to support you after you take them home if you have any questions.

Original poster

CurrerBell · 23/06/2014 07:38

Yes it felt awful to walk away from the three legged cat when the introduction had gone so well! I actually cried! DH had sort of come round to the idea of taking two - there was a beautiful tabby female of a similar size/age to ginger and we went back to see her and they were introduced. However they did not get on at all! It was only the three legged cat that got on with him. But DH wasn't keen as he was long haired and he grew up with a similar cat at his parents'. He also wasn't sure if we could take on a disabled cat and whether he would be able to run away fast enough from the kids if they tried to stroke him too much... He didn't seem to mind them though.

The poor thing is a bit scruffy looking but so affectionate.

OK... what would be involved in adopting two at the same time? Would they need to have two separate spaces to settle in initially?

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Original poster

CurrerBell · 23/06/2014 07:42

cozietoesie, Ginger cat got diarrhoea just before we were due to pick him up, and has had to complete a course of antibiotics at the vet. He's a lot better but has also had to have a steroid injection and an extra check up to make sure. We are due to pick him up on Tuesday.

I'm a bit worried about the diarrhoea but they think it might be stress related as some of the rescue cats get it.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 23/06/2014 07:59

Ooh your dh is on a sticky one here. Df said no to a kitten 28 years ago, then relented the next day but the kitten had been promised to someone else.

He still gets daggers off my mum about that. Especially when there's an advert on tv featuring that particular breed, it was the fashionable breed for a few years so it seemed like every cat food ad had that breed in it.

For a good few years it was on the list of things that we just didn't talk about because it was like lighting the blue touch paper.

cozietoesie · 23/06/2014 08:06

......what would be involved in adopting two at the same time? Would they need to have two separate spaces to settle in initially?......

It so much depends on how they get on in my view. If they were fast friends, they might actually sleep together in a heap but cats seem to have different rules to us. 'Separate places' to cats might actually mean sitting only two feet apart but not looking at each other.

I guess my own thinking is influenced by having so many Siamese who have all pretty well taken a 'Death Before Dishonour' attitude to other cats. And they seem to know if another cat is in the household, separate them as much as you wish by rooms and doors. (I'm sure that there are sociable Siamese, it's just that I've never had one: they can be cantankerous beasts with their own kind.)

Your potential situation actually sounds very positive to me. Sure, the three-legged one might not be quite as fast or as active as the other but tripod cats seem to do very well indeed. There's nothing wrong with having a Homeboy on your lap on a cold winter's night!

cozietoesie · 23/06/2014 08:14

PS - The Lodger (a ginger tom) tried everything in his power to make friends with Seniorboy, doing all his best and most appealing behaviours while Seniorboy sat and sneered at him. (Before we decided to just give up and keep them separately.)

The froideur wasn't down to The Lodger at all - in fact he made fast friends with the young tom who then lived next door: the pair of them used to sit companionably under a tree in the garden enjoying the sunshine. (The Lodger went outside.) I almost expected to open the back door of a morning to find next door's sitting there saying 'Is The Lodger coming out to play?'

Original poster

CurrerBell · 23/06/2014 11:32

That's good - I am hearing only nice things about ginger toms! He seemed quite laid back although playful at the same time. He reached out to the kids as soon as he saw them.

The three legged cat has now been named 'Fluffy' by the kids and they say they want him too, so ginger doesn't get lonely! I am sure DH could be convinced... Just need to know it won't add stress to our household and that the pairing is right!

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cozietoesie · 23/06/2014 12:32

Sorry - if the DCs have named him, that's a done deal now. You'll just have to reconcile DH.

Good luck with the new household.

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/06/2014 12:48

Tbh your dh probably knows its a done deal & is hoping you will all drop it.

You'll all need your best daily sad face tonight. I had Persians growing up and I'd have one again.

I furminated the bengal so much last year the poor cat had little undercoat left but he hardly shedded at all because he had no fur left

Furminator for long haired cats

MinkyWinky · 23/06/2014 13:57

We adopted two rescue cats, who'd only met each other in rescue. They were 'rooming' together, but seemed to get on. A lot of the time they ignore each other (e.g. Sleep on different beds during the day) but they do play chase and sometimes sleep on the sofa together -just not too close. When they first arrived we put both of them in the safe space together - based on the fact that at least they were familiar to each other. I'm glad we did as Batcat encouraged Fluffcat to be more brave and come out from under the radiator and explore the house.

Fluffcat is long haired. We do try to groom him regularly, but he does sometimes get matts which we sneakily cut out when he's preoccupied - usually having a head rub. He doesn't seem to have had fur balls either. Batcat, who's shorthaired, also seems to shed more... No idea why.

We don't regret getting both of them. They have very different personalities and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Original poster

CurrerBell · 23/06/2014 14:14

Ah so many helpful replies - thanks. I can't see us leaving without him now...

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valrhona · 23/06/2014 14:53

Hi CurrerBell
I too am a first time cat-guardian. We took on two at the same time as well. The first few weeks were a bit hairy as there was a bit of bullying and cafeling going on. So we had two cat sanctuaries on the go (one in Utility room, other in main bathroom).
The good news is that 5 weeks later, they are very well settled and get on much better. They regularly nose bump to say hello, and are playing together most days. They are very different personalities but each so sweet in her own way. The one that seemed super-friendly to begin with will not be a lap-cat I think, but the more aloof one turned out to be a real snuggle-muffin. I love them both so much. Can't understand it, I was never a "cat-person". Weird Good luck with your new babies!

Original poster

CurrerBell · 24/06/2014 09:10

That's lovely valrhona, and interesting how your cats' different personalities turned out - so sweet that they greet each other with nose bumps!

I've never been a "cat-person" either but am fast becoming one now.

DH said we could take Fluffy and I'm going to talk to the RSPCA shortly...

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cozietoesie · 24/06/2014 09:12

Let us know how things go?

Wolfiefan · 24/06/2014 09:16

Yay! Two cats hopefully having a lovely new home. We got two rescues. One was long haired. She hated being groomed to start with. I used to give her catnip or food as a distraction.
Little and often.
She also liked to rub her face along a brush. I let her do that, cuddled her and then got a sneaky groom in.
Now she's fine.

cozietoesie · 24/06/2014 09:22

I think that part of the trick is to start with the cat's back and flanks and keep it short at first. You obtain a huge amount of hair from those anyway and it doesn't seem to be as sensitive or trigger the same reaction as bellies etc. If you mirror stroking, they'll usually become accustomed pretty quickly.

Original poster

CurrerBell · 24/06/2014 09:48

Well the good news is that our ginger cat is ready to be adopted this afternoon!

However, when I asked about 'Fluffy' they said someone put a reserve on him at the weekend. It must have been just after we saw him! At least he's found a home at last.

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cozietoesie · 24/06/2014 10:47

Ah well - a good home is excellent news for him. (And if, for some reason, the prospective owner were to pull out, I guess they'll know of your interest?)

Original poster

CurrerBell · 25/06/2014 09:58

Yes we may take another one in time, or if 'Fluffy' becomes available again.

For now we are getting little Giles (ginger) settled in. He is adorable! Although he was a stray he seems so well housetrained already - loves his food, uses the litter tray and loves exploring everywhere. He seems to like our company and follows us around - and he just came and sat on my lap for the first time!

DH is smitten and the kids adore him - such a lovely thing to have a cat in the family!

I don't know how we're going to keep him in for the next three weeks though, as he's spending quite a bit of time looking longingly at the garden...

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