Why Two Kittens?
Why Kittens Should Be Adopted In Pairs
Mother Nature knew what she was doing when she created kittens in litters!
· Kittens are curious and crave constant stimulation. Out of boredom, a single kitten will often entertain itself by chewing plants, climbing drapes and furniture, unrolling toilet paper, exploring electrical cords and sockets, etc. Kittens who live with other kittens may sometimes do these things as well, but if they have another kitten to tumble around and play with it is less likely they’ll need to entertain themselves with behaviors like these, which can be destructive and dangerous.
· Kittens bite and wrestle with one another--this behavior is normal. You can't prevent a kitten from doing what comes naturally, any more than you can force a two-year-old toddler to sit still. Though it's not acceptable for a kitten to bite and wrestle with its human companions, in the absence of having a littermate or companion its own age to play with, this is precisely what a single kitten will want to do. Even if you are willing to allow (and can tolerate) this behavior from your kitten, by the time the kitten matures, you will end up with an adult cat who has developed very bad habits (i.e., biting and scratching as “play”). This is especially important for families with children, so the adopted kitten is more likely to play gently with children in the home.
· Kittens are very active at night. A single kitten is likely to keep people awake at night with constant jumping, pouncing and other “hunting” behavior. With a companion to play with at night, this behavior is minimized because they will have each other to chase and play games with until they too fall asleep.
· Kittens need interaction with other kittens for healthy social development. A kitten learns a lot in the first several months of life from its mother and littermates. Separating a kitten from its mother is often a necessity for adoption purposes, but taking it away from its littermates and isolating it can delay the kitten’s development emotionally, socially, and sometimes physically. Kittens who are able to remain with one of their littermates or a similarly-aged companion tend to be healthier and happier, and in the long run, better socialized pets than those who are isolated from others of their kind at an early age.
· Even loving, caring, humans are not adequate substitutes for kitten companionship. Even if a person is fortunate enough to be home quite a bit, the amount of attention a lone kitten will demand is likely to occupy more time than the person has available. A pair of kittens will definitely still want to interact with people, but can keep each other occupied. Most cats, regardless of their age, are highly sociable and are truly happier living with other cat companions. This in turn makes them better pets.
· A single kitten is not a good companion for an older cat. Kittens have boundless energy. They want to play and run constantly which typically overwhelms and irritates an older cat. Likewise, a kitten is apt to be frustrated that its companion doesn’t have its same level of energy. At the very least, this can lead to two very unhappy cats. At worst, behavior problems such as litterbox avoidance or destructive scratching can occur as one or both cats act out their frustrations on their surroundings. You may see an older cat accept a very young kitten, but this is because they still have a lot in common. Tiny kittens still sleep a LOT, and weighing just a pound or two, their play-attacks may not bother your older cat much. But once the tiny kitten grows into a 6 - 12 month old, with 5 – 10 lbs of weight packed onto that sneak attack, your older cat may start to change its tune. It’s unlikely that the two will have a good relationship after the kitten matures. The best match for an older kitty is either a pair of kittens, or a single adult cat with a similar energy level and within 5 years of its own age.
· We realize that it’s not always possible to adopt a pair of kittens due to rental restrictions, etc. In that case we recommend adopting a single adult cat with a mellow personality who will be OK without a playmate. Adult cats need homes too!
Reference: Source unknown, but we didn't write it!
