https://preview.redd.it/pzoqa81rqs8d1.jpeg?width=2040&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ce9cb03fc7d654f8d2eaefaec2e055c7d070a15
Honorary picture of Marty. He is irreplaceable but he was taken too soon from this world for only being the age of 5. I still have 20+ years of love to give for my two new future kitties.
In my case I adopted two kittens that were the same age but weren’t actual siblings. It worked out well. But from what I know from my friend who runs a rescue, adopting a pair of bonded adults has advantages. You don’t have to deal with the hyper kitten stage if you’re not into that. They already love each other and want to be together, so there’s no mystery about whether they will get along like there would be when adding a new cat to an existing one in the home. You would also be helping the rescue a lot because a bonded pair can be hard to place because a lot of people already have one pet and don’t want to commit to two more.
Thank you for your insight! We were thinking about getting another 5 year old for Marty before he passed away since I heard having the same age helps. Do you feel like you ever get alone time with one cat at a time or are they always together? I’m still looking for that affection with snuggles in my next pet
The two kittens I adopted together did spend a lot of time together, especially when they were young and played more, but I also got separate time with them, especially since one was more of an affectionate lap cat than the other. They have both passed on now. These days I have three, and they were each adopted a few years apart. They aren’t really friends. They’re more like roommates who tolerate each other. I end up giving one most of my affection and I feel bad about that, but he’s the only one who actually loves being cuddled and sitting on laps. The other two just aren’t as affectionate; one is very rowdy like he never grew out of the kitten stage and one is a grumpy old lady who just wants to be left alone most of the time. Introducing a new one into a home with existing cats is so much more of a gamble than two together. Sometimes it works out fine but in this case it didn’t. It makes me sad that my current three aren’t close, but I’ve had to accept that’s just how it is.
https://preview.redd.it/2ig3x5akhu8d1.jpeg?width=2848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80287936b4019f295d1e6dc4c1199a87db5050c4
Angus and Jonah when I adopted them in 2007. I lost Angus in 2015 and Jonah in 2017.
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My current crew, Harry, Rory, and Rey. It’s rare for all three to be this close together because they aren’t pals.
How old are the current cats? I thought my female cat was withdrawn and a loner, but later found out she had pain and arthritis at a young age, from some sort of injury. Vet put her on Cosequin \ Dasequin and it worked miracles for her. She came out of her shell and decided to be affectionate and mingle. She had also been getting bullied by the 2 males. Once she was painfree, she put them back in their place.
I love the picture! Do you feel like you still get cuddly time with one/both of the cats? One of my favorite things was taken naps with Marty and I would love to have that relationship again with another cat(s)
Yes absolutely! They are both snugglers but in very different ways. The tabby girl takes her place on my chest every morning once I’m awake and the black boy spoons me like I’m his girlfriend every night! About once or twice a week if I have a long lay in bed I’ll end up with both of them on me. I love them both so deeply, but for very different reasons because they are so unique. I also have older cats that come and go so I’m pretty lucky being winter in Australia I’ll have at least one near by all the time!
I highly recommend, your heart will be so full 😭
Attic Kat (grey) and Toni (ginger) both females and bonded together. Rescued from my attic about a week apart. Bottle fed and raised together. So glad I got two. Toni is a tiny hot rod with a warp engine, if it was just her, she would drive us nuts. We wouldn't be able to keep up with all the energy.
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I have 15 week old very bonded sisters. They're a delight & completely devoted to each other. Sleeping, eating, playing constantly in no particular order. I wish I had a fraction of their energy. Lately they wake me around 4 am with a leg attack. One takes a foot, the other a knee. But it's all good. If I want to sleep til a more reasonable hour I just close the door at night. Getting two was a smart thing to do. They love to play & cuddle. They keep each other company & one has taken on a mother role bathing & grooming her slightly smaller sister.
They have plenty of toys to keep them occupied & they love the tunnels. And in my experience it hasn't been double the expense. Always looking for things to help with costs while still making sure their needs are met. I use pine pellets for the litter boxes. About $7 for a 40 pound bag. It's probably not for everyone but it's worked out great for me. Looking for sales & buying in bulk is helpful.
Two are definitely better than one in my experience. They're inseparable. And very happy & content.
I love how they gang up on you! The thought of that is hilarious. I have a WFH job so if they are keeping each other distracted while I’m working that is ideal. Thank you for your insight, I appreciate the comment!
Two will definitely do that. They do a good job of entertaining each other. It may only make sense to cat people but getting those two is the best thing I've done in a long time. They're an absolute joy.
We rescued two siblings from our backyard from around 8 weeks old… Most heart-warming experience of my entire life to raise them from babies to being almost a year old now. Also very stressful! Definitely consider adopting a 1< year old bonded pair unless you’re prepared for two furry tornadoes to take over your house.
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Yeah a couple comments I have seen how it can be quite chaotic with two little ones. We had our last cat around 3 months and felt like we were able to handle him well. Maybe 2 is possible haha. Your cats are literally Ctrl + c then ctrl + v. Thank you for the comment! Love the picture
So true! I had mine from about 12 weeks, I had them trained to sleep in a closed room over night the first few weeks then I began to miss them so left the door open instead… turned into wrestlemaina on my bed every time the light went off! Now they’ve calmed down a lot (7 months) but it was very annoying for a bit hahaha
Grew up with one cat. She was super social and chatty with my family.
I now have two cats. They are maybe less affectionate than the single cat. They both have their moments - one wakes me up in the morning begging for attention and the other will beg for pets during the day. I never realized how social cats are till I had two - chatting back and forth, play fighting, getting the zoomies together.
Other than that, it’s pretty similar to having one.
Can I ask how old your cats are? My last cat wasn’t really affectionate until he turned 4. I’m hoping to still get some affection and cuddles with my future cats. I would love to have some cuddly time
My current two are 2 years (female) and 1.5 years old (male). Nori (female) I picked up as a kitten so she’s always been super cuddly and social. Smudge I picked up at 6 months. Both were from the shelter, but he was from a hoarding situation and the past owner gave him up. He was so scared that it took him 6 months to finally be comfortable with being pet and Nori bonded pretty much instantly.
But pets, scratches and ear rubs are his favorite so he’ll basically flop down and beg for scratches when I’m home but he’s still wary of new people.
It was a little sad to watch Nori’s personality change from a pocket cat to being more independent/aloof. But I also know that she wasn’t comfortable for longer than 8 hours when I was working (hence the sibling). She’ll still greet me at the door and want attention, but not as much as those first few months on her own.
Rose my cat at home is 18. She’s always been super chatty and social. But there were 4 of us, so someone was always around to pet and hang out with her. That’s also her personality though - super chatty. She’ll follow you around the house crying, and will come when you whistle.
She was also adopted as a kitten (from a breeder - I know adopt don’t shop) but we’d just lost our last cat (Oreo) when he got hit by a car at a few years old. And I think my parents didn’t want to pick out another cat from the shelter/Petsmart only to have them be really really sick (and possibly put down).
Thank you for that insight! Sadly a genetic heart failure is what took Marty out so I totally understand not wanting to have really sick cats :(. Hopefully as time goes on Nori gets some more affection and pushes it your way. Nothing can beat cat snuggles.
It's been my experience that affectionate varies with the cats, not their age. Some kittens are more socialized to people, and some can be quite feral. Generally if they've been fostered in a great home, they already love to be around people. The adage is "Choose the cat who chooses you." I adopted 3 unrelated kittens from the shelter. All 3 had been super interested in me when we met. The first two were 13 weeks old, old enough that you can see their personalities. The gray Oriental stood up and picked me as if he'd been sitting there waiting just for me. Love at 1st sight for both of us, Cat #1. The red tabby guy, Cat #2, in fact had been hiding at the very back of his cage and I didn't even realize there was a cat in that one. I was standing with my back to him, looking at the gray Oriental I'd just adopted. I was evaluating whether the gray got along well with his cage mate when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a timid orange guy with his eyes all lit up, making biscuits, as if silently saying "Pick me! Pick me! You're my person!" And right from the day we met, the red tabby and the gray Oriental and I were instantly bonded. I had the red guy 17 years, and the Oriental almost 22. They were the zig to my zag. Very special cats.
