Why You Should Get Another Cat

Well now I feel guilty, my cousin dumped 3 12 week old kittens on me. I live in a small apartment and was going insane having 3 kittens and my adult cat to monitor. I gave the kitten who was the bravest and with the most energy to the shelter because I knew he would be easily adoptable. Now I feel bad because I should have kept him with his siblings for longer 😭 even if he was jumping off the walls and breaking things

Also it’s important to note that, a shy cat hiding and introducing them to a very out going cat can actually encourage the shy cat to come out too. I’ve seen this many times. Again it’s knowing how to get the best results with the cats by understanding cat behavior, environment, and dynamics. For instance if a cats hiding all the time they definitely are not “fully sharing space”, if a cat hides all the time this is a big indicator of a lack of trust in cats. So often a more out going cat can encourage a shy cat to come out because they see the results for the other cat.

An example is nika is shy to this new extraverted kitten. However I make sure to entertain him and set up the two with the best succes. She enjoys his company, she comes when he cries, she hangs out with us more now, and no longer is lonely. She doesn’t like to play all the time but when he plays with her she treats him like a mother cat would by showing him what that means.

If he gets too rough where it’s affecting the dynamic I refocus his attention else where and continue to balance the mutual trust between them by making sure neither cat gets pushed out.

The problem is not different temperaments but just making sure that both cats feel mutual . When one cat gets pushed out this is when problems arise because it’s going from shared space to splitting territory , by feeling sometimes unintentionally pushed out by a rough kitten who is just learning and in that case you’d accomdate to how they are introduced and interact.

You just don’t let two cats free roam and figure it out for themsleves

If your rehabbing cats it’s impossible to pick perfect cat dynamics you get everything and there’s a positive to any cat combination if you understand how to properly handle and introduce them

Yes I mean cats might work it out on their own if you through them together but it has to be in the right place and space . It’s more likely to trigger territorial issues though as well. If you put two cats in a room they might fight until they get over it and share space but a large space they can avoid eschother fight and split territory by marking etc. never actually developing a “shared space”.

So there’s nothing wrong with single cats especially if you spend alot of time with them but if your busy all the time and don’t have time for them tbis is when another cat comes in handy.

Nika was really happy by herself with us in the beginning because she had alot of attention and then she had a kitten , the kitten died and she’s been so lonely , tragically he died. So it was sad. She was thrown off and poor nika but she got some time to rehab and gain time with us again as she thrives again , then we got busy so she got pretty “depressed is the word”, so I was going to get another one anyways but when she got pretty lonely I went to go pick up another one and my sister gave me the one she’s found

So I think it’s good not to get it mixed up, cats are solitary animals. This does not mean they don’t have company. Yes cats are solitary animals and think solitary. Yet due to hunting strategies or lack of space cats can form bands or groups.

This happens more with feral cats do to lack of space and resources. However unlike herd or group animals including humans they don’t have hierarchy the way we do. This is where people get it all wrong, is the hierarchy mentality with cats. Another cat is a good companion for your cat. It’s really good if you don’t have time to spend with them and if you have a playful cat it can offer them entertainment throughout the day.

Cats are solitary animals. Meaning they are designed to think for themsleves and to keep their own territory ranges. Keeping introducers out. As well as communicating with other cats such as a male to a female, and cats who have solitary territories. An example is a female might have a square range of territory your yard. A male will place his in between several female territory and male cheetahs for instance who acquire their own territory range between females are considered “high in rank” yet not in the same way as a president of a human race or a pack leader of a wolf.

So it’s good to not confuse co existence with “pack minded thinking of humans”. For instance male cheetahs will stay in pairs sometimes their whole life like two roommates and getting their own territory is like buying their own house. So I always tell people cats are solitary to stop people from misunderstanding them. When you tell people they aren’t solitary then people associate them to other animals like dogs, horses, and humans where their is hierarchy. Although a cat maybe slightly higher or bolder than another. They will never be competing for space if they co exist. And is all about sharing space.

Dominating a cat can have a lot of negative consequences but do cats like company of course they do. They just need the chance to co exist and again many be barn cats develop bands due to a narrow pool of shelter and food but neighborhood cats or more land spaces might have cat per house

My 8 year old indoor/outdoor cat passed away in April and about 2 weeks later I got a 7 week old kitten. I still had a grown rescue thats 95% outside, I cant keep him inside but he never leaves the yard. The kitten and grown cat liked each other somewhat, kitten loved the cat but the cat had mixed feelings lol. Now the kitten is 8 months old and bigger than the grown cat so he doesnt really want to play with the kitten anymore and every time the grown cat goes back outside the kitten finds a water bowl to spill or paper to rip apart. I thought he was just getting out extra energy he built up but I recently realized hes throwing a tantrum because hes upset. He wants to play and hangout and hes lonely. So I found a shelter that has a 7 month old female kitten that Im going to adopt Saturday. Two only inside kittens should keep each other entertained and feeling loved… I just hope it doesnt stop the older outside cat from coming in or make him run away. Hes had a hard life and Im the only person in the world he trusts. He has heartworms and FIV and needs to have love and warmth for however much time he has left. But Im hoping two younger cats will actually get him to play more. We will see 😂

Well, I agree having two pets so they have a playmate, which is why when I had one dog I got a rescue dog to have somebody for my first dog to play with. But I rescued a 3 1/2 week kitten that was in the middle of the road and I think that She’s bonding with the dogs that I don’t necessarily have to get another kitten! Granted they don’t run and jump and play, but she is very playful and she interacts with me and both of my dogs so I don’t think that’s detrimental to her developing? And I am retired and home with them during the day.

i have a very stupid and selfish concern- what if i get 2 kitties and i end up being the third wheel (since ill be at work the whole day)

I would like another cat but the landlords will only let me have one.

