“Isn’t two kittens… a lot?” – Is probably the phrase that is crossing your mind at the thought of adopting a duo of kittens rather than just one. Plenty of people shy away from adopting in pairs due to the cost of multiple pets, as well as the stigma of having “many cats”. Not to mention, many folks have valid concerns over their ability to entertain and care for multiple cats as well as balancing a variety of personalities. A single kitten may be the right choice for one person, and a duo may be best suited for someone else.
Although cats can be solitary animals in line with the stereotype often applied to them, they can also live happily with a friend or in an outdoor colony setting. A simple mental picture is the comparison between house cats and wild cats. Some cats are cougars, who prefer to live generally as solo cats. Others may be more reminiscent of a pride of lions, thriving best in a social group. Only you know what will fit your family best, but we’ll try to give you more information on the benefits and drawbacks of bringing home more than one furry friend.
The Advantages of a Pair
Kittens can be adopted in pairs regardless of whether or not they come from the same litter, and many organizations extoll the upsides of bringing home your new kitty with a buddy.
Social benefits can include a friend for enrichment and play, as well as opportunities for kittens to learn appropriate play aggression. Playing with a friend who is their same size can teach kittens that certain forms of play are inappropriate, and help meet their needs for chasing or wrestling rather than fighting with your hands. Introducing new kittens in a home with a cat that is already established can be challenging, but sometimes having a buddy in their age group can help a kitten redirect their energy away from an older cat that may be less interested in sprinting throughout the house. If a pet owner is intending to have multiple cats in the future, starting with two kittens may reduce the social strain that could arise when introducing an adult cat to a single kitten or introducing two adult cats.
Opportunities for kittens to learn are everywhere, especially with a friend. Pairs of kittens can teach each other how to improve their grooming and litterbox habits, although some older cats may mentor a kitten in a similar fashion.
New puppies and new kittens when freshly adopted may go through a phase of stress and discomfort. Although this is normal, the presence of a sibling or compatriot can offer relief from the stress through grooming, cuddling, or play. This may mean that your kitten will come across as less “needy”, which can be a difficult phase for new pet owners who are attempting to integrate their cute new critter into the home.
What about the Worries?
Often a point of concern for those considering more than one cat is the idea of additional litter boxes. Households should generally consider the equation of one more litter box than there are cats in a home, even with adoptions of kitten pairs. Litter boxes come in a variety of forms, with many tools for managing their cleanliness. As long as litter boxes are kept hygienic, this will mitigate smells and dust that may come about. Some can even be self-cleaning for an additional cost, or feature easy-cleaning features such as removable trays with pads or special pellets.
Food and care for multiple cats, particularly once they have matured, can indeed be more expensive. Owners of multiple cats will pay double for vaccines, flea and tick medication, and other standard single pet care costs. However, there is always the possibility that cats adopted as pairs can share one-time purchases such as water fountains, brushes, beds, or scratching posts.
Multi-cat households always run the risk of territorial disputes or social issues among the cats. Felines may fight amongst themselves if they deem resources slim, especially in the case of food or litterboxes.
Still considering a pair of kittens or adding another cat to your home? As long as their individual needs are met, plenty of cats can acclimate to sharing their environment with another cat (especially one of a similar age). Some rescues and shelters highly encourage adopting multiple kittens, but Journey Home is willing to take whatever route an adopter believes will be the most functional and appropriate for their lifestyle.
Sources:
https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/why-adopting-kittens-pairs-good-idea
https://www.kittenlady.org/twokittens
https://spcanova.org/why-kittens-are-adopted-in-pairs/
https://www.cat-advocate.com/post/2020/06/04/two-kittens-are-better-than-one