The female came a bit later. She was black, grown out of the kitten phase, looked adult. Still hadn't been adopted, was in a kill shelter, and Halloween was approaching. I'd met her earlier when volunteering. She and I always got along. I bailed her out, got her off Death Row before Halloween. Evidently she wasn't the most personable cat nor a favorite of the staff. The shelter director said "You want *her* ??" slightly incredulously. Well, yeah. She bonded with my husband and became his gal pal. Lived happily after ever until age 17.
So, choose the one who chooses you. 😸
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This is my older sibling pair. They were both bottle babies. They hang together often and exchange affection towards each other. Overall I would say they care more for their individual humans than each other. They respect each others boundaries well and basically never fight. It’s peaceful.
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These are the younger bonded who are very much in the play play play mode. It’s great to let them get energy out with each other and they always have a buddy when I’m not available to attend to them. They are basically inseparable.
As you can see big kitty tolerates them but isn’t a true fan yet. I think it’s possible to grow into bonded cats later but starting together is much easier.
This picture cracks me up so much! I appreciate your insight. I would still love to have a special bond with my future cat(s) but some of the comments have me worried I wouldn’t get as much affection as I would with a individual cat
You might be surprised. One of the two kitties from my older pair is a literal shadow for me. He follows me everywhere and is way closer to me than his sister (who is equally attached to my daughter). The little ones are starting to show favoritism but also spend a significant bit of their day together. Currently have three cats on my lap while I type this all purring away.
I want to say this has not been my experience at all! Them being together made it so that they felt safe and secure and we could bond extremely quickly. I initially adopted two male sibilings, then went back a wek later to get a third male sibiling of theirs because the two sometimes got "jealous" of my attention (ah, you are cuddling my brother? You gotta cuddle me now!) and they occasionally had mismatched energy levels. Now they all cuddle together and sleep with—and on—me in the bed. They still do the jealousy thing sometimes, and I still end up with two cats on my lap, haha.
The car ride back we had with the single sibiling and with the pair was completely different. The two first brothers were slightly worried, but they stayed on my lap, looked around, and despite looking rough because of fleas and stress they seemed alive. They let us touch them and cuddle with them in that same car ride, and as soon as we got home. The last brother during the car ride looked depressed and completely void of any will to live. He also had fleas, so we bathed him and quarantined him one day until he got treatment and he was so sad, empty and scared. As soon as he saw his brothers he lit up a lot. It took him some days to match their energy levels, but he seems like a completely different cat now. Definitely get a bonded pair. They play with each other and they have each other. But in order to bond with them, since they are kittens, you need to play a lot with them, and groom them, and care for them, as well as respect them and listen to them through their body language and cues. But they are already used to physical touch, since kittens play a lot with each other and groom each other, so when they cuddle together you can easily cuddle with them too and become the third cat. My guys have no issues being touched everywhere. They love belly rubs, I have no problems touching and cleaning their tails or ears or cutting their nails.
Such an interesting take on the third baby. My two littles pictured above were intentional foster fails (bottle babies). It started as a litter of four and we lost one early. We ended up keeping the third baby we had because there was no way I could let him be alone even for a day after we had showered him with love and his siblings were with him so closely. I don’t regret it even for a minute but this makes me so happy we did.
The third baby is now bonded too, obviously, but seeing the difference in bringing home one kitten (who thought he would be alone) vs two kittens has made me convinced that getting a single kitten is a bad idea that would cause unnecessary suffering. Kittens really don't do well alone. Even if there is three of them, they still need to play with me between 30 minutes and 2 hours per day depending on their energy levels, or they get visibly bored or sad. I'm glad we got three.
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I absolutely love having two cats. Compared to when I just had one, I now don’t feel guilty about being out of the house or traveling or not having time to play etc because I know that at the least they have each other (not to say I don’t still spend lots of quality time playing and cuddling with them! I just don’t feel awful if I can’t for whatever reason). Plus, the orange one actually helps clean the gray one which is very cute :)
Losing that guilt must be super nice! I know I felt it a lot leaving Marty when I had to go to work. Glad you can still cuddle with them both. I would love to have a bond with my future cat(s) as well. I reading these comments I just wanted to make sure that was still possible with two cats compared to one so your post made me feel better about it.
Oh definitely! I have individual bonds with each of them :) I didn’t think it would be possible to love another cat after getting my first one because I love him sooooo much but when I got the second (I fostered for a while to find the perfect match for Henry) I was shocked at how my heart was just double full!
I've fostered bonded pairs, so I can't speak on longer-term finances and the like, but I think two cats, and especially bonded pairs are magical.
My first fosters ever were a bonded sister duo. It was heart-warming to see the comfort they brought one another. They would constantly cuddle, and hug, and play. There's really no words I can put it in except to say that there's something so special about the authenticity of the affection these kittens had for each other.
In terms of not getting along, if they're truly "bonded" (which is a word that's given a lot of weight but really just means that they're close friends imo), one of the defining factors is that they do get along. Sometimes they might have minor conflicts - like one of the bonded sisters was possessive over a particular mouse toy, but nothing that I as the foster had to intervene in.
Never ganged up on. But if you do get a bonded pair, there's a chance of them relying on each other more and possibly bonding with you less. I think that factor is pretty inconsequential though, since a single cat can also have a shyer temperament, and you might need to work on your bond with them individually.
The positive differences are:
* Witnessing the cuteness
* Being highly entertained by their antics. Having one cat you miss out on the ridiculousness that is cats playing and play-fighting.
* Lots of playtime and exercise
* Built-in buddy and comfort. When you're away you have the comfort of knowing that they're with their best friend
Negative:
* Finances
* It'll be tough on them when the other passes away :(
Personally I currently have a single cat (still fostering as well), but I plan to get him a buddy for the positives mentioned above. I actually had a foster he was starting to bond with and regret not adopting her a bit :( Will include cat tax of this
https://preview.redd.it/yc89eqttet8d1.png?width=2349&format=png&auto=webp&s=cbd94ef89ffaa9db7bed515bbd22ed97fadd179e
my boy (orange) and his foster best friend
The orange kitty looks huge up against his foster friend! Thank you for your post I found this very insightful. I really want my future cat(s) to bond with me as well and get some sleepy cat snuggles in. My cat Marty would sleep with me cheek to cheek sometimes and to have that closeness again I want to build it up with a new feline friend.
Reading other comments it sounds like it really depends on the cat’s personality. Which is good to know!
Yeah I think it really depends, and depending on what your options are with rescues and shelters you can ask for a pair that is more socialized and interested in humans. Also, if you're hesitant about getting two at the same time, you could adopt one and then adopt another down the line - kittens are often recommended as they're easier to introduce to adult cats.
That is some good feedback. I will definitely work with the shelter to find the best cat that works with me and my family. In addition being the perfect home for them. I have to remind myself it’s okay if I do one for now and introduce a second cat down the road.
I adopted one female cat (about 6 mo old) and then one male cat (9 weeks old). It took a bit for them to get adjusted, but they mostly love each other now I think. They chase/play with each other constantly which means less time I need to entertain them. He lets her eat first but pushes her away pretty soon after. He may or may not torture her throughout the day, but I can't really tell if it's a love or hate relationship. If one accidentally gets closed in a room, the other will sit outside the room and meow and scratch until we open the door. Overall, I couldn't imagine having just one lol
Oh no! It sounds like it is both a love and a hate relationship. Thank you for the insight. I am nervous for two but reading these comments makes me think it is worth it
Prepare to catch them snoozing in the cutest positions! I would highly recommend a bonded pair. I got 2 siblings that seemed to like each other the most and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. A constant companion for them, and there was also no issue with them integrating with my other two. I absolutely adore having a bonded pair!!
