Separating brother/sister

[amaruuk]

So I've been cruising the humane society big time lately, searching for my new kitty.

There are a few there that have been there for months, and the only reason I can see is that they're brother/sister or come from the same home and they don't want to separate them. This I understand.

What breaks my heart, is that I'm not sure it's fair to have 2 cats in a small apartment. Or that it's fair to separate them; that's stressful and they could be horribly lonely without their friend.

Behaviorally speaking, am I just making more trouble for myself and more stress on the kitties if I consider either taking 2 cats or breaking up a brother/sister team? (female is 3, male is 11 months)

I was always under the belief that cats are naturally solitary creatures, not pack animals. Am I wrong?

 

[blue_monday_88]

Amaruuk, I think you need to do what's best for *you*. If they have been socialized together, I agree that it's best to keep them together. Then you have built-in "friends." Plus, it saves you from introducing another foreign element if you desire to get another cat in the future.

I have a small-ish apartment now, and we are moving again in a couple of months, particularly for the cats, because there are larger windows, more interaction from the outside world, and quieter. The cats have been introduced and separated and now are "fighting out the territory war," so believe me, your probs are pretty simple. BUT if you are worried about size, as long as there is ample hiding places for them to "chill" for a while, you should be fine.

Case & point: my boyfriend's sister lives in a small studio apartment in San Francisco, where she had moved to from a large 2 bedroom in the sam city, where she had adopted her sister cats, Roxie & Greta. Not only are they best of friends, they LOVE people, and are completely happy in her place. She has large windows they hang out in all day, plus a plush chair where one (or both!) sleeps when she's not around. She is also not home a lot.

So think of it this way - when you are not home, they can keep each other company. But like I said, you need to do what's best for you. Many people have pulled off the more than one cat thing in a small apartment, you just need to make a commitment to make it as comfy as they can (beds, scratching posts, etc). Good luck

 

[leesali]

So think of it this way - when you are not home, they can keep each other company. But like I said, you need to do what's best for you.

I totally agree with the above. You really have to do what is best for you & your situation but I've always believed that two are better than one.

As a foster mother, I won't seperate two that have been socialized together. You either adopt the two or you walk out with nada!!

 

[eilcon]

I agree with the others that you need to do what's best for you but, in my experience, living with two cats in a small apartment worked out fine.

We always encourage people to adopt two kittens, especially if it's a situation where the kitten will be home all day by itself. As far as separating siblings, we like to see them go together, but that's not always realistics. They seem to miss each other at first, but bounce back pretty quickly. When I adopted my youngest, Peter, earlier this year I really questioned whether separating him from his sister was a good idea. They were very closely bonded and extremely timid. We thought separating them would actually help them become more independent and it worked. Seven months later, both have blossomed into sweet, friendly cats.

 

[amaruuk]

I personally have absolutely no problem with more than one cat. More of them to love, and after what I've been through, the more the merrier. I've lost two children at 6 years and 2 years old, in my 20's, and now just recently miscarried. I have a LOT of maternal love to give.

But I am trying to be logical and fair to the kitties too. I live in a studio apartment. Not forever, mind you, but for now. I'm concerned this is too small, I'm concerned that life will be very good for my kitties; especially these two, they've been in the shelter since the end of may and it breaks my heart.

I do however, do a lot of snowboarding in the winter. I can be gone a fair bit from my apt and the contemplation of whether or not a single kitty would be lonely came to mind.

You know, the more I consider this, the more I type it out, it almost makes sense to get two. I'll visit with them again today, and see if instinct tells me these are the babies I've been looking for.

You all are so patient with me, thank you so much.

 

[maverick_kitten]

with cats you can always build upwards with cat trees and shelves for them to climb on the maximise space.

i would say get two, that way they wont be lonely when you are not there. my two love each other and its so lovely seeing them play together.

 

[beckiboo]

Originally Posted by Amaruuk

I personally have absolutely no problem with more than one cat. More of them to love, and after what I've been through, the more the merrier. I've lost two children at 6 years and 2 years old, in my 20's, and now just recently miscarried. I have a LOT of maternal love to give.

Wow, that is a lot for one person to deal with! I am very sorry for your losses!

I have "always" had one cat, who seemed to be perfectly happy. But now, having two, it is amazing how much companionship they give each other. Just like one child seems happy, but when they have a sibling it is someone to play with, fight with, and cuddle with. I think 2 cats is preferable to one!

Best of luck, and post pics when you can!

 

[arlyn]

I was always under the belief that cats are naturally solitary creatures, not pack animals. Am I wrong?

You are both right and wrong

Domestic housecats are a lot like lions in their social interactions.
In most cases they do better when there is more than one.
Some cats though prefer to be the only one of their species in a territory, much like rogue lions.

I think if you have enough room for a cat tree or two, you probably have space for two cats if they are already bonded.
I would not, however, recommend trying to introduce two cats that are strangers to each other in such small space.

You'll know which course to take, it will feel right to you.

