Two kittens or one

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

56 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
We are going to look at some kittens tomorrow night, but toying with the idea of getting two. Does anyone have any experience of getting two at once.

The ones we are going to look at are currently 8 weeks old and siblings (don't know sex yet) which were rescued with their mum. We have this idea they will be good company for each other, but will this only last while they are housebound? Once they can go out, are they likely to do their own way?


What so you think about getting one of the kittens and the mum (6)?

Does it make a difference if they are related ?

P

SunnyD

698 posts

178 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
I recently fostered two 8 week old kitten siblings (brother and sister) who got on a real treat, and considering they're on their own all day when I'm at work, they would have been lost without each other. Although they were housebound for the 2 months I had them, they literally did everything together.

Now they're older and have gone to their permanent home (where they can go outside) but they're still best mates, although definitely have individual personalities.

IMO two kittens (as opposed to one) makes little difference to a household/wallet, so if you can, go for two.

Merlot

4,121 posts

210 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
Most people will say get two - will keep each other company when you're out/at work etc.

However, we only got one - We had intended getting two but he was the last of the litter.

He doesn't seem to get bored when we're out provided we play with him on our return. He is very, very affectionate and cuddly and will happily spend plenty of time curled up on us.



captainmatt

475 posts

168 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
We got two, from different litters and there were no real problems. I think in principle it is quite nice for them to have some company for eachother, although with ours one spent most of the time indoors and the other outdoors. But they would still play together during the winter as it was grim outside and curl up together when we were out or were busy.

Unfortunately, one sadly died (the outdoorsy one), and we decided to get another cat not as a replacement but as a new friend for the remaining cat. They get on very well, the new one is just as outdoorsy as the old, although the old fella still with us is getting a bit past it at times and I think just wishes Pi, our new(er) one would just bugger off and let him sleep sometimes! Saying that, Roobarb still loves a good play with a Catnip mouse smile

But they do curl up together and they have both had colds recently and they seem to have looked after eachother quite nicely.

ETA a picture. Roobarb in the foreground, Pi in the background. FYI, the one that died was called Custard (parents influence, not mine).



Edited by captainmatt on Monday 25th October 21:39

SunnyD

698 posts

178 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
Oh and I have no experience of a kitten with mum, only siblings!

These two were equally cuddly together or on their own on my lap...


al1991

4,552 posts

182 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
SunnyD said:
Oh and I have no experience of a kitten with mum, only siblings!

These two were equally cuddly together or on their own on my lap...

That is the cutest thing I've ever seen.

OP, please get two. It's worth it just in case this happens.

Penny-lope

13,645 posts

195 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
Merlot said:
Most people will say get two - will keep each other company when you're out/at work etc.

However, we only got one - We had intended getting two but he was the last of the litter.

He doesn't seem to get bored when we're out provided we play with him on our return. He is very, very affectionate and cuddly and will happily spend plenty of time curled up on us.

Exact same here biggrin


Alex@POD

6,225 posts

217 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
I got two kittens a while back, from the same litter, and they were brilliant together. I kept them indoors for a while, then let them out when I thought they were big enough, and they were often together outside. I even saw them once bring back a rabbit they'd caught together. They were both dragging it as it was as big as the pair of them!

I had a male and a female, and if you do that too, make sure they are neutered as early as practicable (if that is what you want), I was shocked how quickly they got "at it" yikes

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

256 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
I vote for two, they are sociable and do keep each otehr company and getting them together is much easier than introducing more later.

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

188 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
We had two kittens together, as I didn't have the heart to separate them from each other. They played together, slept together, explored together.

Having lost one of them to a car a few weeks ago, the remaining cat is a bit lost without his brother, but at least they had 18 months together.

Give 2 cats a good home. There are far too many animals suffering in bad homes.

Redmax

755 posts

215 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
I'd say two, particularly if you're out all day. Our two (Enzo and Portia, spot the theme) are half brother and sister but were effectively raised in the same litter.

They 'play' fight occasionally and have totally different characters but I think it good that they've got each other for company if they want it.

Our first cat (Colin, starting the theme above) mysteriously disappeared when he was about 4. I'm sure he got fed up of being on his own all day and wandered off.

R1 Loon

26,988 posts

179 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
Two would be greedy, I'd say one slow roasted at Gas Mark 4 should serve a family of four quite easily.

Jonnas

1,004 posts

165 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
I got two brothers from the cat protection league 8 years ago and they have been great. The get on great generally, scrap occasionally and do the whole cute bit. It wouldn't have been right to split them up. I will say though, get them 'done' early. I thought they were going to kill each other at one point. Once they were though they were fine.......

shirt

22,767 posts

203 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
I would get one and maybe the mum. then when the young un is a few years old and getting boring, get another kitten for company.

FraserLFA

5,083 posts

176 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
Get 2 for sheer comedy value. They're always entertaining together.

captainmatt

475 posts

168 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
FraserLFA said:
Get 2 for sheer comedy value. They're always entertaining together.
This.

Although terrifying, it is bloody hilarious having Roobarb jump onto the arm of the sofa then over your head onto the back before sprinting into the kitchen, Pi close behind.

ewenm

28,506 posts

247 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
Two thumbupcloud9

SunnyD

698 posts

178 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
And if you could train just one of them to do this, that'd be magic :-)

CobolMan

1,417 posts

209 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
Penny-lope said:
Exact same here biggrin

That is the spitting image of our much-missed Oscar.

doug1e1972

87 posts

165 months

Monday 25th October 2010
quotequote all
has to be 2, we have 2 and its like haveing lural and hardy in the house