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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

Is having an only cat ok?

21 replies

JellyCatFish · 25/07/2019 07:49

I know the general advice is to get two kittens but with insurance and potential vets fees, it just isn't feasible. Will she be ok as an only or will she be bored/unhappy? I'm off work until September but then I'll be out fairly often.

OP posts:

Allergictoironing · 25/07/2019 08:27

I think to a degree it depends on the cat. If you get an adult cat, or anything over about 4-6 months, it will be spayed/neutered and could go out after about 4 weeks of settling in time. If you get a kitten, it shouldn't go out until spay/neuter has been done at 4-6 months old.

A lone kitten can be VERY destructive!

clanger71 · 25/07/2019 08:42

I got a lone kitten at 13 weeks and was worried the same as you. I was able to work from home on and off for the first few weeks while he found his feet. After that my Dad kindly popped in once a day for a couple of weeks to feed him and play with him for half an hour or so. He's been absolutely fine. He's fairly active from about 6am to around 11am, then again from 10pm for a couple of hours. I think he snoozes most of the day. Lazy git .

He's certainly given my leather sofa and chair a "lived in" look, so be prepared for some wear and tear on your furniture. I don't think that has to with him being alone - he was just learning to stretch and scratch as a kitten and did it in the "wrong" place. It's taken some time to get sorted with scratchers he'll use and the scratching is much less now he's older (he's just coming up to 1 and a half now). But I'd get an older cat if your upholstery is important to you!

Good luck!!!

Ratbagcatbag · 25/07/2019 08:44

Do you have to get a kitten? I went for an older cat based on not being in that much. Got an eight year old three legged thing who's hobby was listed as sleeping. They were definitely not exaggerating.
It's worked really well for us.

MyOtherProfile · 25/07/2019 08:47

I watched a documentary that showed that actually cats are happy to be the only one. They filmed and tracked pairs of cats who lived together and discovered that they each had their separate territories and didn't really go near each other. We have always just had one cat at a time and they have been fine.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 25/07/2019 08:53

Another one to sing the praises of the old(er) cat!

They're just less mental (most of the time).

And you'd be doing a real kindness as many of the older cats have such sad stories too.

AudacityOfHope · 25/07/2019 08:53

We got a cat that had just turned one so had lost much of his 'kittenness'.

He's always been happy alone, goes out all day and just comes home at night for cuddles. I think he'd struggle with another cat in the house, tbh.

squee123 · 25/07/2019 08:55

Many cats are happier as only cats - rescue centres are full of cats needing to be a solo cat. Perhaps you could give a much needed home to one of them?

purpleme12 · 25/07/2019 09:00

I don't know why some people give advice about getting two. One is absolutely fine. A lot of cats prefer being only cats.
We got two from kittens (same litter) but their bond broke down years later so to be honest I wouldn't get two again.

viccat · 25/07/2019 09:02

If you want just one, would you consider an overlooked cat from a rescue who needs to be an only cat? They are often the hardest to home because everyone either wants a kitten or those who are rescue-minded and want an adult cat, already have a cat or five at home... Every rescue will have lots of lovely adult cats who are friendly with humans but don't like other cats.

thebear1 · 25/07/2019 09:02

We had one and tried to introduce a second and it didn't work.

TheNavigator · 25/07/2019 09:04

We have always had an only cat, I think they can find having another cat stressful in the house stressful. Our last solitary cat we got as a kitten lived happily to be over 20, very much part of the family (still missed). We replaced her with another kitten - now a big, pampered pet, no replacement but much loved. Honestly, single cats are the best, they make your home. Please get one from a cat home - they are over run with kittens.

Mia184 · 25/07/2019 11:53

I got Mia from a shelter and was told that she was about 5-7 years old and had been kept as an only cat by an elderly man(who had died). About half a year after Mia moved in, we moved and I tried to introduce her to another cat that shared age, gender and personality with her. It didn‘t work out; Mia became extremely jealous so the other cat went back to her home (and is still there).

That said, if you are thinking about getting an indoor cat or a kitten, I would suggest getting two. Being indoors is extremely dull and another cat would be an If you insist on getting only one cat, look for an adult one that does not get along with other cats.

stucknoue · 25/07/2019 12:01

According to the secret life of cats they prefer to live alone

bellinisurge · 25/07/2019 12:04

Mine loves it. She gets to demand stuff, sleep where she wants, play with her minions (that's us).
I had two sisters. I loved them dearly but they hated each other. When one died it was liberation day for the other .
I work from home most days so she gets to ignore me whenever she likes.

stripeyronnie · 25/07/2019 12:06

Cats are solitary creatures, they are generally much happier alone. In fact many medical conditions related to chronic stress occur much more frequently in multi cat households. Sadly the advice of getting more than one comes from the trend to humanise our animals and presume that what we would desire also applies to them. I'm a vet btw.

purpleme12 · 25/07/2019 12:16

Exactly. The advice to get more than one annoys me really. If you are really set on getting more than one you should get 2 of the same litter at the same time but like I said earlier this is what we did and their bond still broke down years later. This is quite rare when they're already bonded but still it's made me think I'll only get one in the future. They would definitely prefer to be only cats, well one more that the other

MyOtherProfile · 25/07/2019 14:44

@stucknoue yes! That's the programme I mentioned earlier. Couldn't remember what it was called.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/07/2019 09:24

We have two ( brother/sister) they're about a year old.
When we got them (CPL) they had to go as a pair because the male relied 100% on his sister for reassurance.

They do like being together (we have a camera to spy on them and my teens are around for school holidays) .

Usually they sleep in the landing (to trip me up when I go to the loo at 3am) and stalk each other for a barney around 11pm .

I think if we hadn't got the bonded pair we might've gone for an adult singleton and kept it as that . There are loads on Rescue thay just want their own space .

AnnaMagnani · 26/07/2019 09:42

Get an older cat.

2 kittens (litter mates) is always better than one. But as they get older (about 2) they get more independent and then live their own lives.

Our old lady absolutely blossomed when her sister died. It was probably the best time of her life. Then I went and ruined it by getting 2 kittens and she was furious.

So I'd get one cat, out of the kitten, curtain ripping stage. As PPs have said, there are loads of these in rescue.

Bowerbird5 · 26/07/2019 09:48

I have my daughter's cat at the moment. She hates other cats!

She is fine on her own. I second getting an older cat. They can be very rewarding. She loves cuddles and often seek us out for a cuddle or comes and lies on us with her chin under ours.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 26/07/2019 09:50

so many cats are happier as only cats.
we once rehomed a supposedly bonded male/female pair from a rescue. Over the course of a year trying our best to work it through with the vet, it became apparent that he was extraordinarily territorial and she was terrified of him. We found a new home for one of them and they both flourished alone.

we rehomed our current female/female pair when they were 18mo. They exist largely in a state of mutual indifference, rather than affection and companionship.

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