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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.

Original poster

One kitten or two? (siblings)

48 replies

NameChange30 · 28/09/2014 17:45

DH and I agreed to get a kitten and saw some today - they're just under 6 weeks old and SO ADORABLE. I would like to get 2 because a) they can keep each other company and b) we have each fallen in love with a different kitten and can't decide! DH thinks we should just get one because of the extra effort/expense. It's already great that he's on board to get one because he's never had cats and wasn't sure - but now he's totally fallen for one of the kittens :) Yay!
So what do you advise, Mumsnet?! Pros and cons of having one kitten or two?
PS DH loves dogs so we also plan to get a golden retriever in the future when the cat(s) is/are older and settled... We will of course follow all advice to introduce them carefully etc. SIL says two cats might gang up on the dog, but surely that's nonsense?!

OP posts:
GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 28/09/2014 17:54

Two kittens are company for each other and it's great fun watching them play.

Obviously the expense is x2 but there isn't extra effort in my experience. Apart from cleaning the litter tray a bit more often.

MadameLeBean · 28/09/2014 17:59

I have two. That's is a LOT of poo.
Just saying!
Mine never graduated to "outside" from indoor litter tray (I even got them a covered one outside!) but they are so fussy that I had to bring it back in and I am shovelling shit every evening Hmm

My previous cats always went roaming and did their business far away from the house, so I guess I'm just unlucky with these.

I do love them and they are very cute together and cuddle when we are out at work; that's why we wanted two as well

Considering litter kwitter now (desperate) HmmHmm

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 28/09/2014 17:59

Two will be more expense, but not that much extra effort. And kittens do seem to enjoy having company.

Original poster
NameChange30 · 28/09/2014 21:18

Thanks all! So that's 3/3 in favour of two kittens - but I am on the "litter tray" forum. Wonder if I'd have got the same response on the doggy forum or AIBU?! Just need to keep working on DH then... Wish me luck! ;)

OP posts:
thoughtsbecomethings · 28/09/2014 21:20

I got 2 little sister kittens couldn't imagine just having one as they really depended on each other in the early days. Smile

GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 28/09/2014 21:21

You know it makes sense! It's a playmate for your kitten, you get one each for your laps, you won't need a tv for a few months as you'll be watching them play. Grin

stealthsquiggle · 28/09/2014 21:21

Two. For the company.

itsnothingoriginal · 28/09/2014 22:12

I took on just one kitten - DH just wouldn't have 2 and we simply couldn't afford to look after/insure more than one. I would love another but I do think cat (as she now is!) is well pampered and perfectly happy as an only Grin

You do have to be sure about cost - it does add up with flea treatment, good quality food and any unexpected vet bills each month! Shock

nooka · 28/09/2014 22:15

We've pretty much always had two cats, and the last two pairs have been siblings. The only issue I've had is that they seemed to like each other better than us sometimes, which can be a bit annoying (ie they curl up together rather than on my lap). But both pairs we got as adults which is probably quite different than bringing up kittens.

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 28/09/2014 22:17

I started out with 2 sisters (have a 3rd as well now) - as kittens they were inseparable, & it does seem hugely settling for them to have each other.

The biggest double expense is vet fees - mainly vaccinations. Food & litter isn't a massive amount (ours do go outside but I want them to continue to use the litter tray so as not to piss off the neighbours)

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 28/09/2014 22:19

Our 2 (the sisters) have completely different personalities so we humans aren't excluded by their relationship with each other Grin

bishboschone · 28/09/2014 22:19

Two .. Always two... We got two boys in 1998.. Pre children .. They slept like ying and yang every night until February this year when one had a stroke one morning and we lost him right out of the blue Hmm... The surviving brother has coped better than I thought but the relationship they had was so wonderful to watch and share with them .. My advice would be to get the last two . My boys were strays that were handed into the vets . They were found huddled up Together with their dog friend so only had each other .. I miss my boy sooo much :(

