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#1
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Companion for Kitten?
Hi,
I have a spayed female kitten (a month or so old?). She's an indoor cat and is pretty needy (meows when I'm not around, etc...). I work full time and I spend time with friends on weekends, so there are long periods when she's alone at home. I want to do what's best for her, so I have a few questions: 1) Should I get another kitten to keep her company? If so, what gender should the kitten be? 2) Should I give her away to folks who already have some cats? I don't know if she's "bonded" with me or not so I don't know how much it would hurt her to part company with me. Thanks. |
#2
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Kittens often do better in pairs. I would suggest a little (neutered) boy.
-- Joe http://www.jwpitt.com/cats.htm Cat Rescue http://www.animalrescuefoundation.com God created the cat so man could have the pleasure of petting the tiger wrote in message m... Hi, I have a spayed female kitten (a month or so old?). She's an indoor cat and is pretty needy (meows when I'm not around, etc...). I work full time and I spend time with friends on weekends, so there are long periods when she's alone at home. I want to do what's best for her, so I have a few questions: 1) Should I get another kitten to keep her company? If so, what gender should the kitten be? 2) Should I give her away to folks who already have some cats? I don't know if she's "bonded" with me or not so I don't know how much it would hurt her to part company with me. Thanks. |
#3
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Kittens often do better in pairs. I would suggest a little (neutered) boy.
-- Joe http://www.jwpitt.com/cats.htm Cat Rescue http://www.animalrescuefoundation.com God created the cat so man could have the pleasure of petting the tiger wrote in message m... Hi, I have a spayed female kitten (a month or so old?). She's an indoor cat and is pretty needy (meows when I'm not around, etc...). I work full time and I spend time with friends on weekends, so there are long periods when she's alone at home. I want to do what's best for her, so I have a few questions: 1) Should I get another kitten to keep her company? If so, what gender should the kitten be? 2) Should I give her away to folks who already have some cats? I don't know if she's "bonded" with me or not so I don't know how much it would hurt her to part company with me. Thanks. |
#4
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Remember that cats do not need to be social creatures - unlike the
pack-orientated dog; they function happily on their own without a social structure around them. They are unlikely to feel the 'need' for a companion even though you would wish to have another cat around. Moreover, you cannot force cats to like each other - some will live with a newcomer easily, others will never relate, or they may just manage to live alongside each other in an uneasy truce - you can only try. However, if there is no competition for food or safe sleeping places (as in most good homes) then cats will accept each other eventually and some will even seem to form close bonds with one another. In conclusion, getting another cat may not solve the problem, nor would getting rid of the cat. Do you think if you keep the cat for the remainder of its life, your personal life will settle down in the future, enabling you to have more time to spend at home? If you do, and you like the idea of having a cat, keep her. If you don't think you are going to settle down, and don't like the idea of having a cat, then by all means find her a good home. As you probably already know, the transition the kitten will have to make into a new home will be easier at a younger age. In my opinion, it has always been easier to find a kitten a home, rather than a one to two year old cat. The fact that she is already house broken and an indoor cat helps. If you do decide to get another kitten, I suggest you find one at or about the same age as the kitten you already have. That way there won't be any competition for food or sleeping areas, until they are older and have already established personal spaces or boundaries in your home. Regarding the gender of a new cat, that is purely up to you. Many people like to mix the genders if they have two cats and some do not. If you get a kitten at or about the same age as the kitten you already have, as they mature they will hopefully bond and become fond of the others presence because. If you find another kitten that is a little older and a little larger, you may be setting yourself up for disaster. As you already know temperament of cats are unique. Should you decided to mix the gender, and find a male kitten; make sure you find one at or about the same age and size as the kitten, you have and neuter him. If you do want to have another kitten, you should ask around and see what other people have done in your situation, regarding mixing genders. Maybe they can shed some light on how their experience with their cat's relationship matured, and problems you may face in the long run... I hope this helps. |
#5
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Remember that cats do not need to be social creatures - unlike the
pack-orientated dog; they function happily on their own without a social structure around them. They are unlikely to feel the 'need' for a companion even though you would wish to have another cat around. Moreover, you cannot force cats to like each other - some will live with a newcomer easily, others will never relate, or they may just manage to live alongside each other in an uneasy truce - you can only try. However, if there is no competition for food or safe sleeping places (as in most good homes) then cats will accept each other eventually and some will even seem to form close bonds with one another. In conclusion, getting another cat may not solve the problem, nor would getting rid of the cat. Do you think if you keep the cat for the remainder of its life, your personal life will settle down in the future, enabling you to have more time to spend at home? If you do, and you like the idea of having a cat, keep her. If you don't think you are going to settle down, and don't like the idea of having a cat, then by all means find her a good home. As you probably already know, the transition the kitten will have to make into a new home will be easier at a younger age. In my opinion, it has always been easier to find a kitten a home, rather than a one to two year old cat. The fact that she is already house broken and an indoor cat helps. If you do decide to get another kitten, I suggest you find one at or about the same age as the kitten you already have. That way there won't be any competition for food or sleeping areas, until they are older and have already established personal spaces or boundaries in your home. Regarding the gender of a new cat, that is purely up to you. Many people like to mix the genders if they have two cats and some do not. If you get a kitten at or about the same age as the kitten you already have, as they mature they will hopefully bond and become fond of the others presence because. If you find another kitten that is a little older and a little larger, you may be setting yourself up for disaster. As you already know temperament of cats are unique. Should you decided to mix the gender, and find a male kitten; make sure you find one at or about the same age and size as the kitten, you have and neuter him. If you do want to have another kitten, you should ask around and see what other people have done in your situation, regarding mixing genders. Maybe they can shed some light on how their experience with their cat's relationship matured, and problems you may face in the long run... I hope this helps. |
#6
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#7
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#8
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On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 16:52:41 GMT, "Iso" wrote:
Remember that cats do not need to be social creatures Yes they do - they are highly social creatures. - unlike the pack-orientated dog; they function happily on their own without a social structure around them. No they do not, that is one of the most common causes of stress in cats. -- Bob. You have not been charged for this lesson. Please pass it to all your friends so they may learn as well. |
#9
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On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 16:52:41 GMT, "Iso" wrote:
Remember that cats do not need to be social creatures Yes they do - they are highly social creatures. - unlike the pack-orientated dog; they function happily on their own without a social structure around them. No they do not, that is one of the most common causes of stress in cats. -- Bob. You have not been charged for this lesson. Please pass it to all your friends so they may learn as well. |
#10
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