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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

How to choose between two kittens?

64 replies

bunnybleu · 12/03/2017 18:25

Just that really! We need to choose between one all black kitten and one black and white. Both lovely, nothing to distinguish between them personality wise, they were nosey, happy being handled etc. As a family (there's five of us) we can't agree which one to have and we can't have both because I'm being sensible!!
I need to confirm tonight which one we'd like.......help!

OP posts:

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Original poster

bunnybleu · 12/03/2017 22:16

wow!

I forgot to say in my OP that the reason I'm resisting both is that we already have a cat and I'm not sure having two new kittens is fair on him. We had two cats many moons ago, adopted sisters from a rescue. Then after a few drinks at a wedding, I agreed to have a kitten from DHs boss, so two became three! We lost one girl a few years ago and I had to have her sister pts after a stroke last summer (she was 17).

Long story short, we've all agreed on a kitten but I really think one is best rather than two. If we didn't have our boy already I'd have had the two no problem. Two of the litter have been picked, and if we have one and no one has the other the owner is going to keep him so I'm trying not to feel guilty about only picking one.

Thanks so much for your replies. I'm so excited about having a kitten in the house again!

OP posts:

EachandEveryone · 12/03/2017 23:14

Oh, you arent in North London are you so i can scoop the other one up! Are you sure you cant have them both?

Cat rescue places arent keen because i live in a flat theres access to outside but my girl doesnt go out for more than twenty minutes. The flat is quite big for London and she has lots of space indoors and more toys than toys r us. She wants me all the time though. I thought another one would be company for her. I think ill have to get a new one probably from a friend of a friend eventually.

Original poster

bunnybleu · 12/03/2017 23:50

These are from a friend of a friend. Sorry, I'm in Hampshire. It's funny, when we had our first two kittens they did everything together for the first year, then found a way to be companions without being as close. They had very different characters too but I'm glad we had them together as they were company for each other while we were at work (before we had kids!) How I cried when they died. They're buried in the garden in their favourite spots and I often catch myself saying hello as I potter about or peg the washing out.
Now my boy tends to party all night and sleep all day but he loves company and when we go out he often sleeps on the doormat until we get back. He's a real lap cat and often pats us or stretches a paw out when we walk past him. He can be bitey though, think it's part of the ginger tom mentality, he's all "stroke my head, ooh that's nice but I want to bite your arm off.....no don't stop!"

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/03/2017 07:06

I love the astonished looks that being bitten isn't fun for you too.

Icequeen01 · 13/03/2017 07:20

When we took on our two ginger boys we already had a 13 year old female cat who was the one of the sweetest, most loving cats we have ever had. We were a little concerned that one kitten would bother her wanting to play all the time and as she was getting on a bit we didn't think it would be fair. Getting two took the focus off her to be honest and they would play together whilst she looked on almost rolling her eyes. They adored her and she eventually let them sleep on her mat with her. Just sayin ........... 😀😀😀😀

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 13/03/2017 17:12

If you really can't take them both, let them decide for themselves.

When DS had to decide which kitten out of the rescue litter would eventually live with us, he was determined to take the black one (she lives with neighbours now). When he was there to look at them in person a tiny ginger one climbed onto his knee and went to sleep.
How could DS say no?

Kiroro · 14/03/2017 16:21

See I'd never get two together again. My pair never ever been need with us. Many years ago now. Mum then got two together and same, disinterested in humans

I just got one kitten for a few reasons - 1) had two litter mates as a child that really didn't get on as adults 2) two from the same litter I got Kitten from would have been a HUGE initial outlay 3) house isn't THAT big, and garden is small 4) just me, so not loads of people to play with them/give attention.

I am thinking "wish he had a bro/sis to play with" a little bit, but I think when he gets to adult hood he will be totally content as an only.

Hawkmoth · 14/03/2017 16:24

Not RTFT but get both. We only brought one home and I'm still sad that we didn't bring his bonkers sister as well.

We ended up getting another after a year anyway.

Now I know we need three in case something happens to one and they end up alone.

QODRestYeMerryGentlemen · 14/03/2017 17:03

kiroro I meant to say
Never bonded with us 🙄😂

But yeah also the financial side, my boy now has insurance and treats and all, now he's 8 if I had 2, I'd be paying £30 a month insurance, £200 a year vaccinations, £120 every 4 months for flea and worm stufff. This monster is easily affordable

EachandEveryone · 14/03/2017 17:12

How big does a home have to be? My flat is bigger than some people's little houses it has two double bedrooms and a big kitchen. No garden though that's why I wouldn't be allowed another. I'm picking mine up from the cattery tomorrow and the owner has said mine has been lovely with her two big boys and she loves the boy in the flat next door. Maybe coming into
Her territory it would be different though. Aw, I could really kick myself not doing it in the first place.

CharlieChopstix · 14/03/2017 17:17

I'd never get two either

Yes kittens play together etc etc. But people seem to forget that cats are generally solitary creatures and as a rule will 'tolerate' another cat but they don't actually need it nor particularly like it. Adult cats prefer to be only cats and you only have to look at the amount of threads in here describing multiple cat households where one cat or other is pissing where they shouldn't or marking etc

One is plenty

scaryteacher · 14/03/2017 23:42

I had three first time around and they weren't litter mate, but they had been in the CPL together. They operated as a tight unit. My current two I adopted at different times, and after about a year they settled in together. They tolerate each other, but defend each other in the garden when necessary. They were both adults when I got them.

UptownFlunk · 15/03/2017 02:19

Cats are certainly not all solitary creatures. I have three cats & they all love one another. Before I got our youngest cat we had a lovely tabby that died. One of my other cats was devoted to her, she was like his mum even though she wasn't his mum. He grieved for a year for her. It was amazing how depressed he was after she died and how he gradually got back to being himself.

To the posters wondering about introducing another cat. I've done it quite a few times now (always successfully) so here are my tips. Always introduce a kitten rather than another cat - cats are far more tolerant and less defensive towards a kitten. Also, always get a kitten of the opposite sex to the cat. Start off keeping the kitten in a separate room, then use one of those big dog cages and put the kitten in there with bedding, food, tray etc and then put the cage in the living room or where the other cat goes regularly. The kitten will be protected and the other cat will feel safe as well but they can both get the other's scent, look at one another and just get used to one another being around in a non-threatening way. It works really well. I usually find that it only takes a day or two for them to be fine with one another.

Kiroro · 15/03/2017 14:13

He grieved for a year for her

When TabbyCatBro1 died TabbyCatBro2 became this whole new nicer happy chilled out cat rather than the unpredictable scratchy cat he was whilst in the same house as his bro!

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