 

[hissy]

If you decide to take both then you create space within a smaller space. These cats live in cages correct? Is your studio apartment as small as their cage? You give them levels of comfort to live on in small spaces- cat ramps, cat condos, perches by windows, clear off the top of the refrigerator, secure a cat bed up there, clear out half a closet put in a small shelf unit they can perch on. Get the idea? I wouldn't take two cats total strangers to each other, and if you do take brother and sister, be sure they have occupied the same cage together before you do. Just because they are related, does not mean they will get along. If they have been placed in separate cages, there is a strong possibility they will fight when brought back together-

 

[amaruuk]

Hissy, they're not in separate cages, they're in a room together.

And I have cat trees for my little Mikko that yesterday I vaccuumed well and washed the carpet, so they'll have lots of places to climb and hide. There's a loft in the apartment as well, a favorite tall hiding place of Mikko previously.

I'll just have to go in and meet them and see if it clicks. There's a Russian Blue in there I'm considering as well. We'll see how it goes. Wish me luck tonight

 

[leesali]

Wishing you luck tonight and hoping you fall in love with both siblings

 

[purity]

Any news yet? Excited to know if you decided to get one or two?!

 

[huggles]

i have only this evening read your post in the 'new cats' forum and read your story - sending lots of

your way as you most certainly have been through alot.

how wonderful that your considering adopting 2 kitties - as I said in your other thread, Mikko would be watching over you and applauding your decision - I have no doubt about this whatsoever

looking forward to hearing about what you decide to do.

 

[amaruuk]

So I come out of work last night, and my friend J is there to pick me up to drive me to the humane society. (I don't drive, never learned) We're coming around the side of the truck and she says "i have someone i want you to meet"

Out of the carrier she pulls this wee tiny little abyssinian cat. Who immediately clings to my shoulder purring and starts kneading my chest.

Pansy's story;
J's parents have bred and shown abyssinian kitties for 20 years. Pansy was born totally black. For whatever reason, whether her coat was too dark or the cream under her chin reached up too far, she wasn't chosen as a queen or show cat, so they spayed her and kept her as a pet animal.
15 cats later, J is insisting that mom gets rid of SOME of these kitties. Mom stopped breeding a few years ago and keeps the kitties cause she loves them.

Pansy is a love-bug. She wants everyone's attention, all the time. It got to be so much that they constructed an 8ft X 5ft enclosure for her because she's just too much with 14 other cats and she demands her attention. She needed a home where she could be pampered and spoiled and doted on, to make her happy. She just wasn't getting the affection she really needed in a home with that many animals, and she wasn't happy.

Enter broken-hearted human. The moment I held her, I was totally in love. When we went into the pet store to get food and toys, Pansy yowled to be taken off my lap. She spent most of last night bouncing around the apartment, bouncing on me, headbutting me, rolling all over the carpet and kneading every inch of the apt to make it hers.

So no visit to the humane society. My heart breaks for those kitties in there, and at some point I still might adopt more. But not right now.

So Pansy gets a doting home, and I get a perpetual kitten to mother.
Life is good today.

 

[purity]

Awww she sounds like an absolute darling! Very good to hear that you've found each other

When do we get photos!?

 

[beckiboo]

Wow. That is just amazing. A match made in heaven, I would say. How old is Pansy, and will you post a pic?

I'm sure you will live happily ever after! Concatulations!

 

[amaruuk]

Pansy is 3, though I keep forgetting she's not a kitten. She so tiny, and so bouncy. She acts like a kitten still. She's been trying to pounce on her reflection all morning.
Pics are here: (i can't seem to get the tags to work here.)
[url=http://www.faylisa.com/photojournal/sitting.jpg]www.faylisa.com/photojournal/sitting.jpg[/url]
[url=http://www.faylisa.com/photojournal/laying.jpg]www.faylisa.com/photojournal/laying.jpg[/url]
[url=http://www.faylisa.com/photojournal/fishing.jpg]www.faylisa.com/photojournal/fishing.jpg[/url]

 

[blue_monday_88]

Originally Posted by Amaruuk

Pansy is 3, though I keep forgetting she's not a kitten. She so tiny, and so bouncy. She acts like a kitten still. She's been trying to pounce on her reflection all morning.
Pics are here: (i can't seem to get the tags to work here.)
[url=http://www.faylisa.com/photojournal/sitting.jpg]www.faylisa.com/photojournal/sitting.jpg[/url]
[url=http://www.faylisa.com/photojournal/laying.jpg]www.faylisa.com/photojournal/laying.jpg[/url]
[url=http://www.faylisa.com/photojournal/fishing.jpg]www.faylisa.com/photojournal/fishing.jpg[/url]
[/quote]
What a beautiful elegant looking cat! [img]https://statich.thecatsite.com/images/smilies/smile.gif You are quite lucky.

 

[purity]

I love that second one of her laying down! She's beautiful

 

[lee]

I think two are brilliant -- they don't get lonely if you're away, exercise each other by playing, etc. I would never have an only cat again. We have two in a small house, but they often are in the same room together for extended periods and it's never a problem with space. they actually choose to be together most of the time. If they are socialised together and enjoy each other, as yours (being siblings) do, they will be fine.