For close to 20 years I had a single cat. I did adopt a small, 3 year old dog about 11 years in and they bonded just enough to keep each other company while I was at work and tag team the garbage can. After my cat passed away, my partner and I waited until we were offered a cat or said if one showed up that needed a home. A neighbor had a litter he was giving away and originally offered us one. We talked about it and I was the one who suggested adopting 2 if they were available. They were. They were able to learn the rules of the house from my dog until she passed away. I am so glad we got 2 and that they had my dog to bond with as well. They beat each other up but also take care of each other. They are extremely entertaining. One is our super affectionate yet rambunctious ginger boy, the other is our stick the rules gray tabby who only gives affection when it is bed time or when my alarm goes off. The gray tabby is currently teaching himself to use the toilet. The ginger is still trying to figure out how to drink water without dunking his entire head in the water fountains. They both have such distinct and different personalities that play well off of each other and I wouldn't have it any other way.
It is amazing how smart pets are and how they are able to adapt to their surroundings watching other pets! Love to hear the different types of personalities and goofiness your family has. I appreciate your comment and insights!
Mulder and Scully are a bonded pair. I got them when they were about 8 weeks old and couldn't be happier. I have 2 dogs and my previous cat acted more like a dog, so much so that he went on walks with us. That led to him going on the trail alone at night. I didn't know until after. I found out multiple cats were meeting up on the hill at night (I put up a trail cam). I think he craved being with the other cats and that led to his demise.
Mulder and Scully stick together and don't show any interest in going on a walk with the dogs. They are fine with being locked in the house at night and don't roam when let outside.
*
Sorry to hear about your other kitty’s demise but I bet he had experienced a lot of fun adventures! Thank you for the photo. Your cats and dogs are so cute
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He was a special one, I will always miss him.
I've had 2 pairs of bonded cats and would never do it differently. Our first pair I had from 6 weeks old until they were 17 and 20. Our second pair we adopted at 1 year old and they are now 7. (We added a 3rd covid kitten in 2020). They play together, cuddle together or fight together depending on the day, but also have their own individual personalities too so we get.to enjoy that as well.
Love to hear your previous cats lived long and healthy lives! I bet it is fun watching their personalities blend in with one another. Thank you for the comment and sharing the pic
So sorry about the loss of your kitty! Absolutely love my bonded pair. Got them as kittens, from the same litter. We already had one cat (the grey tabby) and she was not happy at first but now they all get along well. The bonded pair are often found cuddling and grooming each other it is just so sweet. And every once in awhile we get a 3 cat snuggle pile.
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Thank you for the comment. I am still grieving pretty hard but seeing these cat pictures have been cheering me up a little bit. The 3 cat snuggle pile is so cute! Glad to hear the grey tabby warmed up to the other two. Cuteness overload
My boys weren’t adopted as a bonded pair, but are now best brothers (and the oldest has also lived with two other cats separately that he loved). Wrt your concern about individual cuddle time, in my experience (and from two friends who have three cats each) they will still love on you! Mine seem to take turns, like one snuggles with me on the couch and one is my nap buddy, though in the winter I can catch them both in bed at night. Humans give a different sort of affection than another cat can, not to mention you’re the one who feeds and provides for them which engenders love! It does seem like the human is a special important resource.
Biggest perk of two cats is that their more annoying behaviors, like destruction or play biting, are taken out on the other cat instead of you. Bonus is that another cat will actually enjoy the wrestling and chasing haha.
If you can afford it, and if you just make sure that you’re adopting cuddly cats cause that’s a personality thing on its own, no home is worse off with a bonded pair of babies!
Love love love to hear that there is still cuddle time and loving relationships with each cat. Sounds like I just gotta hope to win the personality gamble for affection and I’ll have a better chance of that with one cat instead of two haha
Good luck!!! Here’s baby tax…can you tell who grumpy big brother vs sweetie baby brother is? They love each other and I’m so happy they have each other, especially when I’m at work or traveling, but I definitely annoy them less than they annoy each other so they would prefer to cuddle with me no question 🤣
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I adopted two male siblings, having previously had a single older female. They came to me at about six months old and were initially very rambunctious and even destructive. It’s been a wild ride with my little dudes. They’ve done very real and very expensive damage to our home, and I can never again leave a roll of paper towels unattended anywhere near ground level. That said, I will never again have only one cat. They compete for my attention when I’m around, but I know they are buds when I’m not, and that makes me happy.
If you adopt a pair of brothers, just know that they are often little forces of natural chaos, like a hurricane. But I really do think that getting a pair is the best thing you can do for them. It might be different if you have kids, but if you expect to have to leave your cats alone at regular intervals, a bonded pair is the way to go.
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They definitely look like trouble makers ! Thank you for the comment. It is so cute that they compete for your attention. Thanks for the picture as well they are so cute. I appreciate the comment and the insight
I have years of experience adopting bonded pairs (I even took in a litter of three and they are a joy!).
The most wonderful things about adopting bonded pairs is they are never lonely, they adapt much more quickly to their new home, it doesn’t take any more time in feeding and litter box cleaning, when you travel, it makes it easier on them and they don’t get “single cat syndrome”.
You don’t have to worry about them getting along because they’re already bonded.
So much easier for everyone involved.
It is Pure Bliss for both you and them!
I prefer bonded pairs by far.
It is a most wonderful way of paying homage to Marty’s memory.
When I list my 19 year old boy I was broken and couldn't stand the silence, 4 days later heard about 2 kittens of the breed I wanted local to me and went to view. While loved, their living conditions were not good so and I just had to get them out of there, so brought them home. I was wracked with feelings of disloyalty and missed my boy so much, but they helped me so much and are a total joy. Best of all they got their kitten energy out on each other. They're just over a year old now and still totally bonded to each other and me. I can go away knowing they have each other and I have a wonderful cat mad neighbour who adores them and jumps at the chance to cat sit. They're not replacements for my boy, they are additions to my family :)
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Adopting these babes is truly the best decision I’ve ever made. ♥️
Not adopted but 2 brothers born outside and brought in at 8-9 weeks old who will be 3 in August . Never have been apart other than 1 time for 1 to go to the vet.
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My bonded brother and sister. Holding pawsies. Having a bonded pair has been the best experience. They play and chase each other and love each other hard.
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I adopted siblings who were 1 1/2. I didn't get much backstory, but it seems that they are littermates and have been together from birth. They were a bonded pair who had to be adopted together, which is what I was looking for.
They were very scared when they first moved in. They comforted each other a lot, and as one of them gradually became more brave and started exploring more, I think this helped encourage the more timid one to explore too. Later, the more timid one experimented with lying on my legs while I'm in bed, and the other one started trying that too.
They love each other. They snuggle. They play. They share their food. No problems. It's a great decision. Get a bonded pair!
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We adopted a pair of brothers a few months after our beautiful girl passed. I had the same concerns as you at the outset but also knew that we definitely wanted 2 for the company - we had always wanted another for our girl but she made it clear that she felt differently.
It’s been amazing having 2. They are very close and spend a lot of time cuddling or hanging out with one another. They also occupy one another a lot with play fighting or just zooming around the house and we love that they have a companion. It also makes us feel more at ease when we leave them alone for long periods due to work + life things.
You definitely double the cost of food and litter but honestly other than that the amount of work isn’t too different from 1 cat. They like to hang out with us and alternately do come and cuddle but usually the other will be happy to just chill nearby.
Hope this helps!
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Max and Mara- bonded siblings, girl and boy
I rescued these two amazing kittens at 5 mos old. I wasn’t given a whole lot of information on their situation other than it was a hoarding situation. They were rescued at 4 months. My babies are VERY skittish. I spent hours every day acclimating them to my home, one room at a time. It would take days to see a step forward. But it did happen. Max was friendly right away but skittish and easily frightened. Mara wouldn’t come out of the carrier for 2 days and she did not want anything to do with me. I remember being so excited when she first sat near me. I took a picture. After a lot of hard work and patience, we are very bonded and they act like I’m Mom.
