1 kitten or 2?

hole in my lovelywall

Recently lost a beloved pet cat and it's been surprisingly devastating to me.
At the moment, I think he may be irreplaceable, but I do miss having a pet around.
I'm wondering if I do get another cat, is it better for the cat to have company?
I've read the siblings get on better than non familial cats.

Does anyone have experience of having a single cat and then 2?

Speedwell

I'm so sorry you lost your cat

It is better for the cat to have cat company (your cat misses the friend too). It is better for you and your older cat to adopt a pair of kittens, because they can play rough-and-tumble games with each other and leave the sedate adult alone (this will help bonding A LOT because big cat will not have to constantly hiss and hide from a single young one just looking for play and company).

If I've misread and you now have no pets, please adopt a pair. Cats need cat company. A mom and her kitten, or two cats from the same household, will do just as well as two kittens. Please consider a pair who have lost their person.

You should have a litter box for each of the two, if possible. A single food and water bowl will be fine, and even better if they are in different rooms (cats like their water away from their food). Please, please make sure they are both spayed/neutered. Otherwise two adult cats are easier than a singleton, and two kittens about twice as hard.

hole in my lovelywall

I am pet-less now.

I think if I do have another cat, I may as well have 2.

Are there negatives to having one?

Speedwell

hole in my lovelywall wrote: »

I am pet-less now.

I think if I do have another cat, I may as well have 2.

Are there negatives to having one?

Cats need company. They're not just little toys that sit around contentedly until you feel like a cuddle. The best company for cats is another cat, but a dog will sometimes do. If you leave the house every day for work, the lonely cat is likely to find the Devil ready to give work to the idle paws, as they say. I had a hard time with a single cat years ago, only to find his mood and behavior improved drastically when we adopted a new kitten. Instead of one depressed, bored, withdrawn cat, I had two healthy, cheerful, affectionate ones.

aonb

hole in my lovelywall wrote: »

I am pet-less now.

I think if I do have another cat, I may as well have 2.

Are there negatives to having one?

The only negatives to having one cat that I can think of: 1. Twice the trouble 2. Who do you cuddle first 3. Getting nothing done watching them play

morgana

I wouldn't say that all cats need company. We have three, and one is a total loner who would be just as happy without any feline company. The first two were mother (14) and son (12, the loner) and neither of them seeks each other's company. We got a (no longer) kitten 2 1/2 years ago (took almost 3 months to get it integrated) and it was mad for the other 2 cats. It is obsessed with the mum cat and she allows it grudginly lol. Overall, it was good cause it made mum cat more active watching (and avoiding, but usually found somewhere nearby) the little thunderball :P . The male ignores both most of the time although has been seen to noose-greet thunderball very occasionally :P

intheclouds

Company depends on the cat.

One of ours hates all people, other cats, dogs - basically any other living creature. She wants to be alone - all the time. She actually waits outside til we leave then goes in through her cat flap when she has the place to herself.