Do cats need cat company?

[Moli]

Think it depends of the cat, Oliver and Casper are joined at the hip, not happy apart, but Merlin, Leo and Chancer prefer to be on their own...

[dandysmom]

I'm definitely in the "it depends on the cat" school of opinion. I always had just a single cat until Misty, the little stray came. She bonded with the Aby, and very much missed him when he had to be PTS...went looking for him. She disliked Patches, but again bonded with Dandy my little Pura. After Patches died, Leia seems to be delighted at being an only cat, getting all the attention, lap time, etc! In my limited experience, introducing another adult female to the resident adult female didn't work out very well....

[Kobster]

I think it depends on the cat. I have one that would rather be an only cat, one that can't stand to be separated from the other cats, and one that could take it or leave it.

Generally speaking, my cats have always done better in pairs.

[Rosie]

I think on the whole cats are very solitary creatures. My Rosie definitely was. I had concerns when I got little Alfie but strangely enough it seems to have brought Rosie out of herself. She seems friendlier now and although she definitely would not allow Alfie to cuddle up to her you do see them sleeping and hanging out together a lot of the time.

[dinahsmum]

Sorry to be boring - but it depends on the cat and the circumstances. Cat's brought up together seem to 'love' each other and grive when one goes etc. Adult cats usually accept a new kitten coming into the household but 2 adults won't necessarily get on.
I don't think cats 'need' company, generally.

[Elaine]

http://www.perfectpaws.com/help2.html
Thought this was interesting.