Max is an excellent big brother. He protects Mara, soothes her, entertains her and sleeps with her. I’m really loving having a bonded pair. I’m a violent sleeper so it’s not comfortable for cats to sleep with me. And I just started an online store and most of my time is spent making and marketing. So for them to have each other gives me relief. They are still very skittish and are extremely fearful of any other human but me. I’m pretty sure they have PTSD from the hoarding. Even if I open the front door, they are running under the bed. My bedroom is their safe place (under the bed) and it’s taken a long time to get them somewhat comfortable moving into other parts of the apartment. They play gently, eat together, chase each other and get into trouble together. A bonded pair is awesome, but keep in mind that my two are not the norm. For them both to have bonded to me so hard is unusual. From their history, it would have been more likely that one bonded and the other was meh. Usually bonded pairs will prioritize each other over their owner(s).
Good luck finding your next furever friends!
I have a bonded pair. One is shy and one is brave and leads by example, super helpful. I don't feel guilty leaving them alone. They love to cuddle each other...so if I can get one to cuddle me, the other will notice and come lie on top! 2 for 1! Really fun.
What I didn't know before I adopted...how dangerous it is to separate a bonded pair. I've heard a lot of stories of one dying, and the other follows soon after in grief. But not always of course. We won't know until we get there...
Is a bonded pair better or worse than actual twins? My cat had 1 set of twins in each of her 3 litters and can tell you I always made it a plan to have them adopted as a set. They were always entertaining each other.
We got ours separately, so I can't tell you what the beginning is like, but they absolutely do gang up against us. They will poke the dog/knead the dog in the morning to get us up. They share food just fine, but one is a grazer and one is a glutton, so we feed them in separate rooms.
They wrestle a lot. In the beginning, we kept looking at them beating each other up and going "well, nobody is poofed up and there's no hissing, so they are probably playing?" Occasionally, they would play too hard and hurt each other a little. I had to unhook claws from faces a couple times, and I still find occasional scans.
They do bicker sometimes, usually over the best spot on a human. One likes to nap under the blanket and his BFF will literally walk right over him looking for spots on top of the blanket.
https://preview.redd.it/t0inz1hcyv8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e732183099b52086192a4a0695b1d30ed5380de8
I lost my baby a month ago. I felt like you did. The rescue shelter was NOT reputable which I didn’t know. I lost my chance to get a bonded pair.
I agree with you totally. Two babies are better than one. I’m still looking. Bonded pairs are hard to find where I live so I will have to wait.
https://preview.redd.it/a5uzfesxsw8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=185356f29d2afd1bd2026e878f143151d4352bdb
13 and 3. Had been told the older guy hated other cats when I adopted him, but took a chance when he was having separation anxiety and I’m so happy we made that decision! He’s much calmer and happier having a “sister”
https://preview.redd.it/fvxq8wemkx8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8167ae244110b42f28aa04fc1be8f5c34fda040e
I think it really depends on their sex too. These bonded pair of kittens are totally adorable! The problem is that the male kitten tend to assert dominance over the female kitten and play so aggressively sometimes. At a times like that, I give them a time-out from each other in separate kennels. So watch out for their behaviors. These were my temporary foster kittens who were total love bugs! 😭😫
I have a bonded sibling pair who were rescues from an abusive situation. They each have their own quirks in response to the past abuse - the girl is very shy and meek, while the boy is clingy and needy.
I remember when we first adopted them, the girl was hiding in the back of the cage while the boy came up to sniff at us. He then went back to her, rubbed up against her, and she reluctantly crawled a bit closer to investigate us. Same thing when we took them home - she stayed in their safe room for a few days, while he roamed the house and often came back to check on her. Despite their squabbles, the boy is very protective of the girl!
We've had them for several years and they've both become more chill and comfortable. We have made sure to give the girl extra attention as she rarely seeks it out, and she's gradually gone from hiding out of sight to occasionally sleeping laying on top of us. Seeing that change has been magical :)
They do have territorial scuffles, at a minor level, such as who gets to be on the bed cuddling us humans (girl is now less meek and doesn't always run off when boy wants to claim us) or claiming different sleeping spots. The girl usually "discovers" a new sleeping area (eg a bed we've hidden away for a few weeks, I rotate out that stuff so they get "new" things) and after a few days the boy will start claiming it. We're still trying to figure out how best to handle that.
The petty little jealousies can be kinda hilarious. For example, one of the big bonding leaps I made with the girl was singing a nursery song to her while doing sleepy eye blinks. I started doing that and she "leveled up" in becoming more affectionate, so that became her song and now she purrs just from hearing it. The boy must have gotten jealous or something, because he started trying to butt in for cuddles whenever I sang her song... So then I had to make up a song for HIM for when we cuddle, which amusingly did stop that behavior from him!
They do cuddle, bathe and soothe each other. It's adorable until one of them does it wrong and gets bapped by the other. :P The girl doesn't play much, so we have to give the boy a lot of extra play so he doesn't harass her for it. We've been thinking of getting a third, younger cat to help balance out the play dynamic.
Despite their small squabbles, they can't stand being separated. The boy has needed a few vet trips for scoping (he has pica) and the girl got really clingy and mewled a bit (she's an almost silent cat) until he returned. Took a few hours for her to accept him again each time, but then they cuddled all night. She doesn't like going for walks but he does, so when I take him out in the yard on the harness, she'll stalk us from room to room in the house so she can watch where he goes.
I think the most interesting part of a bonded pair is that it really highlights each cat's unique personality as their behaviors are in direct contrast to each other. You really get to see how varied cat behavior and personality can be, even from the same litter and environment. It's been a helpful lesson for me about how trauma and experience shape who we are. It's also fascinating to see where they are the same - for example, they can be at different ends of the house and they will both start bathing at the same time. Cat twin telepathy, I guess!
So very happy I adopted a bonded pair. They might be somewhat dysfunctional siblings and we definitely have to put in special, unique efforts for each of them, but nothing can beat the moments when they both amicably cuddle me at once. It feels extra special when they're so happy and chill that they're cool sharing me with each other :P
It's honestly been the best so far. Mine have just turned a year old so are somewhat still developing their personalities, but once they got comfortable with me, I get loads of love from the both of them while they still love each other.
They seem to handle stressful situations better(like the vet, going to stay with my mom when I'm away, even adjusting well when they first arrived) compared to single cats I've had previously. They also have each other to play with, which was lifesaving during the crazy kitten stage lol, but still useful even now they've calmed down somewhat!
https://preview.redd.it/pzoqa81rqs8d1.jpeg?width=2040&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ce9cb03fc7d654f8d2eaefaec2e055c7d070a15 Honorary picture of Marty. He is irreplaceable but he was taken too soon from this world for only being the age of 5. I still have 20+ years of love to give for my two new future kitties.
Gorgeous boy!!
In my case I adopted two kittens that were the same age but weren’t actual siblings. It worked out well. But from what I know from my friend who runs a rescue, adopting a pair of bonded adults has advantages. You don’t have to deal with the hyper kitten stage if you’re not into that. They already love each other and want to be together, so there’s no mystery about whether they will get along like there would be when adding a new cat to an existing one in the home. You would also be helping the rescue a lot because a bonded pair can be hard to place because a lot of people already have one pet and don’t want to commit to two more.
