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

Original poster

Is your only cat happy?

43 replies

Wellmeetontheledge · 07/08/2018 19:45

We adopted a lovely year old tabby girl just under 2 months ago. She is now my baby and I’ve become ridiculously anxious about her being lonely when we are at work.

She’s an only cat who can’t jump out of our back garden (missing a back leg) and I worry about her being lonely in the day. She doesn’t seem to like next doors cat at all though! There is posturing and hissing when they see each other.

Please reassure me with tales (tails!) of your content only cats!

OP posts:
ImAGoofyGoober · 07/08/2018 19:47

Mine is ok with it but I am searching for the right friend for him. I’m at home a lot so can play with him, plus he’s got loads of toys and climbing frames.

What’s putting you off having another cat?

ChristinaMarlowe · 07/08/2018 19:51

My cat is perfectly happy and I suspect our purchasing a play mate would upset him but he is a hunter - lots of gifts... Boak Envy- so never bored. He's recently found a way around the huge bell on his neck and is back to bringing home partridge and all sorts, the mind boggles as you can hear him coming a mile off..!
I would think a friend might be hard to find as I'd worry they'd bully her with being more able than she is with a missing leg but could be completely wrong. How old is she?

Heratnumber7 · 07/08/2018 19:56

I think cats are fairly solitary by nature. Once they've stopped being kittens they stop playing with each other and don't really acknowledge each other.
How do you think your three legged cat would feel if a four legged friend can get out of the garden, and leave it behind?

SeekingClosure · 07/08/2018 19:56

We got our cat from rescue on the understanding that we wouldn't get a second cat. He was very stressed at his original home because they had another cat he didn't get on with, and he developed a bladder blockage as a result!

Some cats are happier alone.

FabLaura · 07/08/2018 20:08

It's lovely that your cat is your baby Smile

We felt the same about our cat, we both worked full time and was worried that he was lonely. I think with hindsight he was happier alone (we got him a 'friend', they tolerate each other). He had all the nests to himself and didn't have to share his territory or food bowl.

Original poster
Wellmeetontheledge · 07/08/2018 20:09

Thanks for your replies. She is 1. She had lived at cats protection since she was 5 months old during to her surgery and recovery so we don’t really know how she’d be with another pet in a home environment. She’s confident and curious but isn’t that fussed on being touched. The things that are putting me off getting a second cat are:

  1. our house is a small 2 bed terrace and I’m not sure it’s big enough for two territories;
  2. if the cats didn’t get on it would be horrible for us and the second cat to have to rehome it again;
  3. I’m really not sure she’d get on with another cat based on her relations with next doors.
  4. a neighbours cat recently got hit by a car on our quiet road do I’m quite pleased she can’t get out of the garden. This would probably not be the case with another cat.

It seems like too big a risk to be fair on a potential second cat. I’m kicking myself for not taking a photo of the info on her own door at the adoption centre as I can’t remember if it said she should be an only cat or not.

I’m quite happy with one cat but I’m worried I’m unintentionally being cruel!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wellmeetontheledge · 07/08/2018 20:11

@fablaura that’s a reassuring story :)

And she is :) I’ve always loved cats and lived with them but didn’t realise how much more I’d worry when I had my ‘own’!

OP posts:
HardAsSnails · 07/08/2018 20:12

It's definitely not cruel, and I wouldn't rock the boat tbh. She sounds perfectly happy.

hugoagogo · 07/08/2018 20:16

Yes we have always had one puss at a time, although I grew up with multiple 'farm' cats.
Current kitty seems to like being on her own, in fact when she went on holiday to the cattery she loved it. Hmm

esk1mo · 07/08/2018 20:16

i dont think she will be lonely Smile cats are good at entertaining themselves and they spend alot of time sleeping.

you dont want to risk getting another cat and she ends up miserable, then you might have to rehome the new cat.

just make sure you play with her and give her lots of attention when you’re home.

MrsBertBibby · 07/08/2018 20:16

They are solitary by nature. She'll be happy as Larry in her private kingdom. Don't ruin it for her!

