Single Cat Question

[CathyBogart]

My cat, Cupcake, has been an only cat for the last twelve years. She seems quite happy. Purrhaps she would like a friend to play with, but we don't want another cat right now and she gets lots of lovin' from her human family.

[nibblets]

Julie is a single kitty. We have a single dog. I am a single mom and my son is an only child. We are very singular in this house.
Buddy and Julie keep each other company during the day while we are at school and work. They seem to be content with the situation.

[Don Juan's mom]

Don Juan has been an "only cat" for the 4 years I've had him.

Now, I've applied to adopt a year-old female that I met at Petsmart on Saturday.

I've been thinking about a second cat for some time. I'm working more now, and Don Juan gets lonesome when I'm out all day. I don't have a spare room to segregate the newcomer, so I'm planning to spring for a large kennel for her.

But now I'm worrying that I'll lose that special relationship I have with Don Juan. He sleeps with me, parks himself on my lap all evening, makes sure I eat a good breakfast and is at this moment draped over the top of my iMac.

Maybe if I also spring for his own carpet condom and a couple of new toys...

Liz

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by Don Juan's mom
But now I'm worrying that I'll lose that special relationship I have with Don Juan.

Don't worry, Liz, your relationship with Don Juan may change a little, but if he is your shadow now he will more than likely remain your shadow when the newbie arrives. As a matter of fact, he may become even more of a velcro kitty due to jealousy. That's what happened with Tubby. When Peanut showed up, Tubby could not stand the idea of her in my lap so he was constantly by me and if she dared to jump up he would immediately chase her away - what a meanie.

However, a carpet condom and a few new toys can't hurt.....

[Randi]

I have only one cat, and I understand your concern. I often think that Fister gets bored, but I really can't tell. At least I'm home with him most of the day. The times he's been around other cats, he's hissed and growled. The old male living in our back yard, he used to chase out of the gate when he was little, but now they just ignore each other. LOL!

Some cats are probably best off being only cats.

[cruisetime]

I adopted Meka from Animal Control Shelter back last October and she was over a year old. She was such a mess and we have lots of bahavior problems like biting and scratching and tearing up furniture and we tried everything but get her a companion. We thought maybe that a companion might give her someone to play with with all her energy and maybe teach her some manners. I ran out of other options so I thought if it was meant to be an orange, male, bobtail cat will be in a shelter close to me. - how likely is that? Well I called and sure enough Max was there - orange, male, bobtail cat. So Meka got a brother. Well I'm not sure it was a good idea or not. I has been 3 months and they still fight here and there. Watch each other like hawks. It is fun to watch them and he has taught her a few things but I'm afraid she might be teaching him her bad habits. BUT - that said Meka was very lonely when we would leave her for a weekend and right after we got Max my father in law went in the hospital in critical condition on the other side of town an 1-1/2 away so we had to leave them both alone a lot and I think this really helped Meka to have Max there or she would really have been lonely and upset. I'll let you know more in a few months - if you get another one just know it might take 6 months or more for them to get along. I'm not sure they will ever sleep together but maybe...... Debbie

[dragonchilde]

Don't feel badly about flying solo. Tinkerbell was an only cat for 13 years before we got another, and he still doesn't like the other cats.

He's definitely a "people" kitty. He liked my old dog, Sable, but really, he's happy with just us. He avoids the other two indoor kitties, and can't stand the outdoor kitties, so he's still perfectly happy being a loner.

[janelle]

I think one cat is fine if the owners are there with them a lot. But if the cat has to be alone a lot of time then another animal is good for them. Cat or dog. Just something to keep them company. Cats are loners but they can't be alone all the time.

My neighbors had a cat and it was mean, they got another cat and he made her mean so I think you also need time to socialize them to each other and to people. If you have children don't let them make your cat mean. Kids can be great for playing with the cat for company but if you don't have kids to chase the cat around the house to get that excercise than another cat will be great for that.

My sister's cat is getting big and chubby and it's a loner. No one to chase with. Her husband is there but when we get older we can't rough house with them like kittens want to do. They need companions to play with human or animal,

[carole]

It really does depend on the cat, My Ash would be quite happy being a single kitty in the household, he tolerates his adopted sister fine, but he really does not care for her much.

Ash is also getting on in years and prefers just to snooze all day, and I am home all day mostly, so he is not alone all the time, so age and personality comes into it., cats are no different to humans, some like company, some donot.

My Lexie is young only 2 years old, she loves cat company, and tries so hard to be friends with Ash, so for her cat company is important I think.

I also think that kittens should be adopted in pairs, especially if you are at work all day, as they do need companionship at this young age JMHO.

If you are not ready for another cat, then leave things as they are, only you know if your kitty seems unhappy, as the saying goes "If it ain't broken why fix it"?