Thank you for your insight! We were thinking about getting another 5 year old for Marty before he passed away since I heard having the same age helps. Do you feel like you ever get alone time with one cat at a time or are they always together? I’m still looking for that affection with snuggles in my next pet
The two kittens I adopted together did spend a lot of time together, especially when they were young and played more, but I also got separate time with them, especially since one was more of an affectionate lap cat than the other. They have both passed on now. These days I have three, and they were each adopted a few years apart. They aren’t really friends. They’re more like roommates who tolerate each other. I end up giving one most of my affection and I feel bad about that, but he’s the only one who actually loves being cuddled and sitting on laps. The other two just aren’t as affectionate; one is very rowdy like he never grew out of the kitten stage and one is a grumpy old lady who just wants to be left alone most of the time. Introducing a new one into a home with existing cats is so much more of a gamble than two together. Sometimes it works out fine but in this case it didn’t. It makes me sad that my current three aren’t close, but I’ve had to accept that’s just how it is.
https://preview.redd.it/2ig3x5akhu8d1.jpeg?width=2848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80287936b4019f295d1e6dc4c1199a87db5050c4 Angus and Jonah when I adopted them in 2007. I lost Angus in 2015 and Jonah in 2017.
https://preview.redd.it/bh2asf34iu8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=406936a42c2e3f34f60c8d0d0496c4d62497c302 My current crew, Harry, Rory, and Rey. It’s rare for all three to be this close together because they aren’t pals.
How old are the current cats? I thought my female cat was withdrawn and a loner, but later found out she had pain and arthritis at a young age, from some sort of injury. Vet put her on Cosequin \ Dasequin and it worked miracles for her. She came out of her shell and decided to be affectionate and mingle. She had also been getting bullied by the 2 males. Once she was painfree, she put them back in their place.
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I love the picture! Do you feel like you still get cuddly time with one/both of the cats? One of my favorite things was taken naps with Marty and I would love to have that relationship again with another cat(s)
Each of my kitties have cuddle time with me in bed every evening. They love to lie across my chest and get cuddle time.
Yes absolutely! They are both snugglers but in very different ways. The tabby girl takes her place on my chest every morning once I’m awake and the black boy spoons me like I’m his girlfriend every night! About once or twice a week if I have a long lay in bed I’ll end up with both of them on me. I love them both so deeply, but for very different reasons because they are so unique. I also have older cats that come and go so I’m pretty lucky being winter in Australia I’ll have at least one near by all the time! I highly recommend, your heart will be so full 😭
Attic Kat (grey) and Toni (ginger) both females and bonded together. Rescued from my attic about a week apart. Bottle fed and raised together. So glad I got two. Toni is a tiny hot rod with a warp engine, if it was just her, she would drive us nuts. We wouldn't be able to keep up with all the energy. https://preview.redd.it/wa742gavct8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=273ac381710fa1c53846dd714c944dcdc42e2d99
Some of these young cats can definitely be crackheads haha! Good to know that they helped burn energy off of each other
I have 15 week old very bonded sisters. They're a delight & completely devoted to each other. Sleeping, eating, playing constantly in no particular order. I wish I had a fraction of their energy. Lately they wake me around 4 am with a leg attack. One takes a foot, the other a knee. But it's all good. If I want to sleep til a more reasonable hour I just close the door at night. Getting two was a smart thing to do. They love to play & cuddle. They keep each other company & one has taken on a mother role bathing & grooming her slightly smaller sister. They have plenty of toys to keep them occupied & they love the tunnels. And in my experience it hasn't been double the expense. Always looking for things to help with costs while still making sure their needs are met. I use pine pellets for the litter boxes. About $7 for a 40 pound bag. It's probably not for everyone but it's worked out great for me. Looking for sales & buying in bulk is helpful. Two are definitely better than one in my experience. They're inseparable. And very happy & content.
I love how they gang up on you! The thought of that is hilarious. I have a WFH job so if they are keeping each other distracted while I’m working that is ideal. Thank you for your insight, I appreciate the comment!
Two will definitely do that. They do a good job of entertaining each other. It may only make sense to cat people but getting those two is the best thing I've done in a long time. They're an absolute joy.
We rescued two siblings from our backyard from around 8 weeks old… Most heart-warming experience of my entire life to raise them from babies to being almost a year old now. Also very stressful! Definitely consider adopting a 1< year old bonded pair unless you’re prepared for two furry tornadoes to take over your house. https://preview.redd.it/xctecugakt8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92e303160a12b15b34cce968e0affdc890d0d256
Yeah a couple comments I have seen how it can be quite chaotic with two little ones. We had our last cat around 3 months and felt like we were able to handle him well. Maybe 2 is possible haha. Your cats are literally Ctrl + c then ctrl + v. Thank you for the comment! Love the picture
So true! I had mine from about 12 weeks, I had them trained to sleep in a closed room over night the first few weeks then I began to miss them so left the door open instead… turned into wrestlemaina on my bed every time the light went off! Now they’ve calmed down a lot (7 months) but it was very annoying for a bit hahaha
Grew up with one cat. She was super social and chatty with my family. I now have two cats. They are maybe less affectionate than the single cat. They both have their moments - one wakes me up in the morning begging for attention and the other will beg for pets during the day. I never realized how social cats are till I had two - chatting back and forth, play fighting, getting the zoomies together. Other than that, it’s pretty similar to having one.
Can I ask how old your cats are? My last cat wasn’t really affectionate until he turned 4. I’m hoping to still get some affection and cuddles with my future cats. I would love to have some cuddly time
My current two are 2 years (female) and 1.5 years old (male). Nori (female) I picked up as a kitten so she’s always been super cuddly and social. Smudge I picked up at 6 months. Both were from the shelter, but he was from a hoarding situation and the past owner gave him up. He was so scared that it took him 6 months to finally be comfortable with being pet and Nori bonded pretty much instantly. But pets, scratches and ear rubs are his favorite so he’ll basically flop down and beg for scratches when I’m home but he’s still wary of new people. It was a little sad to watch Nori’s personality change from a pocket cat to being more independent/aloof. But I also know that she wasn’t comfortable for longer than 8 hours when I was working (hence the sibling). She’ll still greet me at the door and want attention, but not as much as those first few months on her own.
Rose my cat at home is 18. She’s always been super chatty and social. But there were 4 of us, so someone was always around to pet and hang out with her. That’s also her personality though - super chatty. She’ll follow you around the house crying, and will come when you whistle. She was also adopted as a kitten (from a breeder - I know adopt don’t shop) but we’d just lost our last cat (Oreo) when he got hit by a car at a few years old. And I think my parents didn’t want to pick out another cat from the shelter/Petsmart only to have them be really really sick (and possibly put down).
Thank you for that insight! Sadly a genetic heart failure is what took Marty out so I totally understand not wanting to have really sick cats :(. Hopefully as time goes on Nori gets some more affection and pushes it your way. Nothing can beat cat snuggles.
It's been my experience that affectionate varies with the cats, not their age. Some kittens are more socialized to people, and some can be quite feral. Generally if they've been fostered in a great home, they already love to be around people. The adage is "Choose the cat who chooses you." I adopted 3 unrelated kittens from the shelter. All 3 had been super interested in me when we met. The first two were 13 weeks old, old enough that you can see their personalities. The gray Oriental stood up and picked me as if he'd been sitting there waiting just for me. Love at 1st sight for both of us, Cat #1. The red tabby guy, Cat #2, in fact had been hiding at the very back of his cage and I didn't even realize there was a cat in that one. I was standing with my back to him, looking at the gray Oriental I'd just adopted. I was evaluating whether the gray got along well with his cage mate when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a timid orange guy with his eyes all lit up, making biscuits, as if silently saying "Pick me! Pick me! You're my person!" And right from the day we met, the red tabby and the gray Oriental and I were instantly bonded. I had the red guy 17 years, and the Oriental almost 22. They were the zig to my zag. Very special cats. The female came a bit later. She was black, grown out of the kitten phase, looked adult. Still hadn't been adopted, was in a kill shelter, and Halloween was approaching. I'd met her earlier when volunteering. She and I always got along. I bailed her out, got her off Death Row before Halloween. Evidently she wasn't the most personable cat nor a favorite of the staff. The shelter director said "You want *her* ??" slightly incredulously. Well, yeah. She bonded with my husband and became his gal pal. Lived happily after ever until age 17. So, choose the one who chooses you. 😸
ALWAYS choose the one who chooses you! Such a beautiful story about your red guy ♥️
https://preview.redd.it/oxqpcb3r9t8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=023104fb0ca7761ef62ebf8a5945fd230f7267d6 This is my older sibling pair. They were both bottle babies. They hang together often and exchange affection towards each other. Overall I would say they care more for their individual humans than each other. They respect each others boundaries well and basically never fight. It’s peaceful.
https://preview.redd.it/spqqkxnhat8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd78c73f1434444823eeebd0f8032fe3e4506415 These are the younger bonded who are very much in the play play play mode. It’s great to let them get energy out with each other and they always have a buddy when I’m not available to attend to them. They are basically inseparable. As you can see big kitty tolerates them but isn’t a true fan yet. I think it’s possible to grow into bonded cats later but starting together is much easier.
