Tales & Tails of New York

Ah, it is that time of the year again!  

The time when we get a slew of calls from people seeking to adopt "one kitten," usually as a Christmas present for someone else.  

Aside from trying to discourage the giving away of animals as "gifts" (one is actually giving someone else a 15-year "job" of care and responsibility), there is also the issue of letting small kittens go out as "one and only" pets.  

Cats are social animals who are most often compared to lions in terms of social behaviors. As lions live in family groups called "prides," cats (when left to their own devices) live in family units called "colonies."  

Most feral kittens born to mothers outside stay with their mothers and siblings until about a year-old and sometimes long after that.   In fact, it would never occur in nature that any kitten would be separated from mother and littermates and thrive on its own at a young age.  

Yet, it is not at all uncommon for humans to acquire one kitten and then leave that kitten alone for most of the days, while the owner(s) go to work.  

Usually, the results of that kind of "unnatural" life is a kitten who grows up to become an insecure, nervous, skittish, timid or in some instances, an overly aggressive animal.  

In other cases, particularly where a caregiver might live alone and is especially doting and pampering to the kitten, the animal grows up neurotically "dependent" on the person.  Things may be fine for a while -- or, at least as long as the situation remains stable and unchanging.  But, should the person take in a roommate, get married or have kids, the cat usually "freaks out" in some way and may take to undesirable behaviors, such as peeing all over the house or on furniture.  

For these reasons, many rescue groups and some shelters insist that kittens only be adopted out in "pairs" or into a home which already has a young cat (something which I personally and totally support).  

It is distressing to see a cat who has been raised from a young kitten as a "one and only" cat, dropped off at a shelter for "undesirable behavior," such as destructiveness, aggressiveness, timidity or house soiling.  Often these cats stress out when suddenly in an environment with other animals and have good chance of winding up on the euthanasia list.  In most cases, these scenarios could have been totally prevented had the cat been adopted out as a kitten with another cat.  

Kittens needs to be socialized with other cats, as well as people!   

It is vitally important, not only for a kitten to be happier and better behaved, but also, in event that s/he might ever have to go into a situation with other animals in the future.  

It must be remembered that in nature, cats are predators.  As kittens they play rough with each other and part of that (stalking, pouncing, biting, clawing) is preparation and development of skills they would later need for hunting small prey.  A kitten who doesn't have other kittens to play with, will often hone "hunting" skills on people.  It may be cute when an 8-week-old kitten is play-biting on your hand.  But, it isn't so "cute" when that same cat is biting/clawing you or your kids 8 months later.  It hurts then.  

A couple of years ago, I came across a very good flier from "Doing Things for Animals" magazine which succinctly addresses this issue.  I include it here with due credit to the original creators, for it is, I believe one of the most important papers ever produced tackling the "one" or "two cats" dilemma.   

In truth, there is no "dilemma" at all for those people who really understand and appreciate the true social nature of cats:    

Two Are Better Than One!   *  By having two or more cats, you are able to enjoy the true social nature of cats and their relationship with each other.  

* Cats who have a playmate tend to be more socially well-adjusted, smarter, and avoid behavioral problems like shyness, biting, hissing, being frightened and hiding in the company of people they don't know.  

* Cats need stimulation during the day like humans.  Studies have shown that some animals left alone most of the day in the house, have brains that weigh up to 25% less than those whose lives hold more stimulation and activity.  

* In Switzerland, an anti-cruelty law was passed that requires people who are buying dogs and cats to acquire two instead of one since it is the nature of an animal to have company of his/her own kind.  

* Cats are much less likely to gain weight due to lack of movement, and to suffer related illnesses.  

* They are less likely to ruin furniture out of boredom.  

*  If you must work long hours or travel for a couple of days, two more cats keep each other company and are more tranquil during your absence.  

*  It's more likely that people bring back an adopted cat due to behavior problems when only one has been adopted rather than two.  

*  Your cat will remain more playful and youthful into his or her later years with a companion.   *

  The workload to care for two cats remains relatively the same.   *

  You don't need more space for a second cat!  

*  Because......Two Are Better Than One!  

(Originally produced from the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary, reprinted in "Doing Things For Animals").    

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