Many people come to LYFF and to other shelters or rescue organizations looking to adopt a cat or kitten. A single one. That’s great if you have other cats or even dogs at home. But if you don’t, you might not realize how much better it is—for you and for the felines—to adopt two. It’s not twice as much work. We promise.
Note: We realize that every household and every cat is different, and everyone has different budget, space, and other restrictions. And yes, there are definitely some cats who want to be a singleton—but those are usually adults, not kittens, because it’s a rare kitten that doesn’t need a playmate.
Your Cat Has a Friend
Kittens are especially energetic—well into their second year—and a feline (or in some cases canine) friend will entertain them when you can’t. Each cat will have a ready-made BFF to chase, wrestle, nap, groom, and explore with, which means you don’t have to give your singleton attention nearly 24/7. Let a pal play chase around the house with your new kitten while you take a moment to make dinner, put away laundry, or just give the wand toy a break.
A companion for your furry friend is critical especially if you’re away from the house for any length of time. By playing with each other, your felines are less likely to be under-stimulated, which can lead to boredom-related, unwanted behaviors. Bored kittens (and cats) are mischief-makers and will invent their own entertainment, which could include shredding curtains, chewing on cords, or knocking items off of shelves. You’ll still need plenty of enrichment in the house, including scratching posts, toys, and attention from humans, but cats can provide each other with stimulation and comfort when you can’t.
Cats also learn from each other. Kittens develop social skills and appropriate play boundaries more easily together than if they’re alone. Can’t get your kitten to stop biting your hands? First, don’t use your hand as a toy. Second, give your kitten a friend to bite on that will bite back and teach them how to play politely. Plus, your two felines will help each other adjust to changes—a new home, new family members, moving, etc.—more easily throughout their lives.
Bonded Pairs or Compatible Duos
Mutual reliance is especially true for bonded pairs—two cats with a strong, established social attachment who rely on each other for companionship, comfort, and security. Cats don’t have to be related to be bonded, though some pairs are, because the keys are the depth of their attachment and whether separation would cause them significant distress. LYFF and other rescues do everything we can to avoid splitting up bonded pairs.
Even if they’re not part of a bonded pair, most cats out there will benefit from companionship, and with careful introductions, they can learn to exist happily together. Rescue staff will be able to advise adopters on which cats or kittens would work well together, and the younger they are at adoption, the easier integration tends to go.
Two Cats Aren’t Twice the Effort
Adding a second cat doesn’t mean double the work for the humans. Yes, veterinary care, food, insurance, and supplies will cost more. But feeding and play routines can usually be combined, and your involvement in playtime is reduced because of the built-in playmate. You’ll also avoid unwanted and potentially destructive behavior that can result from bored or under-stimulated kittens.
How to make it work? To set your two felines up for success, start by working with rescue staff to choose two compatible cats. At home, offer plenty of resources: one litter box per cat, plus one extra, and multiple food, water, resting, hiding, and scratching areas. And be patient if you’re introducing cats that aren’t already familiar with each other. Don’t force interaction, but follow best practices for gradual introductions (see Jackson Galaxy for resources).
Save Three Lives (Including Yours!) By Adopting More Than One
Too often rescues, shelters, and cat behavior experts are asked for help from cat parents who are fed up with bad behavior from their (solo) cat or kitten. A lot of times the answer is that the feline needs a friend. So consider adopting two (or more, we don’t mind!) and save two lives—and your sanity!
We recommend browsing our adoptable cats and completing our pre-adoption application. Our adoption team can help you identify our bonded pairs, siblings, or compatible cats.