FamiliesShareGerms · 28/09/2014 22:26

We've always had at least two. You get occasional cats who like a solitary life, but generally they do like company

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 29/09/2014 08:29

Two :) Mine are now 16 weeks and having got cats singly before, the difference is so lovely to watch. They call for each other if they haven't seen each other for a few minutes, they sleep snuggled up and grom each other, and they are bonkers! And they are just as cuddly to us!

thecatneuterer · 29/09/2014 08:35

I'm with a cat rescue charity and we will only home kittens under three to four months old in pairs as they rely on each other so much for play and comfort. It's stressful for them to be removed from their mother and to also be removed from their siblings makes it so much worse. Unless you are able to have a kitten with you 24 hours a day then you really should get two. And even if you are able to devote 24 hours a day of your time, they would still be happier with a playmate.

Or if you want one only (and expense is really the only argument for that) then consider adopting an adult rescue cat instead.

WellWhoKnew · 29/09/2014 08:47

If you get two at the same time, then the vet fees that they charge are less when you get vaccinations at the same time (it's like the second consultation is cheaper)

If you get two at different times, then you pay per cat.

Something I wish I'd known before...

Got a second to keep the first one company. They are as different as chalk and cheese, but watching them chases each other round the house is fun! Watching one commit 'cassault' on t'other not so much.

abigamarone · 29/09/2014 09:46

Two every time, none of us have the energy to entertain our two the way they do each other. They're very rarely apart and look a bit lost if shut in separate rooms.

micah · 29/09/2014 09:52

Cats don't need "company", and they can be very territorial.

Only get more than one if you have plenty of space, outside and inside. If you live in a place with a lot of cats, then one is better so inside can be his territory.

We got siblings, small 2 bed house on a road where every house also had 2 cats. On the face of it they got on well, but when the got to 8m they developed a lot of territorial behaviours, fighting with other cats, spraying all over the house, toilet issues...

We tried everything, with the advice of our excellent vet. In the end we split them, again on vet advice, one going to a relative.

They are both much, much happier alone. No fighting, no wandering, the spraying and other attention seeking behaviour stopped.

IceRocket · 29/09/2014 09:56

Yeah I'd get 2 they're lovely together and in my experience doesn't make them less affectionate to humans. They seem to be more accepting of other cats to. You know, in case you get another friend for them next year Wink

Rainicorn · 29/09/2014 09:56

Two definitely.

I want a kitten but dh says no as we already have 2 cats but I reckon you can never have enough cats Wink

Hoppinggreen · 29/09/2014 13:58

At least 2!!!!!!

MmeMorrible · 29/09/2014 14:00

Always two - so lovely for them to have feline company.

For the first time ever we have a single cat (he was a reject, returned to breeder as he was so noisy & naughty) & I worry that he is lonely for his own kind.

Original poster
NameChange30 · 29/09/2014 21:14

Thanks everyone, it's great to know so many of you have had good experiences with two cats :)
Do any of you have a dog as well? If so how do the dog and cats get on?

OP posts:
Original poster
NameChange30 · 29/09/2014 21:16

micah, were your cats male and unneutered, by any chance? I've heard that male cats can behave like than if they haven't had the snip... Might have just been their personalities though. Anyway sounds like you did the right thing to split them up.

OP posts:
Queenofknickers · 29/09/2014 21:23

I have 3 cats and a dog Shock - 2 of the cats were a rescue pair from a shelter, the other cat is an old lady but again we had her as a pair until we lost her brother to cancer last yearSad. The dog/puppy (but she is full-size collie now) LOVES the cats desperately and although there can be some spitting from the old lady, the younger rescue pair snuggle with the dog, let her bury her face in their fur (she clearly loves the smell) and generally get along. This my be to do with the fact that we got the puppy when the cats were only a few months old and that we got the puppy from a rescue centre that predominantly has cats so she was already a cat-lover! I know it sounds like a lot but we are so happy with our house of animals!