Well about 3 months ago I got a new kitten (named Brady). He was born August 2 so he is very young. He has already been declawed and neutered.
Lately I've been feeling very guilty that he is a single kitten. I know it is best to have a pair of kittens to play with. Brady loves to rough house... with my hands, arms, etc. I have this kitten mitten thing.. when i wear it i let him rough house with it.. bite my hand .. attack it. I am afraid that because of this he may have behavioural problems down the road. I don't have kids, but one day I will and I do not want him attacking them. He bugs me alot to play.. even in the middle of the night. And during the day I don't always have time ... but I make sure at night I do play with him.. and he has a TON of toys.
So I have been debating about getting another kitten. However, my apartment is not that big. I don't know if it would be cruel to have two kittens in this apartment. Also, I travel back to my parents house at least once-twice a month which is a four hour drive. Brady makes the ride with me and he basically just sleeps on my lap in the car. I am afraid a new kitten may disrupt Brady's car habits.. and I can't have two cats fighting in the car while im driving.
So I guess I'm just kinda looking for some advice. Iam very torn. I can take care of another kitten.. no problem there... and pay for another vet visit... its just the ethics of it I guess.
If I do decide to get another kitten... is it better to get a Male w/ a Male? Or Female? Also.. Brady is declawed.. if i get a new kitten, he/she probably won't be declawed yet... will this cause problems?
Thanks so much ... sorry for rambling!!
Single Kitten
Re: Single Kitten
Declawing... :( Declawing makes me sad.
It potentially could be a problem for one cat to have claws and the other to not have claws. But since I think declawing is a terrible thing to do to a cat, I wouldn't suggest getting and declawing another kitten.
It's hard to know if your kitten would really want another kitten to play with either. Just because he's hyper, there's no guarantee that he likes other cats. He could also possibly be too aggressive to the second cat and make it unhappy, since you seem to be concerned about his aggressiveness.
Cats can get more aggressive with biting because of being declawed.
Hypothetically, unless your apartment is incredibly and unusually small (to the point I'd consider it cruel for a human to have to live there), I doubt two cats would have too much trouble. If there's room to zoom, so to speak, it would be fine. But I'm thinking you may want to get your current kitten's behavior under control before you add more trouble to the mix.
Cats can also be very happy as single pets, and many prefer it. So I wouldn't feel too guilty about him being alone.
It potentially could be a problem for one cat to have claws and the other to not have claws. But since I think declawing is a terrible thing to do to a cat, I wouldn't suggest getting and declawing another kitten.
It's hard to know if your kitten would really want another kitten to play with either. Just because he's hyper, there's no guarantee that he likes other cats. He could also possibly be too aggressive to the second cat and make it unhappy, since you seem to be concerned about his aggressiveness.
Cats can get more aggressive with biting because of being declawed.
Hypothetically, unless your apartment is incredibly and unusually small (to the point I'd consider it cruel for a human to have to live there), I doubt two cats would have too much trouble. If there's room to zoom, so to speak, it would be fine. But I'm thinking you may want to get your current kitten's behavior under control before you add more trouble to the mix.
Cats can also be very happy as single pets, and many prefer it. So I wouldn't feel too guilty about him being alone.
Re: Single Kitten
Scares me that you drive with the cat on your lap. Please prevent an accident by confining your passengers. My 3 cats get along well in a not too large area. Each was a feral and they all accepted each other wheneve a new cat arrived.
Re: Single Kitten
Ack, I somehow missed the sleeping in the lap in the car part.
That's definitely a big no no. Very dangerous for the cat if there is an accident... And it could CAUSE an accident if the cat gets startled by a loud noise or something and decides to climb up your face while the car is in motion. :/
That's definitely a big no no. Very dangerous for the cat if there is an accident... And it could CAUSE an accident if the cat gets startled by a loud noise or something and decides to climb up your face while the car is in motion. :/
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mamabear
- Formerly mamaof4soon
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:39 pm
- Location: The Garden State
Re: Single Kitten
I am just getting back into the swing of things, i have had a hectic week. But I will say that this is a kitten and they are hyper. If you give play time and toys that will thrill kitty and stimulate kitty then dont worry about getting another kitty. You have a small place and it wont get bigger if you get another cat. Personally as well Idont believe in declawing it is just cruel and Idont care what vets or anyone says about the way it is done. If you had your nails ripped out and were is that much pain i'd remember it for life. My ex didthat to our cats and they were flipping their paws for months . it was just so horrible to see. Having kitty in car without proper protection AND now being declawed is a no no. If that cat gets out he has no chances of defense. do your kitty a favor since you are responsible for him and now of course he has to rely on you only since he has no defense, make sure when you go out that he is always in a carried before leaving your house. He can cause you to have an accident if he is not restrained properly in a vehicle. LIke we should wear seatbelts to protect us so should kitty be in a carrier.
Good luck dear. I think that if you spend timewith kitty everything should be fine. Kittens play a lot and you might have to just buy toys to keep kitty occupied. THey like to sleep during the day and hten when you get home play.
Have fun with kitty
Good luck dear. I think that if you spend timewith kitty everything should be fine. Kittens play a lot and you might have to just buy toys to keep kitty occupied. THey like to sleep during the day and hten when you get home play.
Have fun with kitty
Almost 7 years in remission from Graves disease and no meds!
Re: Single Kitten
I think an only kitten is a lonely kitten. Even if your apartment is small, another kitten will keep your baby company while you're away. Kittens that grow up together form strong bonds of love, and are a comfort to each other. They play and cuddle up. Driving with a cat on your lap is dangerous - I know of someone who had a terrible accident whilst doing that. A carrier is always a good idea for a cat in a car. Declawing is very traumatic and painful for cats and is like cutting off all your finger tips at the first phalange. If you get a scratching post for your next kitten he/she can use that to scratch on instead of being declawed. Good luck with your kitty - I hope you get another companion kitten!
