How are 2 cats different to having 1?

[yorkypuds]

Having just had to say the saddest goodbye to our gorgeous little lady, we are thinking of getting a new cat to fill our hearts.
I would like to get two but I wondered how it works practically. Most importantly- do I need two litter trays?

Well I've got two cats and I've got 4 litter trays! 😂

No but seriously you definitely need two. Although they do say the rule is one for each cat plus one extra. So 3

I love having 2 cats

Two are definitely better than one especially if they are very young and playful

We have 5 cats, but they go outside so no litter trays now. Kittens had two trays (one each) when they were too small to go outside, but they only ever used one.

We have four cats and one (large) litter tray. The cats don't complain.

If you can get a bonded pair from a rescue, they’ll keep each other entertained when you’re busy / out. I fostered these two girls and it was honestly easier than having just one. Plus I got sights like this.

If you can get a pair that know each other, in particular a bonded pair, it's the most amazing thing. My bonded pair were the best, they kept each other company, groomed each other, played together, despite offering 2 trays I'd often find them only using 1, usually at the same time. They were a bit weird like that. Now I have one of that pair left and a new boy, who is also cute but it's not the same. Id still recommend 2 as they do seem to enjoy each others company.

Id your gonna get kittens definitely get 2. 1 on its own is a form of torture (for you) as they need more attention and don't necessarily learn when to stop like they would if Thier sibling bit them back etc

If they're kittens they play together (all the time, get ready to have 0 sleep!)

If they're an older, bonded pair they might chill out together.

Our two girls have been together since they were born, but they don't really like each other.

Double the kittens =double the costs, you can get away with one cat carrier but pretty much everything else you need 2 of including insurance, vet bills, food, parasite treatments. It can really add up!

Less room in your bed but twice the cuddles 🙂

We have three cats and two trays, we did have four trays but nobody ever used the other two so we scrapped them. They’ve agreed between themselves that one tray is for poo and the other is for wee, and form an orderly queue to use them (although boy cat prefers to piss directly into the shower drain instead of the litter tray, nobody knows why but that’s just what he’s always done I can’t stop him doing it and it kind of works as he does BIG wees!)

The shower drain! 😂 Love this!

He usually times it for when I’m on the toilet. There’s awkward eye contact involved and a bit of a race to finish 😂

I’ve got two brothers from the same litter, never had any other cats so not sure what one would be like but these two are great companions for each other.

I only have 1 litter tray for 2 cats

2 cats are the best. So many cuddles

We lost our lovely cat last year and then got 2 kittens. I have to say I kind of regret it. They're siblings but they're chalk and cheese and they don't always get on. It's more expensive (twice the food costs, vet fees, insurance) and it's more hassle (cleaning out 2 litter trays is no fun).
They're both lovely cats and we love them but I do wish we only had one.

I have a bonded pair of ragdoll boys, they came to me at just under a year old. They love each other and are always together, but still very affectionate with us and have very distinct personalities.

They are absolutely crazy though, our house is over three floors, and they like to run, ut sounds like a heard of cattle is stomping through the house!

I have two brothers who look a bit like @EmpressaurusOfCats 's cats.
They play together, but also wrestle each other. They use one litter tray. They are good fun. I'd recommend getting a good hoover!

@WetBandits - he's looking at you because he trusts you to keep an out for predators while he is in a vulnerable position. My cat won't go to the lav without protection at all 🤷🏼‍♀️

@yorkypuds - I would always recommend a bonded adult pair. The litter mate pairings I've known were adorable as kittens but hated each other and fought (a lot) as adults. 12 months of adorableness is not worth 12+ years of breaking up full on fights at 2am, 3 times a week.

I’ve got a brother and sister pair. Just the one litter tray. They get on fine. They are supposed to be mainly outside cats as we’ve loads of space and well away from any road but they didn’t get the memo and spend a lot of time at the back door wanting to come in. Then they play fight all round the living room! It’s never an empty house with cats.
So glad the kitten stage is over

My one cat will ONLY use the litter tray, even if it's a balmy 20 degrees outside, the flower beds are freshly hoed and raked, and the neighbours dog is away for a month. My other one cat has to my certain knowledge never set foot in the tray and will shut outside in minus 10, fox on the loose, into pure concrete. Meh.

I’d never have more than one cat again.

got bonded kittens. All good. Slept together, played together, seemed like the best of friends.

until they hit teenage years when the territorial spraying started. We tried everything. They still appeared really bonded, but they peed all the time.

vet said a) it’s certain breeds. B) it’s a thing with siblings. C) it’s modern housing and cat density where there simply cannot get away from each other. Even if they go outside every house has two cats and they cannot carve out even a small territory.

we ended up splitting ours. Despite appearing bonded- we thought they’d really miss each other, it was very clear they were both happier as only cats and really showed their personalities. One went semi -rural with loads of cat free space, and they never had an issue again. The one that stayed stopped, unless he say another cat in the garden when it would start again for a few days. When we moved out of the city and the 30 cats on one street changed to no cat for several houses, that one stopped completely as well.

so unless you have a fairly big house/garden or live in an area where there isn’t a big cat population, I wouldn’t.

I started off with 2. Then one passed and I swore I'd never leave one cat alone. Quickly ended up with 5 and recently acquired another 2 🤦‍♀️
All rehomes / rescues
2 litter trays atm to accommodate newbies
Had one tray for 5 as they almost always use the garden

All of my cats have happily shared a litter tray. You can get multi pet discounts on insurance.

Bonded pair is a lottery.

Cats under the age of 3 may be bonded - until adulthood kicks in and then they may hate each other.

Equally bonded in a rescue centre isn't the same as being bonded when they have a territory to fight over.

I'd still have two cats instead of one though because, well, more cats!

We have three which I think is the ideal number. Ours are all neutered males and we've never had any issues with fights or territorial peeing etc.

The only thing we do have to do is make sure they're always fed separately and we can't leave food out all day for them as our middle cat can resource guard it 🙈

So we now feed four meals a day instead.

I think all the comments above show it all boils down to your circumstances and the individual cats!

I had a bonded pair of indoor only siblings. When I lost the boy to CKD I knew it wouldn't be fair to leave a single indoor cat alone all day while I went off to work, so VERY carefully selected a potential companion for her. This has worked out OK, they are friends and playmates but not bonded like she was with her brother & it's very clear who the boss is!

On the other hand when my DSis lost one of hers (outdoor), the remaining one revelled in being shot of him.