How do you stop a larger kitten from hurting another kitten half its size. He treats him like he's a mouse he wants to kill.

I’m adopting two sweet little 12 week girls from a friend who is fostering their litter. Picking them up in a few days. 🥹❤️

Thank you I am considering adopting 2 cats now even if they are same gender.

Hi Jackson
I got a Female Ragdoll in September.
Now I got her a Brother also same age from the same breeder. He is with us now for the second week.
They do seem to fight alot but they also play.
I noticed my female cat is not hanging out anymore with me wich is understandable. I just wanted to know if this behaviour is a little Jealousy or if she doesn't like it that I got her a sibling.

So I made the biggest mistake my four-year-old I introduced him to a four week old kitten, I put the kid on my bed. My cat watched it, and when I picked her up to put him close to her, he screamed , hissed and freaked out and started running around the room, I grab the kitten quickly and left the room and I closed the door. I put the kitten in the spare room and set up a place in there for her stay with her for a while until she ate and went to sleep. My four year-old was in my bedroom and he was in the closet, the first time I checked on him, he was still growling in his suit at me and laying in the closet. I gave him some time, and then I went back in and pretended as if nothing had happened, ,just staring at me for a long, long time, until he calm down I tried to act as normal as possible, he stayed in a closet for a very long time. I finally got up and went and made some popcorn and when I came back to the room, he had left out. So I decided to give him some space because that was the wrong thing to do was introducing that quickly. But is hurting me because I know he’s not happy with me right now not sure how I’m gonna be able to gain his trust back. For now, the kitten will be in one room and I’ll see if he gets used to her sent through the door. The only thing I worry about is he’s able to open doors so I put a towel in between the door, where she’s at. Hopefully I’ll be able to go to work and come back without an issue.

Hi Jackson,
My 10 yr old female cat passed away due to heart disease and now I only have my 12 yr old female cat (The 10 yr old cat was the daughter of the 12 yr old cat that I still have). My friend has these female sibling kittens would it be a good idea to get them? I need more opinions/advices, like is this really a good idea for her.

My resident cat is rally playfull and positive and the new one just sits under the coach. They are two year old females from different homes. Hope it ill work out. Were 5 weeks in

I worked at a bar & across the street someone found 2 female kittens almost dead from the heat & I knew the coyotes ate the rest of their family. Everybody wanted them, but they wanted to split them up. I didn’t want another cat because after my cat died of 19 years, my heart just couldn’t take another heartbreak but they were twin sisters and I didn’t want to break them up. I wasn’t able to find them home so I kept them.. Let’s just say that I died after they died because they were my everything my absolute everything.

This reminds me of when I adopted my two kittens. I was taking them in their carriers to my car, and a shelter lady was helping me by carrying the food bowls, litter box, etc. She said "Oh I think it's so wonderful that you're taking two of them!" and I said "Oh, uh, it's no problem." I thought she was talking about me CARRYING two of them and it was only later I realised she meant ADOPTING two of them. I am so smart haha.

We lost our Abigail who we snatched from the woods as a tiny kitten in 2004. She was 18 years old when we had to say goodbye to her. I was lost without her and knew I could not function without a feline baby I could care for. We decided to honor her life by adopting a senior cat. Turns out we adopted a brother and sister (whose owner specified in their will that they could not be separated) and they have been such a blessing – Moses and Isabelle. We adopted them in February 2023, and they are now 11 years old, happy, healthy, well adjusted to their new mom and dad and home. We are wondering if we adopted another senior if it would cause a problem with our new family members. We don't want to stress them or disturb their territory or upset the pecking order. But, in my mind, I reasoned that Moses and Isabelle got along fine with the other cats in the shelter at the Humane Society so they would probably adjust to a new adopted senior in our home. We would love to give a forever home to another senior cat (or two) but worry how it would affect our cats. I sometimes think that senior rescued cats have an un-meowed comrodity and understand that they have been rescued/adopted for their good and therefore are accepting of new rescues. Does that sound crazy? We just think giving a forever home to an elderly cat is good but worry about how a new senior would be received by our Moses and Isabelle. Would love to hear your opinion!

So i hope you get back with me but have a serious question. I have a cat named sheeva. I swear up and down, she only likes to be alone because she keeps getting overstressed and urinating right in front of us. She's prone to uti's, but this time she's acting fine and being playful when playing with her. figured it was uti again got her antibiotics and still doesnt work she wont go to the litter box anymore hardly except number 2 (yes i do keep it clean) i dont want to get rid of my other cat but idk what else to do. Should i get a calming cat diffuser or what. She's constantly under stress, i think, and making her urine a little bloody from too much stress. I just dont know what else too do

11:06 I'm glad you mentioned there are cats out there like that because that's my cat. She has always been an only cat. I have tried to introduce other cats 3 times using your method. Although she tolerated them, she was not happy. She's 12 years old, so she deserves to spend her golden years being happy. I spend a lot of time with her, so I suppose I'm the other cat to her 😅 She is my soul cat. I pray she lives a long life because she means the world to me. She is such a well-behaved cat. I don't know what I did to deserve such a good cat.

My kitty would hate me if I got another cat he loves to get all the attention . 😂❤