I doubt very much that your kitten is, or will be agressive, he's ONLY 4 months old, at this age, he is teething and needing to bite, chew, tug on soft toys etc, and he will grow out of the behavior if you don't encourage the biting behavior. There are other toys he could be playing with (like playing fetch, chasing a string across a floor, other activities you can be actively engaged with him that don't involve biting and chewing -- do not ever leave strings out unattended, put them up when not in use/supervised, and never leave yarn or string, etc laying around)
I too believe that kittens AND adult cats fair better in pairs or in a multicat environment, that is, when the owner can be responsible for them financially, emotionally, and be able to tend to their needs. Paschat is correct, kittens and adults who have each other as companions are most often bonded, and are happier and healthier. Your kitten is a perfect age to introduce to another kitten, you will just have to be prepared on how to introduce them properly, be committed to them. Please be sure you have them both fully examined by your vet, tested for FELV/FIV, dewormed, vaccinated accordingly and scheduled appropriately for spay/neuter. It doesn't really matter what gender you choose for another kitten, as long as you are committed to their individual needs.
I too would not recommend you declaw a new kitten. While your current kitten is declawed, it doesn't mean a new kitten should be or has to be. Having claws doesn't mean the other declawed cat is totally defenseless, he would compensate. It would be more important that you take steps to ensure there is no agression between them that would cause harm, bites or scratches, and to keep kitty's claws clipped on a regular basis.
I think I would recommend that you don't take both cats travelling with you when you visit your parents unless it is for alike a week at a time, or on holidays etc. Travelling is stressful for cats, particularly if they are confined to a carrier for hours at a time, and you cannot ever assume you can garantee their safety. The fact that you are allowing your current kitten to ride unsecure and sleep on your lap is a very very dangerous thing to do. You can never predict what your kitten may do if scared, gets rambunctious or bored or wants to snuggle in your arms or on your neck, etc...this spells disaster for BOTH of you. Be responsible for yourself and your cats, keep them in carriers ONLY when inside a car and during any type of transportation.
I would rather recommend you have a trusted pet sitter or very trusted friend (adult friend with experience), stay with your cats when you travel. This way, they are in their known, familiar environment, are not so stressed, and have someone there to care for them, see to their needs, and keep them company, etc. Maybe cut the visits shorter or at least by once a month out of town unless it is absolutely necessary (I'm sure your parents would understand?) Please understand all the risks you take when taking your cats on a road trip with you, those risks are numerous and your cats would probably fair much better at home if there is a trusted caretaker there for them. If that is not possible, then ONLY have them in secure carriers, do not leave them unattended during fuel fillups, or other stops, do not leave them unattended in hot or cold weather, etc or an unlocked door, etc etc etc. Also, if you cross county lines, and if you're stopped for any reason, you will need to have proof of rabies certificates on your person, this is a requirement by law in many states.
As for your apartment, as long as both kittens have lots of room to run, play, exercise and chase each other in play, they should be fine. Just kitten proof your home just as you would a toddler, and do spend quality time with them when you are home.
I too believe that kittens AND adult cats fair better in pairs or in a multicat environment, that is, when the owner can be responsible for them financially, emotionally, and be able to tend to their needs. Paschat is correct, kittens and adults who have each other as companions are most often bonded, and are happier and healthier. Your kitten is a perfect age to introduce to another kitten, you will just have to be prepared on how to introduce them properly, be committed to them. Please be sure you have them both fully examined by your vet, tested for FELV/FIV, dewormed, vaccinated accordingly and scheduled appropriately for spay/neuter. It doesn't really matter what gender you choose for another kitten, as long as you are committed to their individual needs.
I too would not recommend you declaw a new kitten. While your current kitten is declawed, it doesn't mean a new kitten should be or has to be. Having claws doesn't mean the other declawed cat is totally defenseless, he would compensate. It would be more important that you take steps to ensure there is no agression between them that would cause harm, bites or scratches, and to keep kitty's claws clipped on a regular basis.
I think I would recommend that you don't take both cats travelling with you when you visit your parents unless it is for alike a week at a time, or on holidays etc. Travelling is stressful for cats, particularly if they are confined to a carrier for hours at a time, and you cannot ever assume you can garantee their safety. The fact that you are allowing your current kitten to ride unsecure and sleep on your lap is a very very dangerous thing to do. You can never predict what your kitten may do if scared, gets rambunctious or bored or wants to snuggle in your arms or on your neck, etc...this spells disaster for BOTH of you. Be responsible for yourself and your cats, keep them in carriers ONLY when inside a car and during any type of transportation.
I would rather recommend you have a trusted pet sitter or very trusted friend (adult friend with experience), stay with your cats when you travel. This way, they are in their known, familiar environment, are not so stressed, and have someone there to care for them, see to their needs, and keep them company, etc. Maybe cut the visits shorter or at least by once a month out of town unless it is absolutely necessary (I'm sure your parents would understand?) Please understand all the risks you take when taking your cats on a road trip with you, those risks are numerous and your cats would probably fair much better at home if there is a trusted caretaker there for them. If that is not possible, then ONLY have them in secure carriers, do not leave them unattended during fuel fillups, or other stops, do not leave them unattended in hot or cold weather, etc or an unlocked door, etc etc etc. Also, if you cross county lines, and if you're stopped for any reason, you will need to have proof of rabies certificates on your person, this is a requirement by law in many states.
As for your apartment, as long as both kittens have lots of room to run, play, exercise and chase each other in play, they should be fine. Just kitten proof your home just as you would a toddler, and do spend quality time with them when you are home.
..........Traci