Owning a Cat - Is One Better Than Two?
There’s no doubt that owning a cat will bring love, joy and pleasure into your home.
But when you are first considering sharing your home with a new cat you may ask yourself:-
‘Should I get one cat or two?’
Certainly there are advantages to owning a solitary pet. Your new kitten will be the centre of attraction in the family and will happily receive the benefit of your undivided attention. The fun and games that your children will be able to enjoy on a one-to-one basis will be satisfying in the extreme.
Additionally, the cost of owning a solitary cat will be relatively low. It will be much easier to budget for your pet’s food, bedding and veterinary costs than if you owned two animals and the opportunity for conflict between feline house-mates simply won’t arise.
But what about the happiness of your new cat? Will living a solitary life be the kindest option? Wouldn’t having a companion to share life with be better for your pet’s emotional well-being?
A few of the benefits of owning two cats are:
Companionship for each other - especially if left on their own for long periods.
Sociability. In the wild, feral cats naturally live in large groups which have a social structure.
Giving a home to litter-mates is the easiest route to take.
Double the pleasure for you!
Remember though, it would be foolish to ignore possible disadvantages of owning more than one cat. Some points to consider are:
Higher costs in the form of food, vet bills, equipment, holiday care.
Although most cats are sociable, some are not. A few will actually prefer to have you all to themselves.
Problems with behavior are more likely than with a solitary cat.
Your pets may be more content to spend time with each other than with you.
Once you have made your decision to adopt one cat or two, you will be well advised to look at a number of possible pets. By seeing a fair number of different cats or kittens, you will get a good idea of which ones have outgoing and affectionate natures and will be able to select just the right animal for your needs.
Equipped with this information, you will be able to ensure that you can select cats that will live in harmony together, or will be likely to live happily on their own.
Whether you opt for one cat or two - enjoy the fun and pleasure your new family members will bring!
About the Author:
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