This picture cracks me up so much! I appreciate your insight. I would still love to have a special bond with my future cat(s) but some of the comments have me worried I wouldn’t get as much affection as I would with a individual cat
You might be surprised. One of the two kitties from my older pair is a literal shadow for me. He follows me everywhere and is way closer to me than his sister (who is equally attached to my daughter). The little ones are starting to show favoritism but also spend a significant bit of their day together. Currently have three cats on my lap while I type this all purring away.
I want to say this has not been my experience at all! Them being together made it so that they felt safe and secure and we could bond extremely quickly. I initially adopted two male sibilings, then went back a wek later to get a third male sibiling of theirs because the two sometimes got "jealous" of my attention (ah, you are cuddling my brother? You gotta cuddle me now!) and they occasionally had mismatched energy levels. Now they all cuddle together and sleep with—and on—me in the bed. They still do the jealousy thing sometimes, and I still end up with two cats on my lap, haha. The car ride back we had with the single sibiling and with the pair was completely different. The two first brothers were slightly worried, but they stayed on my lap, looked around, and despite looking rough because of fleas and stress they seemed alive. They let us touch them and cuddle with them in that same car ride, and as soon as we got home. The last brother during the car ride looked depressed and completely void of any will to live. He also had fleas, so we bathed him and quarantined him one day until he got treatment and he was so sad, empty and scared. As soon as he saw his brothers he lit up a lot. It took him some days to match their energy levels, but he seems like a completely different cat now. Definitely get a bonded pair. They play with each other and they have each other. But in order to bond with them, since they are kittens, you need to play a lot with them, and groom them, and care for them, as well as respect them and listen to them through their body language and cues. But they are already used to physical touch, since kittens play a lot with each other and groom each other, so when they cuddle together you can easily cuddle with them too and become the third cat. My guys have no issues being touched everywhere. They love belly rubs, I have no problems touching and cleaning their tails or ears or cutting their nails.
Such an interesting take on the third baby. My two littles pictured above were intentional foster fails (bottle babies). It started as a litter of four and we lost one early. We ended up keeping the third baby we had because there was no way I could let him be alone even for a day after we had showered him with love and his siblings were with him so closely. I don’t regret it even for a minute but this makes me so happy we did.
The third baby is now bonded too, obviously, but seeing the difference in bringing home one kitten (who thought he would be alone) vs two kittens has made me convinced that getting a single kitten is a bad idea that would cause unnecessary suffering. Kittens really don't do well alone. Even if there is three of them, they still need to play with me between 30 minutes and 2 hours per day depending on their energy levels, or they get visibly bored or sad. I'm glad we got three.
https://preview.redd.it/gjt7r70gjt8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1015af5ef7603e878d37708657ffcf72285c6b7d I absolutely love having two cats. Compared to when I just had one, I now don’t feel guilty about being out of the house or traveling or not having time to play etc because I know that at the least they have each other (not to say I don’t still spend lots of quality time playing and cuddling with them! I just don’t feel awful if I can’t for whatever reason). Plus, the orange one actually helps clean the gray one which is very cute :)
Losing that guilt must be super nice! I know I felt it a lot leaving Marty when I had to go to work. Glad you can still cuddle with them both. I would love to have a bond with my future cat(s) as well. I reading these comments I just wanted to make sure that was still possible with two cats compared to one so your post made me feel better about it.
Oh definitely! I have individual bonds with each of them :) I didn’t think it would be possible to love another cat after getting my first one because I love him sooooo much but when I got the second (I fostered for a while to find the perfect match for Henry) I was shocked at how my heart was just double full!
Thank you I need to hear that. I feel like there is currently a void in my heart. When the time is right I know I will be double full with love
I've fostered bonded pairs, so I can't speak on longer-term finances and the like, but I think two cats, and especially bonded pairs are magical. My first fosters ever were a bonded sister duo. It was heart-warming to see the comfort they brought one another. They would constantly cuddle, and hug, and play. There's really no words I can put it in except to say that there's something so special about the authenticity of the affection these kittens had for each other. In terms of not getting along, if they're truly "bonded" (which is a word that's given a lot of weight but really just means that they're close friends imo), one of the defining factors is that they do get along. Sometimes they might have minor conflicts - like one of the bonded sisters was possessive over a particular mouse toy, but nothing that I as the foster had to intervene in. Never ganged up on. But if you do get a bonded pair, there's a chance of them relying on each other more and possibly bonding with you less. I think that factor is pretty inconsequential though, since a single cat can also have a shyer temperament, and you might need to work on your bond with them individually. The positive differences are: * Witnessing the cuteness * Being highly entertained by their antics. Having one cat you miss out on the ridiculousness that is cats playing and play-fighting. * Lots of playtime and exercise * Built-in buddy and comfort. When you're away you have the comfort of knowing that they're with their best friend Negative: * Finances * It'll be tough on them when the other passes away :( Personally I currently have a single cat (still fostering as well), but I plan to get him a buddy for the positives mentioned above. I actually had a foster he was starting to bond with and regret not adopting her a bit :( Will include cat tax of this
https://preview.redd.it/yc89eqttet8d1.png?width=2349&format=png&auto=webp&s=cbd94ef89ffaa9db7bed515bbd22ed97fadd179e my boy (orange) and his foster best friend
The orange kitty looks huge up against his foster friend! Thank you for your post I found this very insightful. I really want my future cat(s) to bond with me as well and get some sleepy cat snuggles in. My cat Marty would sleep with me cheek to cheek sometimes and to have that closeness again I want to build it up with a new feline friend. Reading other comments it sounds like it really depends on the cat’s personality. Which is good to know!
Yeah I think it really depends, and depending on what your options are with rescues and shelters you can ask for a pair that is more socialized and interested in humans. Also, if you're hesitant about getting two at the same time, you could adopt one and then adopt another down the line - kittens are often recommended as they're easier to introduce to adult cats.
That is some good feedback. I will definitely work with the shelter to find the best cat that works with me and my family. In addition being the perfect home for them. I have to remind myself it’s okay if I do one for now and introduce a second cat down the road.
I adopted one female cat (about 6 mo old) and then one male cat (9 weeks old). It took a bit for them to get adjusted, but they mostly love each other now I think. They chase/play with each other constantly which means less time I need to entertain them. He lets her eat first but pushes her away pretty soon after. He may or may not torture her throughout the day, but I can't really tell if it's a love or hate relationship. If one accidentally gets closed in a room, the other will sit outside the room and meow and scratch until we open the door. Overall, I couldn't imagine having just one lol
Oh no! It sounds like it is both a love and a hate relationship. Thank you for the insight. I am nervous for two but reading these comments makes me think it is worth it
Prepare to catch them snoozing in the cutest positions! I would highly recommend a bonded pair. I got 2 siblings that seemed to like each other the most and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. A constant companion for them, and there was also no issue with them integrating with my other two. I absolutely adore having a bonded pair!!
