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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

Two kittens or one?

41 replies

ExpectTheWorst · 19/09/2020 14:26

We've got one kitten reserved and coming to us end of October....but there is one left from the litter which still doesn't have a home, and I am really considering whether it would be better (for the cats) to have two.

I'm in particular thinking that they would be more likely to play together while small and leave our dog alone, and perhaps be company for each other when we are away?

The one we are getting is a boy, and the second one is a girl, if that makes any difference.

Any advice or experiences are welcome!

OP posts:

KatDubs261 · 19/09/2020 14:29

I'd take the two if you can. We kind of regretted taking ours without her twin (which we did because we already had an older cat).

My aunt and uncle have always taken a brother and sister and they are always good company for each other

Shylo · 19/09/2020 14:30

I got two litter mates who are now 15 years old .... they played together a lot when the were very young, but I wouldn’t say they are particularly close now they are older. They tolerate each other, but the occasional spat breaks out. They aren’t close in the way two dogs are ...... I’d suggest you base your decision more around the cost of two cats versus one; two sets of annual jabs, two trips to get them done etc etc

Pelleas · 19/09/2020 14:33

Two - they will settle in more quickly. As long as you get them spayed and castrated, being different sexes won't matter (don't make the mistake of thinking that because they're brother and sister they won't mate given the chance!)

holdmysocks · 19/09/2020 14:35

Yes get two. But you must get two sets of food/water bowls and litterboxes. My two got on so well when they were kittens that we didn't bother, now they can't even be around each other and I think it was because of this competition for resources.

They are both girls though which apparently is worse, a brother and sister are usually much better.

Itwasaquarterpast11 · 19/09/2020 14:36

I got 2 in May, a brother and sister. They get on brilliantly and are great playmates. I had an only previously, but having two was definitely the right thing for us.

MintyCedric · 19/09/2020 14:37

Definitely have them both. One kitten/cat is lovely but two are amazing!

GetRid · 19/09/2020 14:39

Definitely two. We recently got the last two in a litter, and they're wonderful.

They play with each other all the time
They sleep together
The kids aren't arguing over one kitten
We went away and the cat sitter said they were with each other the whole time

Mine are boy/girl and the vet is neutering them at 5 month. He said they won't come on heat (or whatever the technical term is!) before then.

We got ours from a rescue centre and they far prefer kittens to go in pairs for a variety of reasons

Oldestchild90s · 19/09/2020 14:45

TWO. TAKE TWO!!

This happened to us, my OH gave in to us getting another so we'd have 3 but who could possibly leave one by themselves? I just couldn't, so now we have 4 😸

Bargebill19 · 19/09/2020 16:17

Get the two. You won’t regret it. We had two 13 years ago and they have played, eaten and slept together. They do have separate like many and dislikes, but they look out for each other. We now have 3 kittens - they too world as a gang.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/09/2020 16:50

Having two is fantastic. They don't need separate stuff. My two sisters happily shared and my remaining cat now happily shares with her new sister.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/09/2020 16:51

Once you've bought all the stuff for one, you might as well have two. And it's not much more in insurance etc.

MintyCedric · 19/09/2020 17:20

Double the cuteness 😍😍

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 19/09/2020 17:55

Another vote for two. They'll settle in much quicker with the familiarity of a sibling. I've always had kittens in pairs except the time we got three together

Choosingmyring · 19/09/2020 17:57

OMG a million percent two! It’s been so easy and fun having two and their little relationship when they were younger was adorable! Sleeping curled round each other. Now they occasionally clean each other which is still beautiful to see.

Burnthurst187 · 19/09/2020 18:03

Take the sister too. We bought a brother and sister and they loved playing with each other. It would be lovely for them both to be together

DaenarysStormborn · 19/09/2020 18:08

It's better for their development to have two. They learn how to be social rather than loners which will be better for them in the long run. Also they play more and have company when you are out of the house. Because they play together they often leave your furniture alone too!

Mumdiva99 · 19/09/2020 19:30

We got 2 very recently. They chase and play together. Sleep together. Eat and toilet together. But there is enough space for them to separate as they get older if they choose to.

JaceLancs · 19/09/2020 20:43

DP took a boy and girl from same litter
They are now 3 and apart from an occasional minor spat are very close

disorganisedsecretsquirrel · 19/09/2020 21:12

Same .. two !! Much less work from you on the comforting front !

disorganisedsecretsquirrel · 19/09/2020 21:14

It's actually simple to understand... if you were separated from your mum.. what would YOU prefer ? To be alone or with your sibling?

Ibizafun · 19/09/2020 23:08

We have two kittens. Less work than one because they play with eachother, don’t need your attention every minute and you won’t feel bad every time you leave. They are not siblings but best friends.

A no brainier.

Original poster

ExpectTheWorst · 20/09/2020 07:19

So pretty much unanimous! I shall confir with DP again but I think we will take her.

OP posts:

Oldestchild90s · 20/09/2020 08:54

My two little munchkins! Couldn't be more different, one is very shy and the other is so confident but could you look at my kitties and leave one behind??!! 🤔😆😸

GolightlyMrsGolightly · 20/09/2020 08:57

We took 2 brothers. They were great company for each other when little but were never that keen on each other once beyond the kitten stage. We didn’t realise how much one had been bullying the other till he got run over and the one we have left kind of came out of his shell.

MrsCollinssettled · 20/09/2020 09:09

We have sister's. Very close as kittens but very different characters. One dominates the other over food if given the chance. They are very much like teenage siblings now. If one is asleep on one bed/chair the other will stomp off and find a different room to be in. Apart from the odd occasion when they are very loving to each other, they mostly tolerate each other and live quite separately.

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