Our first ever kitten

[SkyOfficer]

Hi, we've got our first ever pet, a little kitten. Want to make sure am doing the right thing. Our nearest vet is Vet for Pets, luckily they have good reviews. They have a health plan that is £16pm and seems pretty comprehensive so am going to get that.

For ease was looking at their pet insurance too, and I really don't know what kind of cover I should consider. Would appreciate any advice on the below please.

• ongoing care, limited to £4k each year, cost £10.88pm
• ongoing care, limited to £7k per year, cost £12.43pm
• ongoing care, limited to £12k per year, cost £18.27
• short-term cover for 12 months, up to £3k per injury/illness, cost £9.23pm

Each includes £75 excess, dental, and other benefits.

Thank you.

Not everyone can afford two kittens. I adopted a single kitten and he is thriving. He was shy and quiet when we first got him and overshadowed by his more outgoing sibling. He’s really come out of his shell since we brought him home and is loving all the attention.

It's definitely fine to have just one cat. We had three for a while and when we went on holiday one of the cats always drove the others out of the house. It took some time for them to come back when we came home. They were a mother and two sons so it wasn't like they didn't know each other. One kitten definitely preferable.

Cats are solitary and territorial and ideally need to be on their own

and yep - of course if you get two kittens they’ll know no different and will be a bonded pair if you’re lucky - or hate each other if you’re not. But the ideal scenario is one cat and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise OP.

two cats is double the cost and double the vet bills so I’m not sure why people on here push that narrative all the time

There was a really interesting program a few years ago where they tracked the cats in a multi cat household and worked out how much time they spent together. They avoided each other most of the time.

Cats are solitary and territorial and ideally need to be on their own

If that's true, why do feral cats naturally form colonies?

We have three unrelated adult male cats and they often choose to spend time together, both inside and outside of the house. I come down every morning to find all three curled up together on the sofa, and they will share beds, litter trays and resources on and off throughout the day.

Outside they will go hunting together, share the prey they catch and curl up on the same chair or area of patio to sunbathe.

@BadgersSuitcase try telling that to my 3!

I got my cat as an only kitten last year. He needed loads of attention and playing etc initially and still does like to play a few times a day when he's not been outside. But I think he's happy. He loves cuddles and attention. I think as long as you're around a lot for them, give them lots of attention and toys/games etc they're fine.

Exactly! Boycat & Girlcat were part of a feral colony of 19 that were trapped together, and in many of the Mediterranean cities that are over-run with feral and stray cats you see them grouped together in colonies.

Over the last 10k or so years the domestic cat breed has changed and evolved including behaviours. Yes wild cat breeds tend to be solitary but Felis Silvestris are actually more commonly found in colonies (usually mostly females) even when feral. The males tend to roam a lot more, as that way the genes get spread further.

Yes cats tend to like "alone time", some more than others, just like humans do. I love my siblings & are very close to them, but don't want to live with them!

When Boycat had to be PTS, Girlcat was a real PITA she was so clingy for my company. Obviously as they had been littermates she was missing him as much as I did, but the introduction of Tobias (once she'd shown him who is the boss of the household) has been great for her. They are usually in the same room e.g. both on their bed, or both on mine, or both on the sofa, and he follows her around with a look of worship & adoration.

Again - for those slightly hard of reading - I actually said ‘of course if you get two kittens they’ll know no different and will be a bonded pair if you’re lucky’

I know cats live as multiples in households. It’s super common. It’s also common knowledge that adult cats have a preference to be solitary

and what does it matter in relation to this thread anyway? Only on Mumsnet could someone post about their new kitten and have loads of posters bang on and on about how she should have got more cats … bizarre

None of ours are littermates and are all different ages and in different life stages.

It’s a real myth that cats are solitary - the issue tends to be that our homes are too small to accommodate multiple cats, which is why they tend to fight and become territorial.

If you introduce them properly and make sure they have enough space, territory and resources then they’re generally fine, though of course there will be exceptions. I also think it’s best if all cats can go outdoors.

Exactly @Allergictoironing - if you watch feral cats, they’re pretty much always in loose groups or colonies.

@BadgersSuitcase Only on Mumsnet could someone post about their new kitten and have loads of posters bang on and on about how she should have got more cats … bizarre

Absolutely. It really is utterly bonkers.

At no stage did I comment on the OP's choice of a single kitten, just your assertion that all adult cats prefer to be solitary.

That common knowledge that adult cats have a preference to be solitary is an old fashioned view that has been proven wrong over the years. Similar to the old "common knowledge" that cats should always be shut out at night as they are nocturnal. Or that you give cats a big saucer of (cows) milk every day to be kind to them.

Beautiful kitten!

I’d say get as much insurance as you can afford because veterinary bills have sky-rocketed shockingly in recent years as big chains have taken over small independent practices.

Beautiful kitten
My cats are siblings (m/f) bonded pair , they were 1 yo when we got them.
He had to go with her as he was (still is) very shy .
They live in a Cat Harmony , sometimes sit on the bed but opposite sides . Usually different rooms .
They will join forces to remind/intimidate us when it is Dreamies Time or Dinner Time .

Now 7yo , the males insurance is higher than the female

I'm sure I've seen somthing about cats generally make friends with other cats in the neighbourhood and socialise in small groups.

I think it's tight only having one, their not meant to be solitary. They like time alone definetly, but they also like the comfort of a friend

I had a pair of sisters who used to hold open house for neighbouring cats in our garden. I remember seeing at least three visiting cats sitting with them on and around the DCs’ mini-trampoline several times. One used to pop into the house to look for my cats.

Years later, after we moved, one of mine, oddly the shyer one of the two, made friends with another neighbour’s cat. They used to commune and potter round the garden together. When he fell out with his family’s dog she moved him in permanently. Fortunately, the neighbour didn’t object.

Domestic cats have an interesting social structure in the wild and are far from being the solitary hunter of tradition. I read a fascinating book - The Wild Life of the Domestic Cat - by a researcher called Roger Tabor years ago and it really was eye-opening.

Poor OP, posted about insurance and got a running debate about how many cats you should have in your life 😂 One kitten is fine OP, you haven’t done anything wrong, ignore all the bickering and enjoy your gorgeous new floof ball.

(for what it’s worth we adopted two cats together who have been together their whole lives and they barely tolerate each other! Very much depends on the individual cat and their personality)

Get the best insurance you can afford- treatment can cost several thousands as we know to our cost. I would get 7K minimum. And ignore the two kitten thing- this is a fairly recent idea. Domestic cats tend to be solitary although feral cats can form colonies. As long as they have toys and get played with, and go out when old enough, they have plenty to entertain them and will make friends with other cats if they wish, although most choose not to.