DramaAlpaca · 07/08/2018 20:17

Our boy has come out of his shell so much in the last couple of years since our much older other cat died. I really think he's happier being an only cat. He does occasionally visit some of the neighbouring cats & hang out with them, but he definitely likes having the house to himself.

ToftheB · 07/08/2018 20:20

I got a friend for my prescious first cat baby and, although I do love them both, they hardly interact and I think my first cat preferred being an only child. She is a big grump though...

Penfold007 · 07/08/2018 20:33

Pengirl much prefers being an only cat. It means she can terrorise her slave and has him licked into shape. DH is her slave

MoltenLight · 07/08/2018 20:39

My girl came from a home with 3 other cats and a dog and she’s a million times happier and more confident on her own.

If I watch YouTube videos of other cats and she hears them miaowing she gets jealous and comes to sit on my chest so she knows she’s still special Grin

I do think about getting her a friend as she’s a Maine Coon and is very playful and sociable with humans, but she seems happy just getting a few good play sessions and lots of cuddles in each day. She’s happy to play alone, too. She has a toy box and favourite toys that she gets out on her own. So cute! I leave puzzle feeders and toys that I hide and rotate out so she always has some new stimulation.

Whatsthisbear · 07/08/2018 20:40

Happy solo cat. I have contemplated offering a home to another BUT have heard too many stories about initial cats noses being put out of joint and being unhappy with an intruder so will stick with solo cat.

They sleep the majority of the time anyway. Mine used to leap up to greet us when we came home. Now, at nearly 2, he doesn’t even raise a whisker!

WatcherintheRye · 07/08/2018 20:44

bringing home partridge

Shock < voles and slow worms pale into insignificance >

Original poster
Wellmeetontheledge · 07/08/2018 20:45

This is reassuring to hear! :)

She’s so lovely and cute! She seems quite independent at the minute, she’s not really into being stroked or petted unless it’s 3am or you’ve just come home. She likes to play when she’s in the right mood but at the moment likes playing on her own in the garden chasing flies and ants. I think as she lived for so long in a fostering and cattery environment it’s just taking her a while to work out that this is her home now.

OP posts:
ThePricklySheep · 07/08/2018 20:47

Our cat was much happier when the other cat died. I think they were always frightened of each other. I think with cats they usually don’t like other cats, some siblings excepted.

Want2beme · 07/08/2018 20:48

I've always had more than 1 cat at a time - not intentionally, they just happen to come along Grin. My one constant, brilliant cat was friendly with all the interlopers who entered his life. As far as I'm concerned, he was the best thing since sliced bread. However, not all of the others were friendly towards each other and my little white cat is hated by every cat she encounters, bless her. You just don't know how things will pan out with them - they're so contraryConfused

ChristinaMarlowe · 07/08/2018 21:02

@WatcherintheRye We live next to a game keepers reserve in a barn conversion... I'm waiting to see said keeper walk past with Oscar Wilde (our ginger Tom) strung up along with his precious fowl... Confused

violeticecream · 07/08/2018 21:03

My rescue cat was taken to the cats protection along with his sister. Someone came and only wanted to adopt the female so he was left. The sister was the dominant one and the cats protection said you usually get one cat who is the boss in a pair. My cat is now really happy and confident being the only cat. I think a lot of cats are happy being the only one.

WatcherintheRye · 07/08/2018 21:47

Oh, I do hope not, @ChristinaMarlowe Sad We also have a ginger tom who would be in his element next to a gamekeeper's reserve! It must have you constantly on edge, though.

Original poster
Wellmeetontheledge · 07/08/2018 22:05

I’ve just googled what a partridge is!

OP posts:
Judydreamsofhorses · 07/08/2018 22:08

Our girl’s on her own during the day and fine for it. I’m home just now because I have the school holidays off, and while she is spending a lot of time outside, if she’s in, she likes to be in the same room as me, but mainly sleeps. We play with her quite a bit (she loves ribbons) but we instigate it and sometimes I think she only goes along with it to keep us happy! That said, at Christmas she’s a total menace as she brings ornaments off the tree and will spend hours batting them up and down the wooden-floored hall. (Mainly at 5am.)

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