Multi cat V's Single cat?

[Kazz]

Well come on then this should make an interesting post
What are the pro's and cons for a multi cat household?
The same question the pro's and cons of a single cat household?

And if you were a single cathousehold and became a multicat why? and Vice versa why a single from a multi?

Karen

[Mags]

Well....I have always been a single cat household so I have nothing to compare it with. Maybe Cassie has all my love and attention whereas I would have to share it if I had more.

I am perfectly happy with having one cat as my OH isn't perhaps the world's best animal lover......he can take them or leave them I suppose I should be grateful in that case that I have one!!

[SillyTilly]

Well I decided to get two cats because I am out at work all day and wanted them to have company.


Having watched them played together I don't think I'd want it any other way.

BUT I do think they are less bonded and affectionate with me, as they have someone else to rely on other than just me.

Olivia

[MzTrouble]

Interesting question....

I have one cat at the moment. I wanted two brothers but my kitty (Drake) came to be as a rescue (via my vets) and he was a 'just the one' needing at lot of care at a very young age. I planned to get him a friend but with his reaction to other cats in the area, I decided to leave him as an only kitty whilst I am renting a 'not large' flat!!

Before that I had 2 single kitts (fluff and then william), both rescues and were older (past 5) when they came to us and did not like other cats (or people!) so stayed single cats. Then we got two rescue kittens (horatio and blackbeard) and they were brothers. They remained a two until blackbeard was run over and then our other cat was so traumatised by his brother dying (you would be wouldn't you!!) we didnt get another one and he is settled and v old now so has stayed an only cat.

Personally, I think it really depends on the age and temprement of the cat/kitten. Some prefer a playmate, some are loners by nature. I'd love more, but I have to consider Drake and he'd hate it!

[Snoof]

I think it depends on the cat, but I also think the instances where getting another cat is absolutely not feasible (for the cat - for the people is another story!) are fairly rare.

We went to a multi-cat household because... Well, uh, Ninja insisted, LOL. But as most of you know we were planning to become a multi-cat household anyway, as we knew he liked other cats and were hoping they would help him socialise with humans more (which they have).

Also, I have rats. They've taught me something about how animals often need other animals of their kind even if they are sociable with humans. I do believe that often, cats get something from each other that they can't get from humans. The same way I get things from the people near me that the cats simply can't offer me because they aren't people.

I do have to say that on this forum, I don't ever think "That person needs more cats" as I don't think it about you, Kazz. Cleo is old and settled in her ways, and I respect your decision to leave her be the way she's going as much as I respect DM's decision to get Bentley and Chester and SillyTilly's decision to get two kittens at once.

All of that said, I have had single cats a few times - Fred was one for quite a while until we got Jake, Dishrag was one for about 2 years, and Rajah was always a single cat (but I only had her in order to sort out her health problems to a stage where she was adoptable - she was also elderly and as I couldn't technically keep pets I had to hand her in - but I thought elderly and health problems might make her very hard to adopt out). Ninja was a lone cat for a while as well, until we realised that he's very sociable to other cats (except, handily, for the only other all-black one in the neighbourhood, so that while they're fighting you just haven't a clue which one you mean to evict and which one you mean to cover in soft stroking hands and treats ).

I much prefer a multi-cat household myself, and I roll my eyes and sigh when (on another forum) people go about introducing new cats and go about it in the single most blockheaded way possible. But I don't think this is a choice I can make for anyone else, anymore than how many children they should have is.

Everyone knows their own cat best (or so I like to hope, because I'm an optimist) and I'm willing to assume that they're trying to make their decisions based on that.

[dandysmom]

I grew up in a single cat household. When I got my Siamese it simply didn't occur to me to have two. After he died, I got Sultan the Aby & he was king of the household until Misty, the little stray appeared and insisted on coming in...they got along pretty well (she wouldn't be bullied lol); when Sultan died untimely of a fungal lung infection, I rehomed Patches, as Misty seemed to be missing her brother. Mistake! She didn't want another adult female, she wanted her brother back..Patches & Misty never really bonded; they tolerated one another, that's all. I had been on a waiting list for a Singapura kitten; was supposed to be at least a year, but suddenly a little boy was available. So Dandy made three! He & Misty got along beautifully, she mothered & groomed him; watching their interactions was such fun! Then, sadly, Misty died in her sleep at 19 1/2. Back to two. Then, a friend found a little kitten who looked just like Misty, another blue torbie, so three again! Dandy loved Leia & got on reasonably well with Patches. Then, Dandy died, and as some of you know, Patches passed on at 20, so am back to Leia, who seems absolutely delighted at being an only. I would love to get another, but wonder if it would be fair to Leia...she was never much of as lap cat when the others were alive, now she is, & she talks to me more than she ever did. I wonder if I have waited too long to introduce another cat ...I would be inclined to think a youngish feisty little male who woudn't be intimidated by her...she is a BIG cat...just can't make up my mind....

[Booktigger]

I have actually adopted out quite a few cats that would have to stay as only cats, and in all cases the owners have known and accepted this. Ginger would prefer to be a single cat household (despite deliberately going into my neighbours where there are other cats), but even when he has been an only cat, he has still spent most of his day next door, so sadly for him, I adopted another cat - luckily the 'friends' I have had for him have been mainly indoor cats. Although if Pebbles goes before him, he will be an only cat, but I will still foster, to get my 'cat fix'. That is the plan anyway, how well it will work is a different matter, I hadn't intended on getting a new cat so soon after Snowy dying, it just happened.

[Donna]

I have two cats and it is because I work. They are company for each other (know they never be best friends). They do play together and fight together - just normal sibling stuff really - just like my kids.

[Fran]

I have never been a single cat household. I started with two kittens, years and years ago and it's just grown from there. The most cats I have had at any one time was 7. I just couldn't imagine only having one cat. To see them interact together and play, I would be worried that one cat would be bored on it's own?

[Hreow]

You do have to get more involved if you have only one cat. He's more likely to bond with you and want to play with you, but he also has no other choice of playmate, so a good think about what you can provide when you're not there is needed. You also need to pick a cat that will take to being a single. I'm glad my breeder suggested Rover as a good choice (especially since he had picked me already). He apparently often retreated from the fun and games of the other seven, so was selecting himself as a single.