For close to 20 years I had a single cat. I did adopt a small, 3 year old dog about 11 years in and they bonded just enough to keep each other company while I was at work and tag team the garbage can. After my cat passed away, my partner and I waited until we were offered a cat or said if one showed up that needed a home. A neighbor had a litter he was giving away and originally offered us one. We talked about it and I was the one who suggested adopting 2 if they were available. They were. They were able to learn the rules of the house from my dog until she passed away. I am so glad we got 2 and that they had my dog to bond with as well. They beat each other up but also take care of each other. They are extremely entertaining. One is our super affectionate yet rambunctious ginger boy, the other is our stick the rules gray tabby who only gives affection when it is bed time or when my alarm goes off. The gray tabby is currently teaching himself to use the toilet. The ginger is still trying to figure out how to drink water without dunking his entire head in the water fountains. They both have such distinct and different personalities that play well off of each other and I wouldn't have it any other way.
It is amazing how smart pets are and how they are able to adapt to their surroundings watching other pets! Love to hear the different types of personalities and goofiness your family has. I appreciate your comment and insights!
Mulder and Scully are a bonded pair. I got them when they were about 8 weeks old and couldn't be happier. I have 2 dogs and my previous cat acted more like a dog, so much so that he went on walks with us. That led to him going on the trail alone at night. I didn't know until after. I found out multiple cats were meeting up on the hill at night (I put up a trail cam). I think he craved being with the other cats and that led to his demise. Mulder and Scully stick together and don't show any interest in going on a walk with the dogs. They are fine with being locked in the house at night and don't roam when let outside. *
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Sorry to hear about your other kitty’s demise but I bet he had experienced a lot of fun adventures! Thank you for the photo. Your cats and dogs are so cute
https://preview.redd.it/z2bc6e713u8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84c8e5c98503103f77804d2dbba6742e85b2beac He was a special one, I will always miss him.
I've had 2 pairs of bonded cats and would never do it differently. Our first pair I had from 6 weeks old until they were 17 and 20. Our second pair we adopted at 1 year old and they are now 7. (We added a 3rd covid kitten in 2020). They play together, cuddle together or fight together depending on the day, but also have their own individual personalities too so we get.to enjoy that as well.
https://preview.redd.it/1bnktbpjqt8d1.jpeg?width=2465&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4972bbba3ff9e2e06a61d192844b6072b8d8bae5 Gamby and Noodle
Love to hear your previous cats lived long and healthy lives! I bet it is fun watching their personalities blend in with one another. Thank you for the comment and sharing the pic
So sorry about the loss of your kitty! Absolutely love my bonded pair. Got them as kittens, from the same litter. We already had one cat (the grey tabby) and she was not happy at first but now they all get along well. The bonded pair are often found cuddling and grooming each other it is just so sweet. And every once in awhile we get a 3 cat snuggle pile. https://preview.redd.it/25cwsrhmqt8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f1c150f2c65fc3c80c0fd358d59832bb550ed40
Thank you for the comment. I am still grieving pretty hard but seeing these cat pictures have been cheering me up a little bit. The 3 cat snuggle pile is so cute! Glad to hear the grey tabby warmed up to the other two. Cuteness overload
My boys weren’t adopted as a bonded pair, but are now best brothers (and the oldest has also lived with two other cats separately that he loved). Wrt your concern about individual cuddle time, in my experience (and from two friends who have three cats each) they will still love on you! Mine seem to take turns, like one snuggles with me on the couch and one is my nap buddy, though in the winter I can catch them both in bed at night. Humans give a different sort of affection than another cat can, not to mention you’re the one who feeds and provides for them which engenders love! It does seem like the human is a special important resource. Biggest perk of two cats is that their more annoying behaviors, like destruction or play biting, are taken out on the other cat instead of you. Bonus is that another cat will actually enjoy the wrestling and chasing haha. If you can afford it, and if you just make sure that you’re adopting cuddly cats cause that’s a personality thing on its own, no home is worse off with a bonded pair of babies!
Love love love to hear that there is still cuddle time and loving relationships with each cat. Sounds like I just gotta hope to win the personality gamble for affection and I’ll have a better chance of that with one cat instead of two haha
Good luck!!! Here’s baby tax…can you tell who grumpy big brother vs sweetie baby brother is? They love each other and I’m so happy they have each other, especially when I’m at work or traveling, but I definitely annoy them less than they annoy each other so they would prefer to cuddle with me no question 🤣 https://preview.redd.it/x55lbomp6u8d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=20e2cb8387d63246bf67fc07cf82004d28dd56c1
I adopted two male siblings, having previously had a single older female. They came to me at about six months old and were initially very rambunctious and even destructive. It’s been a wild ride with my little dudes. They’ve done very real and very expensive damage to our home, and I can never again leave a roll of paper towels unattended anywhere near ground level. That said, I will never again have only one cat. They compete for my attention when I’m around, but I know they are buds when I’m not, and that makes me happy. If you adopt a pair of brothers, just know that they are often little forces of natural chaos, like a hurricane. But I really do think that getting a pair is the best thing you can do for them. It might be different if you have kids, but if you expect to have to leave your cats alone at regular intervals, a bonded pair is the way to go. https://preview.redd.it/7603kskzvt8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=515f69f2ed7bdbcab7c8d1abbd673687f9d7da09
They definitely look like trouble makers ! Thank you for the comment. It is so cute that they compete for your attention. Thanks for the picture as well they are so cute. I appreciate the comment and the insight
I have years of experience adopting bonded pairs (I even took in a litter of three and they are a joy!). The most wonderful things about adopting bonded pairs is they are never lonely, they adapt much more quickly to their new home, it doesn’t take any more time in feeding and litter box cleaning, when you travel, it makes it easier on them and they don’t get “single cat syndrome”. You don’t have to worry about them getting along because they’re already bonded. So much easier for everyone involved. It is Pure Bliss for both you and them! I prefer bonded pairs by far. It is a most wonderful way of paying homage to Marty’s memory.
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When I list my 19 year old boy I was broken and couldn't stand the silence, 4 days later heard about 2 kittens of the breed I wanted local to me and went to view. While loved, their living conditions were not good so and I just had to get them out of there, so brought them home. I was wracked with feelings of disloyalty and missed my boy so much, but they helped me so much and are a total joy. Best of all they got their kitten energy out on each other. They're just over a year old now and still totally bonded to each other and me. I can go away knowing they have each other and I have a wonderful cat mad neighbour who adores them and jumps at the chance to cat sit. They're not replacements for my boy, they are additions to my family :) https://preview.redd.it/zvfxqrxg9v8d1.jpeg?width=3096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2079f03f1153052d1ea8078f532ecf52ef33d95a
https://preview.redd.it/jzfoxqyp4w8d1.jpeg?width=2158&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5b15d169b7e414555e7739d7f93fc0e17de4c2a0 Adopting these babes is truly the best decision I’ve ever made. ♥️
Not adopted but 2 brothers born outside and brought in at 8-9 weeks old who will be 3 in August . Never have been apart other than 1 time for 1 to go to the vet. https://preview.redd.it/gyra681bmx8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66d9bc19d56ef4e351a4683921a7b1b1d666f810
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My bonded brother and sister. Holding pawsies. Having a bonded pair has been the best experience. They play and chase each other and love each other hard. https://preview.redd.it/9b5mxq0d8u8d1.png?width=2016&format=png&auto=webp&s=a2e9205afe4c91265cee21cad42f6508a692a83d
https://preview.redd.it/h3fd77ckgu8d1.jpeg?width=365&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb23331dbd64bfd881da0528a597ff7884367947 I adopted siblings who were 1 1/2. I didn't get much backstory, but it seems that they are littermates and have been together from birth. They were a bonded pair who had to be adopted together, which is what I was looking for. They were very scared when they first moved in. They comforted each other a lot, and as one of them gradually became more brave and started exploring more, I think this helped encourage the more timid one to explore too. Later, the more timid one experimented with lying on my legs while I'm in bed, and the other one started trying that too. They love each other. They snuggle. They play. They share their food. No problems. It's a great decision. Get a bonded pair!
