A few questions for knowledgeable cat people

[Lloydcolestilldoesitforme]

Hello
We have been thinking about getting a cat and have a couple of questions.

We live in a large terrace house with a big garden in London. If we get a cat, I would like a cat (s) that go outside but my main concern is that there are already cats living on both sides of us and they use our garden as bit of a thoroughfare. One of the cats in particular appear to be a bit of terrorist towards other cats and our neighbours on the other side have commented that he has harassed their (smaller) cats in the past and now one doesn't venture far. I am worried that any cat that came to live with us would end being bullied also. Am I right to be worried.

Also, is it better to have 2 cats than just one?

Thanks in advance for your help/comments.

Not quite sure about your first point. I see what you mean, but if you took that to its logical conclusion no-one would ever get a cat, unless they were moving into a new-build or had a house-cat :)
Second point, I would only have two cats if they were already used to being together, from experience. Maybe if you got two from a rescue, who were in there together, and used to each other, or two from the same litter as kittens.

Re the territorial issue - it's impossible to predict. You could end up with a feisty cat who makes it very clear that the garden is now his/her patch, or you could end up with a timid neurotic little thing who gets bullied. And you won't be able to tell by looking at them as a kitten. On the whole, though, I think most cats accommodate each other - they'll flex their muscles for a bit and then just settle into a system. There was a BBC show recently where they put GPS collars on cats and worked out that some were effectively sharing territories by taking it in turns to patrol - Cat A did 10-2, Cat B did 3 - 7, etc.

Re the numbers of cats - again, hard to predict. Sometimes having 2 means that they bond with each other well and are far less bothered about looking to humans for company/cuddles. But then again they have that constant company with a fellow cat, and I don't know how important that is. On the whole I think most cats are happy to be solitary pets.

On the first point- yes your cat might get bullied. But it also might not, and it's something that could happen whether or not you were aware it was a possibility beforehand. I wouldn't worry too much- cats do tend to sort themselves out.

If you're thinking of getting rescue cats my advice would be to take as many as you can happily accommodate, because shelters are so crammed. Also if they're friends then that may help with the territory stuff. So yes I'd say get two- but I don't think there'd be a massive downside to just getting one, if that's what youd rather do.

Good luck with your new cat or cats!

If there are a lot of cats in your area get one cat.

Cats are solitary by nature. Even if the cat you get can stand up for himself and stamp out his territory outside, it will be stressful for him. He needs a safe place with no other cats to defend his territory from.

Get two and they'll extend their territorial behaviour into the house, as the mark out their own areas. Once that starts its very difficult to stop, and it's stressful for them.

This happens with any combination of cats btw, whether they get on or not. We had two siblings, slept together, groomed each other, played together. But they sprayed/scratched/marked all over. We split them in the end, they were both much happier, and didn't miss each other at all.

We live in a similar situation and adopted two (litter pair, one year old at the time sisters) about 18 months ago. Our next door neighbours have two neutered males who previously regarded our garden as their territory.

Each of us has one feisty cat and one walk-away-from-trouble cat. So, the walk-away cats stare at each other a bit but keep their distance. The two feisty cats do slug it out a bit, both verbally (screech through windows at each other) and stalking each other in the garden. They do pounce at each other but neither has ever been injured.

We did have to make some adjustments in the early days. We installed a microchip catflap so ours know they can always get back into the house without being followed. One of ours did show signs of stress (weeing in the understairs cupboard), but we moved litter trays to the cupboard and feeding bowls out of sight of windows (next door's feisty cat comes up to our patio doors and windows and presses his nose to the glass). Since then ours have showed no signs of stress, they scratch a little but have never marked/sprayed. They scrap with each other occasionally, but nothing serious.

The problem is it's hard to predict.

Buy a male bengal, that'll teach the bully cat who's boss.

I wouldn't worry about the neighbours cats tbh.

Kittens like having a playmate but if you want an older rescue cat there are plenty like this beautiful girl who are happy on their own beautiful cat

Wow, that is one stunning cat. Is it a BSH?.

Its a chinchilla cat - never heard of one before and am guessing she wasn't cheap. Can't believe at only 8mos she is in a rescue centre

Furs too short. Breeder reject?

Hard to sell a longhair cat with short fur.

but she is beautiful! I can't believe she will be at the sanctuary for long- op you should adopt her!!

Joke or not please do not get a Bengal if you want to let your cat out!

waits for the people talking them their Bengal is different and wouldn't hurt a fly

My bengal is different and wouldn't hurt a fly.

Kidding, he's a psycho & next doors tortie now suffers from agoraphobia.

She is gorgeous isn't she?.

Chinchilla describes the colour (white fur with very restricted black tipping). Though chinchilla is best known as a colour form of Persian cats, I guess cos the colour looks particularly striking on longhairs, you can also get chinchilla British shorthairs (which is what Maisey seems to be), exotic shorthairs etc.

Ha, Fluffy you stirrer, I knew you wouldn't get away with that suggestion!

There's a Bengal next door to a friend of mine. She has the most enormous five toed tabby bruiser, and even he's had to admit defeat and now allows the Bengal into the house to snack on his breakfasts.

I bet he looks gorgeous while he's doing it though.

The beautiful cat looks like an exotic short-hair?

Before we moved, MCat had a Bengal cat-friend. MCat's a bastard, but he used to flop on the floor and writhe about tarting it up in front of this cat. He was very polite though, if the window was open, he'd stick his head through it and miaow a request to enter. Bit like a vampire I suppose.

Definitely looks closer to the Exotic shorthair or corrupt persian then the British to me due to the doll face.

Geeky fact no1 - the similar colourings are due to the fact that Persians were outcrossed with American and British short hairs to create the Exotic short hair.

Geek fact no 2 - an exotic shorthair with a genetic throwback that gives it long hair is still and exotic shorthair and a short haired persian is still a persian - due to the breed lines.

I don't think Maisey's face looks squished enough for exotic shorthair - in the pics I've seen their noses are pretty much level with their eyes, like this.

that's an ultra not a doll face - both are recognised (as with persians).

Also I doubt she would be a ped (or she would probably have gone back to her breeder) so she may be mixed breed and definately won't be a show example.

Ah, OK, I've not seen the doll face type before. A bit cuter than the ultra IMHO :)

I agree, I prefer it - hence my babies.

it is the classic, older style of cat closer to the original Persians.

Oh, they are stunning!

Reminds me of a Bush Baby. Cute.

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