Choosing between rescue cats

[Esgaroth]

Following on from my other thread but with a more specific question. We have the chance to adopt one of two cats. We went to see them today and I definitely didn't 'just know' and neither did DH. They were quite different but both lovely.

Both cats are 4/5 year old males. They are brothers but not bonded so the rescue say they don't need to stay together. They were raised in a house and were left behind when their owners moved (unbelievable!) but otherwise seem to have been well cared for, neutered and chipped. They have been in the rescue as no foster homes have been available yet - have only been there a few weeks. No known health issues.

Cat 1 was very chilled out, sniffed our fingers, rubbed his head on our hands and accepted head strokes and treats from our hands. He was purring a lot and he didn't get up, just lay there seemingly enjoying the attention. He was gorgeous and seemed confident and friendly, but did not approach us.

Cat 2 was shyer and more cautious, but also very curious. He did sniff us a little and accepted a few strokes on the cheek but was more wary of us. He almost started playing with his toys a few times but it was as though he didn't quite dare. The volunteer let him out and he was very keen to explore, though he moved very slowly and carefully and he looked at us a lot. He accepted treats placed near him but not from our hands.

I feel like Cat 1 is maybe a safer bet for a first cat? But there was something very appealing about Cat 2 that made me think he could be a real character once he'd settled down and made himself at home.

What do you think? And I know people will say to get both but we only want one cat really.

I mean we were obviously upfront about having kids when we spoke to the rescue, as well as our preference for a single cat, and these were the ones suggested!

Possibly they don't have a full understanding of the cats yet themselves before they've been fostered, but I suppose I would tend to trust their judgement?

Honestly the only answer here is to get both.

But there was something very appealing about Cat 2

Cat 2 then.

Or both. Get both.

Make sure the cat always has somewhere they can escape from the children and it'll be fine. Yours are old enough to know when to leave the cat alone.

Also, we've just adopted cats that are very quiet and nervous, with a four year old. she has had cats her whole life, the rescue were well aware but my lovely cats had been there for months (one was there in January) and I think we are their last chance.
They're settling in beautifully. Yes they are more nervous of her, despite her lovely kind gentle ways with them, but they are settling and I really don't think it's going to be long before they are sleeping on her.
We ended up with three, the cat next to them was desperate to come home with us, howling and climbing his cage to run over and cuddle my daughter and husband, and despite us saying we really had to think long and hard about it, we knew as soon as we left after that visit that all three were coming home with us. We wouldn't leave the two with still no home after almost a year, and the third was clearly not going to be left behind either.

The third is not at all nervous or shy, and chews her hair while she sleeps

Cat 2. He’s the one you want.

I promise I will have a serious discussion with DH about getting both and if we decide we're up for it I will check with the rescue if it would be for the best.

You guys are really good with the guilting so I will blame you if I end up a crazy cat lady 😆

Can you temporarily take both if they would be happier in a home than in a rescue and then if you decide that they are not happier together make the decision then? Our very timid cat has become more affectionate over time but it has taken years and he is still wary of people who move unpredictably and talk loudly so you might not win cat 2 around instantly.

Can you visit again with the children to see how the cats react?

Brilliant suggestion!!

We were hoping to basically decide first, then take the kids to meet them to make sure, since we don't want the kids falling in love when we're not pretty much 100%. But yes, always a good idea to check.

Cat 2 wasn't extremely nervous, I have to say. He was just shyer than his brother who was incredibly chill and maybe a bit of a dopey sort as he seemed to enjoy lying in his (clean of course) litter tray rather than his comfy pillow 😀.

They can both be stroked and picked up by the volunteer who'd known them a while. She said that when Cat 2 was at the vet they had trouble checking his heart because he was purring so much, so it's not like he's a quivering wreck.

Maybe we will just have to get both as having met them I think they are both great cats and maybe I'd always wonder what if..

Didn't want to complicate it with their physical cuteness as obviously that is not an important consideration, but they are beautiful brothers.

See exhibit A, ginger boy (Cat 1) and exhibit B, black and white boy (Cat 2), being stroked by volunteers.

@Esgaroth Was just going to ask if Cat 1 was Ginger when you credited him with dopey 😹

Sitting in the litter tray is actually a nervous indicator, even when it's clean it will still have sent to them and it's comforting.

Both of these cats are probably quite scared still after being left and living rough.

I'll happily take the blame for converting any crazy cat lady 😻 I have many heart breaking stories, the happy ones are what keeps us crazy rescue cat ladies going ❤️

Has anyone said take both of them yet?
🤣🤣🤣🤣

Take them both!

Would be a crime to split them up. .. Breaking up a family in fact...

Aw both

Oh well, now we know the colours, that explains everything... ginger cats are... special... Friendly? Yes. Clever? ...Not notorious for it, let's say... 😄

Just as balance to everyone saying both, our cat was found as one of a pair of kittens living in a lady’s shed with his brother. The lady eventually took them both in, but eventually had to rehome one (on vet advice) because one brother was very dominant, eating all the food and getting fat, while the other was hungry and scared and getting thin.

Of course she rehomed the crazy ginger boy… He’s two in January and a delightful little thug, bringing joy after we lost our lovely gentle girl to cancer earlier this year.

BOTH ❤️❤️

Neither maybe - doesn’t sound like love at first sight! Not that ours was, we didn’t even really want a cat. He was a neighbour’s unwanted kitten who just plonked himself down on our sofa, fell asleep and stayed for the next 20+ years. Of the two, I’d have the playful one

We got both! Supposedly bonded pair who in reality mainly just about tolerate each other. Older girl is a super vocal (whiny) lap cat who demands attention all day long. Younger girl is still cautious nearly 6 months after we brought them home. She will just about tolerate a chin scratch. But she is so active, curious and playful - rolls on floor in front of us until we play with her and is a source of much fun. While her sister loafs on our beds crying for strokes and food. We adore both of them.

Cat 2!

And please don’t be bullied into taking both if it’s not what you have in mind, especially if the rescue isn’t pushing for it

Another vote for both!

I'm going against the majority and saying don't get both...like a few other pps we adopted siblings and they tolerate each other. I very much feel that one would be happier without the other more dominant one

It's sounds like you are veering towards cat 2, if the rescue said that you could only have cat 1 would you be disappointed and vice versa?

Well I know MN won't be pleased with me, but we discussed it and decided not to make any rash emotional decisions and stick with our original one cat plan. I feel that every pet is a big commitment that should be considered carefully and at the end of the day, we just don't want two cats.

We spoke again to the rescue to double check it wasn't preferable for them to stay together and they reassured us there was no reason to do so and that they would definitely be rehoming them as a pair if they felt it was in their best interests.

And we decided to get Cat 1 because we believed he would be happier in our house with our family than Cat 2. Those of you who said neither because it seems like you're not particularly taken with either - this is not right, I was trying to present the situation in a somewhat objective way, but I did think they were both amazing cats and I can't wait until we're ready to go and pick up our new ginger boy!

I’m thrilled you are soon to become a ginger owner. They are wonderful soft animals and yours sounds lovely.