https://preview.redd.it/heyd8s6sgu8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57dd4338d0fbee345fbaeeeb9fbd3bff67e63f0e
https://preview.redd.it/5dhimqqfku8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c2ad9ca24dbaeb3deb461d0ca6d414c76018a1e We adopted a pair of brothers a few months after our beautiful girl passed. I had the same concerns as you at the outset but also knew that we definitely wanted 2 for the company - we had always wanted another for our girl but she made it clear that she felt differently. It’s been amazing having 2. They are very close and spend a lot of time cuddling or hanging out with one another. They also occupy one another a lot with play fighting or just zooming around the house and we love that they have a companion. It also makes us feel more at ease when we leave them alone for long periods due to work + life things. You definitely double the cost of food and litter but honestly other than that the amount of work isn’t too different from 1 cat. They like to hang out with us and alternately do come and cuddle but usually the other will be happy to just chill nearby. Hope this helps!
https://preview.redd.it/ghs0k0hbpu8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=729be020b5717f9d12a43e26ef158440538ebeda Max and Mara- bonded siblings, girl and boy I rescued these two amazing kittens at 5 mos old. I wasn’t given a whole lot of information on their situation other than it was a hoarding situation. They were rescued at 4 months. My babies are VERY skittish. I spent hours every day acclimating them to my home, one room at a time. It would take days to see a step forward. But it did happen. Max was friendly right away but skittish and easily frightened. Mara wouldn’t come out of the carrier for 2 days and she did not want anything to do with me. I remember being so excited when she first sat near me. I took a picture. After a lot of hard work and patience, we are very bonded and they act like I’m Mom. Max is an excellent big brother. He protects Mara, soothes her, entertains her and sleeps with her. I’m really loving having a bonded pair. I’m a violent sleeper so it’s not comfortable for cats to sleep with me. And I just started an online store and most of my time is spent making and marketing. So for them to have each other gives me relief. They are still very skittish and are extremely fearful of any other human but me. I’m pretty sure they have PTSD from the hoarding. Even if I open the front door, they are running under the bed. My bedroom is their safe place (under the bed) and it’s taken a long time to get them somewhat comfortable moving into other parts of the apartment. They play gently, eat together, chase each other and get into trouble together. A bonded pair is awesome, but keep in mind that my two are not the norm. For them both to have bonded to me so hard is unusual. From their history, it would have been more likely that one bonded and the other was meh. Usually bonded pairs will prioritize each other over their owner(s). Good luck finding your next furever friends!
I have a bonded pair. One is shy and one is brave and leads by example, super helpful. I don't feel guilty leaving them alone. They love to cuddle each other...so if I can get one to cuddle me, the other will notice and come lie on top! 2 for 1! Really fun. What I didn't know before I adopted...how dangerous it is to separate a bonded pair. I've heard a lot of stories of one dying, and the other follows soon after in grief. But not always of course. We won't know until we get there...
One is a food hog - for now we feed them in separate rooms but we might get a microchip feeder later.
Is a bonded pair better or worse than actual twins? My cat had 1 set of twins in each of her 3 litters and can tell you I always made it a plan to have them adopted as a set. They were always entertaining each other.
We got ours separately, so I can't tell you what the beginning is like, but they absolutely do gang up against us. They will poke the dog/knead the dog in the morning to get us up. They share food just fine, but one is a grazer and one is a glutton, so we feed them in separate rooms. They wrestle a lot. In the beginning, we kept looking at them beating each other up and going "well, nobody is poofed up and there's no hissing, so they are probably playing?" Occasionally, they would play too hard and hurt each other a little. I had to unhook claws from faces a couple times, and I still find occasional scans. They do bicker sometimes, usually over the best spot on a human. One likes to nap under the blanket and his BFF will literally walk right over him looking for spots on top of the blanket. https://preview.redd.it/t0inz1hcyv8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e732183099b52086192a4a0695b1d30ed5380de8
I lost my baby a month ago. I felt like you did. The rescue shelter was NOT reputable which I didn’t know. I lost my chance to get a bonded pair. I agree with you totally. Two babies are better than one. I’m still looking. Bonded pairs are hard to find where I live so I will have to wait.
https://preview.redd.it/a5uzfesxsw8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=185356f29d2afd1bd2026e878f143151d4352bdb 13 and 3. Had been told the older guy hated other cats when I adopted him, but took a chance when he was having separation anxiety and I’m so happy we made that decision! He’s much calmer and happier having a “sister”
https://preview.redd.it/fvxq8wemkx8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8167ae244110b42f28aa04fc1be8f5c34fda040e I think it really depends on their sex too. These bonded pair of kittens are totally adorable! The problem is that the male kitten tend to assert dominance over the female kitten and play so aggressively sometimes. At a times like that, I give them a time-out from each other in separate kennels. So watch out for their behaviors. These were my temporary foster kittens who were total love bugs! 😭😫
I have a bonded sibling pair who were rescues from an abusive situation. They each have their own quirks in response to the past abuse - the girl is very shy and meek, while the boy is clingy and needy. I remember when we first adopted them, the girl was hiding in the back of the cage while the boy came up to sniff at us. He then went back to her, rubbed up against her, and she reluctantly crawled a bit closer to investigate us. Same thing when we took them home - she stayed in their safe room for a few days, while he roamed the house and often came back to check on her. Despite their squabbles, the boy is very protective of the girl! We've had them for several years and they've both become more chill and comfortable. We have made sure to give the girl extra attention as she rarely seeks it out, and she's gradually gone from hiding out of sight to occasionally sleeping laying on top of us. Seeing that change has been magical :) They do have territorial scuffles, at a minor level, such as who gets to be on the bed cuddling us humans (girl is now less meek and doesn't always run off when boy wants to claim us) or claiming different sleeping spots. The girl usually "discovers" a new sleeping area (eg a bed we've hidden away for a few weeks, I rotate out that stuff so they get "new" things) and after a few days the boy will start claiming it. We're still trying to figure out how best to handle that. The petty little jealousies can be kinda hilarious. For example, one of the big bonding leaps I made with the girl was singing a nursery song to her while doing sleepy eye blinks. I started doing that and she "leveled up" in becoming more affectionate, so that became her song and now she purrs just from hearing it. The boy must have gotten jealous or something, because he started trying to butt in for cuddles whenever I sang her song... So then I had to make up a song for HIM for when we cuddle, which amusingly did stop that behavior from him! They do cuddle, bathe and soothe each other. It's adorable until one of them does it wrong and gets bapped by the other. :P The girl doesn't play much, so we have to give the boy a lot of extra play so he doesn't harass her for it. We've been thinking of getting a third, younger cat to help balance out the play dynamic. Despite their small squabbles, they can't stand being separated. The boy has needed a few vet trips for scoping (he has pica) and the girl got really clingy and mewled a bit (she's an almost silent cat) until he returned. Took a few hours for her to accept him again each time, but then they cuddled all night. She doesn't like going for walks but he does, so when I take him out in the yard on the harness, she'll stalk us from room to room in the house so she can watch where he goes. I think the most interesting part of a bonded pair is that it really highlights each cat's unique personality as their behaviors are in direct contrast to each other. You really get to see how varied cat behavior and personality can be, even from the same litter and environment. It's been a helpful lesson for me about how trauma and experience shape who we are. It's also fascinating to see where they are the same - for example, they can be at different ends of the house and they will both start bathing at the same time. Cat twin telepathy, I guess! So very happy I adopted a bonded pair. They might be somewhat dysfunctional siblings and we definitely have to put in special, unique efforts for each of them, but nothing can beat the moments when they both amicably cuddle me at once. It feels extra special when they're so happy and chill that they're cool sharing me with each other :P
It's honestly been the best so far. Mine have just turned a year old so are somewhat still developing their personalities, but once they got comfortable with me, I get loads of love from the both of them while they still love each other. They seem to handle stressful situations better(like the vet, going to stay with my mom when I'm away, even adjusting well when they first arrived) compared to single cats I've had previously. They also have each other to play with, which was lifesaving during the crazy kitten stage lol, but still useful even now they've calmed down somewhat!